Brother Cadfael 07: The Sanctuary Sparrow

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    'There within call of his own shop? Is it possible? And all present, the alders, the crowfoot, the purple flower ... Everything comes back, everything comes home, to that burgage. Begin wherever we may, we end there.'
    'That is truth,' said Madog. 'And Brother Cadfael is cudgeling his wits over the same tangle, and would be glad to consider it along with you, my lord, if you can spare him the needed hour tonight, however late.'
    'I'll do that thankfully,' said Hugh, 'for God knows it wants more cunning that I have alone, and sharper vision, to see through this murk. Do you go home and get your rest, Madog, for you've done well by us. And I'll go knock up Peche's lad, and have out of him whatever he can tell us about this coin he claims for his master's.'
    By this same hour Brother Cadfael had eased his own mind by imparting, after supper, all that he had discovered to Abbot Radulfus, who received it with thoughtful gravity.
    'And you have sent word already to Hugh Beringar? You think he may wish to take counsel with you further in the matter?' He was well aware that there was a particular understanding between them, originating in events before he himself took office at Shrewsbury. 'You may take whatever time you need if he comes tonight. Certainly this affair must be concluded as soon as possible, and it does increasingly appear that our guest in sanctuary may have very little to do with any of these offences. He is within here, but the evil continues without. If he is innocent of all, in justice that must be shown to the world.'
    Cadfael left the abbot's lodging with time still for hard thought, and the twilight just falling. He went faithfully to Compline and then, turning his back on the dortoir, went out to the porch where Liliwin spread his blankets and made his bed. The young man was still wide awake, sitting with his knees drawn up and his back braced comfortably into the corner of the stone bench, a small, hunched shadow in the darkness, singing over to himself the air of a song he was making and had not yet completed to his satisfaction. He broke off when Cadfael appeared, and made room beside him on his blankets.
    'A good tune, that,' said Cadfael, settling himself with a sigh. 'Yours? You'd best keep it to yourself, or Anselm will be stealing it for the ground of a Mass.'
    'It is not ready yet,' said Liliwin. 'There lacks a proper soft fall for the ending. It is a love song for Rannilt.' He turned his head to look his companion earnestly in the eyes. 'I do love her. I'll brave it out here and hang rather than go elsewhere without her.'
    'She would hardly be grateful to you for that,' said Cadfael. 'But God willing you shall not have to make any such choice.' The boy himself, though he still went in suspense and some fear, was well aware that every day now cast further doubt upon the case against him. 'Things move there without, if in impenetrable ways. To tell truth, the law is coming round very sensibly to my opinion of you.'
    'Well, maybe ... But what if they found that I did leave here that night? They wouldn't believe my story as you did ...' He cast a doubtful glance at Brother Cadfael, and saw something in the bland stare that met him that caused him to demand in alarm: 'You haven't told the sheriff's deputy? You promised ... for Rannilt's sake ...'
    'Never fret, Rannilt's good name is as safe with Hugh Beringar as with me. He has not even called on her as a witness for you, nor will not unless the affair goes to the length of trial. Tell him? Well, so I did, but only after he had made it plain he guessed the half. His nose for a reluctant liar is at least as keen as mine, he never believed that "No" he wrung out of you. So the rest of it he wrung out of me. He found you more convincing telling truth than lying. And then there is always Rannilt, if ever you need her witness, and the watchmen who saw you pass in and out. No need to trouble too much about your doings that night. I wish I knew as much about everyone else's.' He pondered, conscious of Liliwin's intent and trusting regard. 'There's nothing more you've recalled? The smallest detail concerning that house may be of help.'
    Hesitantly Liliwin cast his mind back, and told over again the brief story of his connection with the goldsmith's house. The host at a tavern where he had played and sung for his supper had told him of the marriage to be celebrated next day, he had gone there hopefully, and been engaged for the occasion, he had