The Raven In The Foregate: 12 (Cadfael Chronicles)

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For even the pursuit of perfection may be sin, if it infringes the rights and needs of another soul. Better to fail a little, by turning aside to lift up another, than to pass by him in haste to reach our own reward, and leave him to solitude and despair. Better to labour in lameness, in fallibility, but holding up others who falter, than to stride forward alone. [4]

urn:lcp:raveninforegate00pete:epub:2182a256-7e0e-491c-98b9-3791d75132bc Extramarc Brown University Library Foldoutcount 0 Identifier raveninforegate00pete Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t53f8vf4q Invoice 1213 Isbn 0688065589 The second is even worse, involving a young woman who it seems is mildly mentally impaired. She is habitually, um, generous with her favours, but afterwards feels shame and goes to confession. Father Adam was mindful of her condition and always granted absolution and gave her penance, but Father Ailnoth denied her the comfort of the Church and cast her out. She throws herself into the Severn and drowns, leaving her infant daughter in her aged mother’s care. Ailnoth ends up dead (hardly a surprise considering his behavior), and the mystery rests in trying to figure out who did it. Everyone suspects the dark, brooding Benet at first, but that ends up being a mistake. I won’t spoil anything here and give it away, but let’s just say when the “mystery” is finally solved, I felt like groaning and pulling my hair out. Hopefully I haven’t given away too much in the summary provided above.When Father Ailnoth is found dead, most of the town are suspects – and none will give the others up. What is justice following the death of a rigid, moralistic man with little empathy? What is justice when one finds a traitor? The answers Cadfael and Hugh Berringar arrive at are likely different than what you expect if your culture's approach to jurisprudence is like mine. Diota was injured Christmas Eve. Cadfael treated her wounds. Cynric sends Cadfael to aid newborn Winifred, now in the care of her grandmother Nest, mother of the late lovely Eluned. Cadfael confronts Benet with his true name, Ninian. Ninian is in Shrewsbury by the work of his resourceful childhood nurse, Diota Hammet. He plans escape through Wales to Gloucester. Sanan will go with Ninian. He will leave when his name is cleared, and Diota is safe; then he and Sanan will marry. On the day Giffard comes forward, Sanan meets Ninian at Cadfael's workshop. They leave for his hiding place just before Hugh arrives. A thaw lets Cynric dig the grave for Ailnoth. The baker Jordan Achard was seen out early Christmas morning, and two will attest he was not at home. Hugh will announce this after the funeral as a way to get the guilty person talking, a scheme Cadfael terms devious. The funeral is well attended. Word that Hugh will charge the murderer draws many to the end of the funeral, including Ninian out of hiding. As the baker loudly protests his innocence of murder and guilt of adultery, Ralph Giffard mistakes Ninian as one to hold his horse. Ninian hides in his country-boy role again.

Prior Robert Pennant: He is an aristocratic priest at the Abbey, based on a historical person, who followed as Abbot after Radulfus. [1] He is also a man taller than average, a good speaker, but more concerned with the elite, than the full range of humankind or of human experience. It is December, 1141. Abbot Randulfus has a problem on his hands. The parish of Holy Cross and the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul share the same church building; the Abbey is responsible for appointing the parish priest. Father Adam has died and the Abbot needs to find a replacement for the long-time and much beloved parish priest. Then Father Ailnoth's drowned body is also found. The noblemen in Shrewsbury loyal to King Stephen are hell bent in taking the law in their own hands to find the killer of Father Ailnoth. They go after some commoners who were in dispute with Father Ailnoth.Not surprisingly, soon after this Ailnoth is found dead--also drowned. This is obviously not a suicide--he was murdered. The problem is that practically the entire town is suspect since he was such a nasty guy! And, whoever did this MIGHT have also killed the girl. Cadfael's job is to sort through both these deaths and determined what actually occurred. This is especially important because whether or not the dead woman can be buried in sacred ground is at stake, since the Church won't allow suicide victims to be buried in their cemeteries. Additionally, the woman was pregnant. Who was the father?