The Devil’s Novice

The Devil’s Novice (2983) Ellis Peters (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #8)

Set in Shropshire England in 1140

The other two, infant oblates given to God by their parents, are already twelve and ten years old, and are settled and happy among us, it would be ill-done to disturb their tranquillity. But I am not easy in my mind about accepting any more such oblates, when they can have no conception of what they are being offered or, indeed, of what they are being deprived.

What Cadfael did not regret, he found grave difficulty in remembering to confess.

Meriet’s father took precious little pleasure in anything Meriet ever did, and Meriet took precious little pains to please him.

He was stooping to reach a hand to the dog-boy winding round his feet, and finding him unable to rise, and therefore unwilling to attempt it, he did not hoist the child willy-nilly, but suddenly dropped to his own nimble haunches to bring himself to a comparable level, and squatted there distressed, intent, listening.

…

The toeless boy went with them, riding one of the carts. His weight, after all, was negligible, and his joy beyond price.

Characters: Cadfael, Abbot Radulfus, Jerome, Paul, Mark, Leoric Aspley, Nigel Aspley, Meriet Aspley, Wulfric Linde, Roswitha Linde, Janyn Linde, Isouda Foriet, Gilbert Prestcote, Hugh Beringar, Canon Eluard, Peter Clemence, Harald

Publisher: Mysterious Press

Rating: 8.5/10

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