Abbot Walter sends out a call to all Benedictine houses for help in restoring Ramsey Abbey, and envoys arrive at Shrewsbury, in the form of sub-prior Herluin and a young novice, Tutilo, who has great musical skill Tutilo prays to the bones of St Winifred, but heavy rains bring the threat of floods, and the relics must be moved to a place of safety When the water subsides a robbery is revealed, and the stage is set for Brother Cadfael's latest case, which involves murder before the case is solved