Ten-year-old Richard Ludel has, rather reluctantly, become the new Lord of Eaton following the death of his father. With the position come the inevitable burdens of responsibility, among them the expectation that young Richard will make a marriage of convenience. But Richard has his own ideas, and befriends the young companion of Cuthred the hermit, who has recently taken up residence in Eyton Forest. It is a peaceful place but its tranquillity is rudely shattered by the discovery of a corpse, forcing Brother Cadfael to leave his treasured herb garden and begin his quest to solve the mystery and track down a ruthless killer.
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