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The Hermit of Eyton Forest is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in the autumn of 1142. It is the 14th novel in the Cadfael Chronicles and was first published in 1987 (1987 in literature). The mystery is set in the Anarchy, the continuing battles between King Stephen and Empress Maud, now besieged in Oxford Castle. Sheriff Hugh Beringar and Brother Cadfael work together to untangle the threads of this mystery brought to them by both the civil war and the cruel ways of lords in other shires. ==Plot Summary== On 18 October 1142, Richard Ludel, lord of Eaton manor, dies of wounds taken at the battle of Lincoln in February 1141. Sheriff Hugh Beringar has charge of the manor lands for King Stephen, with the steward John of Longwood to run the manor. Abbot Radulfus is guardian of the son. Brother Paul informs young Richard, 10 years old, that he is orphaned, and lord of Eaton manor. Richard is educated at the Abbey per his father's wish. His grandmother, Dame Dionisia Ludel does not believe in such education for a lord. Her goal is to marry the boy to Hiltrude, daughter of Fulke Astley, who will inherit the estates on either side of Eaton manor: Wroxeter and Leighton. She aims at increasing family lands and her own power. Dame Dionisia gives the hermit Cuthred and his helper Hyacinth a disused hermit's chapel. The local folks rapidly accept the hermit in their midst. He and his helper are present at the funeral of Richard's father. Otherwise, Cuthred never leaves his small residence. In November, Eilmund, forester for the Abbey, reports unusual damage in the Eyton Forest to young trees and plants. Cuthred sends Hyacinth to tell the Abbot this is punishment for Richard being kept at the Abbey. Needing a friend to tell him about his lands, Richard approaches Hyacinth. They form a pact. Returning to the hermitage, Hyacinth saves Eilmund in Eyton Forest. He rolls a fallen willow tree off him. Local men carry Eilmund to his assart. Hyacinth runs ahead to warn Annet, Eilmund's daughter. She asks Hyacinth to fetch Brother Cadfael to set her father's broken leg. Hugh Beringar shares the latest news in the conflict between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. She is held under siege in Oxford Castle. The Empress sent a messenger from there to Brian Fitzcount, Lord of Wallingford. Renaud Bourchier's horse was found, with empty saddlebags, and no sign of the man. Drogo Bosiet and his groom Warin of Northamptonshire arrive at the Abbey, hunting a villein named Brand, who fled his manor. Abbot Radulfus is not well inclined to Drogo's goal, so recommends him to the sheriff for aid. After Vespers, Brother Jerome, ever righteous, meets with Drogo to tell him that the hermit's helper bears resemblance to the villein Brand. Richard overhears this threat to his new friend Hyacinth, and rides his pony to warn Hyacinth, finding him in the Eyton Forest. Hyacinth avoids the hermitage, as Richard heads back to the Abbey. That day, Brother Cadfael rides back from Eilmund's assart, leaving in darkness. Cadfael encounters Drogo's horse, then the body of Drogo Bosiet, killed by a knife in his back. In the morning, Hugh Beringar and Cadfael inspect the corpse and the scene. Drogo was stabbed in the back as he walked his horse on the forest path en route to the Abbey. No knife is found. The motive for the murder is not obvious. The Abbot added Brother Jerome's conversation, revealing Drogo's destination to the hermitage. Cuthred tells Hugh and Cadfael that Drogo visited him the day before, but Hyacinth has been absent since then. Cuthred met Hyacinth, a beggar at the gates of the Cluniac priory in Northampton, at the end of September. Cadfael learns that Richard has not been seen in the Abbey since the day before at Vespers. Hugh sets a manhunt for both Richard, suspected kidnapped, and Hyacinth, suspected of murder. Cadfael talks with Rafe of Coventry, of the Earl of Warwick, staying at the Abbey. At the alms box, Cadfael sees a coin from Rafe is struck with the image of the Empress. Rafe comes from Oxford. When Cadfael asks if he is come to find the murderer of Bourchier, Rafe says no. Cadfael finds the much-sought Hyacinth by following Annet as she meets him. Annet, Eilmund and Hyacinth bring Cadfael in on their secrets. Annet loves Hyacinth and her father approves it. They hide Hyacinth during this