at tregeiriog in gwynedd, the holding of tudur ap rhys and where owain holds court, cadfael meets tudur's daughter cristina, betrothed to elis, and eliud, elis's foster-brother. he overhears them arguing, and concludes that cristina is jealous of the close friendship between elis and eliud. back in shrewsbury castle, elis meets prestcote's daughter melicent, and they fall completely in love. melicent believes that her father will never consent to their marriage.