the story takes place in several locations in england and wales. the abbey and castle are in shrewsbury. the resting place for the wounded sheriff prestcote en route to home is montford just a few miles northwest of the castle. joining with owain gwynedd at rhydycroesau to quell the raids by their common enemy ranulf of chester, beringar and his men travelled along his northern border, fighting or leaving guards at oswestry, whitchurch, whittington, ellesmere, the castle at chirk, then returning to tregeiriog. when cadfael travelled alone on his second journey to tregeiriog, he stayed the night at oswestry castle, then crossed offa's dike on his route. the powys welsh raiders of godric's ford on their second raid left a trail of damage in pontesbury and neighbouring minsterley to the southwest of shrewsbury before again losing to the shropshire defenders.