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hand. “I’m sure God doesn’t blame you, Maud. You couldn’t have done anything against armed men, my dear.” She gave her a little hug. “Now, why don’t you do as Sister Hildegard says? She’ll put things right for you when you get to York.” The nun lifted her head and gave Hildegard an apologetic shrug as she met her eye and added, “I know she’ll do what she can.”
    Agnetha spoke up. “Of course you should go with Sister Hildegard, Maud. The sheriff must be told. These men have to be caught and punished. But,” she turned to Hildegard, “it’s a mad idea to go off by yourselves. I’m coming with you.”
    “I’d like to come too,” Cecilia broke in.
    “If it comes to it, so would I!” Marianne stepped forward.
    “I can’t give you permission to remain outside the priory,” Hildegard pointed out. “You’ll be in trouble with Brother Alcuin if he hears you’ve been running about the countryside without his warrant.”
    “I’m free to do what I like,” Agnetha interrupted. “I haven’t taken any vows yet. And I’d like to see anybody try and stop me coming with you. You included,” she added for good measure, giving Hildegard a strong glance.
    Petronilla broke in. “I’d like to go to York as well. If the prioress thought I was in danger at Swyne, where the priory is unprotected from the ravages of men-at-arms, then I’d be safer at York, inside the walls where the bailiff’s men will look after us.”
    Hildegard frowned. What she said was true. “But you, Cecilia,” she put a hand on her arm, “I really believe you should go back to Swyne with Marianne. She’ll need a companion on the way.”
    “I’ll do whatever everyone thinks best. I’m more than willing to defy the abbot’s stand-in and come with you. Bless Brother Alcuin,” she added to soften her defiance.
    Hildegard shook her head. “You’re courageous to make such an offer, but you both have to live with the consequences. Don’t make difficulties for yourselves. And someone needs to give a good account of events to the prioress.”
    It was agreed. After an emotional farewell they started to move off in separate directions. Petronilla watched the two nuns set out on the track to Swyne then turned to Hildegard. “And I’m with you?”
    She got a brief nod in reply. Why not, Hildegard thought. What the girl had just said about safety was probably true. Better to be inside the town walls where some sort of law prevailed than outside at the mercy of any armed horsemen who came along.
    Accompanied by the two hounds, the four set off into the dark west, while behind them the two dressed in white headed towards Swyne and the thin line of expanding scarlet where the sun was beginning its ascent into another cloudless sky.
    *   *   *
    It was mid-morning when they stopped in a glade in the woods to finish off some bread and cheese. Everything tasted of smoke. Because the weather was so hot, they all but drained a flask of ale with a broken stopper that Hildegard had carried carefully upright in a corner of her scrip ever since they set out. The path they were on led through thick woodland, well hidden from pursuers, but even so Petronilla was all for going on without delay. She fretted and fumed at the delay and jumped at the slightest sound. When a rabbit scuttled out of the undergrowth at her feet she gave a little scream. “I won’t feel safe until we’re in amongst the crowds of the city.” She exclaimed with a dramatic shiver, “Oh, sister, I think we’re done for!”
    Agnetha rolled her eyes
    “No one has followed us.” Hildegard’s tone was sharp. The silly girl was frightening Maud with her dramatics.
    They walked on. Eventually Hildegard felt a tug on her sleeve. It was Petronilla again. “Sister,” she began, “may I ask something of a personal nature as we walk along?”
    Despite her sombre mood Hildegard’s lips puckered. “I don’t see why not.”
    “It’s this. May I ask, do you believe