One of three 'prequel' short stories in the Cadfael series, released together in book form as A Rare Benedictine. In this first story, Cadfael is in his forties and newly returned to England, his soldiering days waning. It is during this adventure that Cadfael meets the Prior of The Abbey of St Peter and St Paul in Shrewsbury and makes his decision to join the Benedictines.