manhunt. Hyacinth was with Annet at the time of the murder. Innocence is not sufficient; he is not safe until the manhunt is stopped. Hyacinth describes his bad treatment at Drogo's hands. Bosiet distrained Hyacinth's father's lands before his death, leaving Hyacinth landless, but with skill in fine leather work. Hyacinth ran after he beat up the steward when he chanced on him raping a local girl. Cadfael promises to keep Hyacinth's secret, at odds with his promise to Hugh. Drogo's son Aymer arrives at the Abbey still focussed on finding the villein. Once Aymer gives up his chase and takes his father home for burial, Cadfael can resolve the conflict of the two promises he made to Hugh and to Hyacinth. Hyacinth seeks Richard at Leighton, the manor not yet searched. Hearing a young woman travelling with her father Astley on horseback in the darkness, he knows he is right. He finds Richard locked in a room, but cannot free him. Learning that the hermit Cuthred will act as the priest, Hyacinth persuades Richard to go along with the ceremony. After the marriage ceremony, Richard gains respect for Hiltrude; he shares why he agreed to the ceremony. She is delighted. They plan Richard's escape. Richard begins his ride after the midday meal. Astley becomes aware of the missing Richard. He is angry and in immediate pursuit. They arrive dramatically in the Abbey courtyard, Richard first on his pony. Richard falls off the pony and grabs the Abbot's legs, making clear where he wants to be. The courtyard is full, as Vespers has just ended. Astley and Abbot Radulfus face off. Astley wants his son-in-law. The Abbot takes control. Before a rapt audience, Richard shouts out why he agreed to the ceremony, that Cuthred is not a priest. At this, Rafe slips away. Abbot Radulfus plans to meet Cuthred the next morning, with Astley. Hugh Beringar returna from Leighton on a wild goose chase for Richard. He is not kindly inclined to Astley, so mutes him with mention of kidnapping charges. Aymer Bosiet has not yet left the Abbey, still a threat to Hyacinth. At the unexpectedly silent hermitage, Hugh sees Cuthred lying dead at the foot of the altar, his own knife near his hand. Everything is orderly except the sprawled body. A small casket is broken open and empty. Hugh and Cadfael notice the absence of the breviary. Blood shows on the tip of Cuthred's knife. Dame Dionisia arrives. She is jolted by the sight of the dead man, realising how death can come at any moment, even hers. Aymer Bosiet recognises the face of the dead hermit. He and his father had met him at Thame one night. He was dressed differently, hair cut in the Norman style, a man who wore weapons, but rode no horse. They played dice and chess with him. Thus is explained the murder of Drogo. The hermit would not risk discovery by a chance-met stranger. Aymer leaves the Abbey. Cadfael brings Hyacinth out of hiding. Hugh calls off the manhunt, as they go to Eilmund's place. When Hyacinth and Cuthred met, Cuthred was well dressed. Hyacinth stole a habit for him at the priory, for his transformation to hermit. When Cuthred told Dame Dionisia he was a priest, she believed him, but it was not true. Hugh tells Hyacinth he is free to seek work in the town. In a year and a day, he will come to ask for Annet as his wife. Rafe seeks Cadfael to treat his long knife wound. Rafe de Genville, vassal to Brian FitzCount, loyal to the Empress will restore to Brian what is his, recovered in a fair fight between Rafe and the hermit. Rafe found the jewels he sought in the reliquary. A personal letter was hidden in the breviary, already read by the dead man—seal broken. Rafe asks, was his action sin? In his day, Cadfael would have done the same. Cadfael tells Hugh that he let Rafe go. Horse with no man, man with no horse, Cadfael had linked these together. Hugh recoils upon realising the full horror of the first crime that Renaud Bourchier committed, fouler than murder. Deliberate dishonor from the thievery and the potential for blackmail of the Empress, if the Empress's husband in Normandy sought divorce—these are the calculations Bourchier was making. Hugh is persuaded Rafe acted rightly. Honour is upheld, the lovers are united, and Richard is safe at school. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Hermit of Eyton Forest」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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