The Benedictine Abbey in Shrewsbury was and is a real place, as are the surrounding locations, such as the Bromfield Priory near Ludlow. Pershore Abbey, the home location of Brother Elyas, is now an Anglican parish church. He first encountered the Hugonin party near Cleobury, on his route from Pershore to Bromfield, as the two abbeys negotiated over relics. Cadfael rode out to a holding of Wenlock Priory at Godstoke, returning via a shorter route between Brown Clee Hill and Titterstone Clee Hill, when he found the forester who sheltered young Yves. The village that was the safe place on the hill for the smallholder John Druel is now named Cleeton St Mary. The area of one manor held by the man pursuing Ermina is in the real location of Ledwyche. From Worcester to Shrewsbury is nearly 50 miles on modern roads, and longer via Cleeton Saint Mary, the trip made by Herward to ask the help of Shrewsbury Abbey, and then the Sheriff of Shropshire, in finding the missing children and the tutor.