As complex as any of the Cadfael series, this one tells the story of how Master Hugh Beringar becomes sheriff. Also, as Cadfael states, "By my reckoning, there is one corps too many."
During the time of the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud, the abbey takes a neutral stance. However, Brother Cadfael has been given a new assistant. The young lad is anything but as he is a she. Naturally, Cadfael being a man of the world detects this and must find out why she is hiding.
Meanwhile back to the war, Shrewsbury Castle is under siege by Stephens's men for being a Maud holdout. When Stephen finally gets to the castle, he orders the rebel soldiers executed. Cadfael is preparing them for a Christian burial when he counts 95. It is trivial to the king, but Cadfael presses that it would not bode well for a king to dismiss a murder under his very nose. It looks like it may have been the work of Hugh Beringar, a man who has appeared to have conveniently changed sides in the war. King Stephen is not unaware of this.
This time will be Cadfael's tuition, forensics, and logic. Prove the case?
Is Hue a villain or will he turn out to be a friend?