Chapter 5 Summary

Everyone rushes to the murder scene, including Sioned, who throws herself over her father's body. Cadfael stops her just in time and tells her not to disturb the murder scene because it has things to tell them. She sucks in her grief and does what Cadfael asks. As Cadfael blocks Sioned, he gets a feel of the ground beside Rhisiart's body. He notices that it is dry, whereas the rest of the ground around them is wet because of the heavy shower they experienced earlier. Cadfael takes a mental note of this first clue.

Prior Robert arrives at the scene, expresses his shock and then declares that this is the doing of Saint Winifred, her revenge against the man who stood in the way of her will. Many of the townspeople fall to their knees in awe. Peredur emerges from the crowd and...