Publisher's Synopsis
The England of 1141 is a land torn by civil strife. Seeking refuge in Shrewsbury are the badly-crippled Brother Humilis and the mute Fidelis, his devoted attendant. All is well until Nicholas, once Humilis' squire, resolves to pay court to the girl who was once his lord's affianced bride, and comes to ask his blessing on the suit. Then a latent tragedy becomes a present reality, and only the ever-indefatigable Brother Cadfael can distinguish between the innocent and the guilty.
