- [last lines]
- Richildis: Shall I see you again?
- Brother Cadfael: Under the certainty of heaven, all that we can be sure of is tomorrow. When yesterday is already ours, what more can we ask?
- Prior Robert: [Hugh Beringar has been defending Cadfael's actions] My lord Beringar, it is not your place to intefere in the business of this Abbey!
- Abbot Radulfus: And it is not *your* place, Brother Prior, to speak to guests of this House in such a way! Furthermore, it is not your place to say who is fit to serve this House... but *mine*.
- Richildis: Oh, Cadfael... did you take it so hard? Did it have to be the cloister? I have wondered about you so often and for so long... I never knew I had done you such an injury.
- Brother Cadfael: The whole fault was mine. And I have wished you well always... as I do now.
- Brother Cadfael: [after Meurig has begged that Cadfael deliver him up to the authorities] What benefit to the world would your death bring?
- Meurig: What must I do, brother?
- Brother Cadfael: Give your love freely and look for nothing in return.
- Richildis: I thought you must have died fighting in the Holy Land. What happened? Did you forget your promise?
- Brother Cadfael: No, not forget, not that. But whenever my thoughts strayed towards home, there was always something... it seemed important then.
- Richildis: I waited, Cadfael. Eight years. You vowed to return laden with honors to claim me as your bride.
- Brother Cadfael: So I did. Well, the honors were too few and my return was too late.
- Richildis: I never thought to look on your face again in this world.
- Brother Cadfael: You are happy?
- Richildis: To have found you again, yes!
- Richildis: I know the pains you went to on Edwin's behalf were not without cost.
- Brother Cadfael: I did what had to be done, no more... and whatever the cost, it was but little against what I owed... and well worth the pains.
- Richildis: You are not in debt to me, Cadfael, real or imagined. You have delivered my son from the executioner's rope; if there's anything owed-...
- Brother Cadfael: To part in friendship is a reward greater than I could have hoped for.
- Richildis: Must it be a parting? Come with me!
- Brother Cadfael: [pause, then] I took my vows for life, Richildis.