was short, and ended in an apse. The tall windows of the west endcaught a few glimpses of slanted light through walls strong as afortress. Invisible under those walls, the marks of themasons’ lodges and the scars of their stored stone and timberstill remained, and a pile of stacked ashlar where the bankers hadbeen cleared away. Now the man who had built this castle to God hadChristendom heavy on his mind, and was already away in the spiritto the Holy Land.

Faint glints of lambent light pricked out the edge of the poolas Cadfael turned back to Compline. As he entered the close he wasagain among men, shadowy figures that passed him on their variousoccasions and spoke to him courteously in passing, but had norecognizable faces in the gathering dark. Canons, acolytes,choristers, guests from the common lodging and the hall, devouttownspeople coming in to the late office, wanting the day completedand crowned. He felt himself compassed about with a great cloud ofwitnesses, and it mattered not at all that the whole soul of everyone of these might be intent upon other anxieties, and utterlyunaware of him. So many passionate needs brought together mustsurely shake the heavens.

Within the great barn of the nave a few spectral figures movedsilently in the dimness, about the Church’s evening business.It was early yet, only the constant lamps on the altars glowinglike small red eyes, though in the choir a deacon was lighting thecandles, flame after steady flame growing tall in the stillair.

There was an unmistakably secular young man standing before aside altar where the candles had just been lighted. He bore noweapon here, but the belt he wore showed the fine leather harnessfor sword and dagger, and his coat, dark-coloured and workmanlike,was none the less of fine cloth and well cut. A square, sturdyyoung man who stood very still and gazed unwaveringly at the cross,with a regard so earnest and demanding that he was surely praying,