O Refúgio do Inocente (Crónicas do Irmão Cadfael #7) - The Sanctuary Sparrow

Ellis Peters

Publicações Europa-América

1999

220 páginas

7h 20m

ISBN-13: 5601072607057

Português

ou O Pardal do Santuário: Um Enigma Medieval na tradição d'O Nome da Rosa [The Sanctuary Sparrow (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #7) by Ellis Peters na tradução portuguesa de Ana Maria Gameiro]: Um drama súbito atinge o mosteiro Beneditino de Shrewsbury quando um jovem , perseguido por uma multidão que o quer linchar, se refugia no santuário precisamente a tempo de salvar a vida. A acusação é de roubo e assassínio. Contudo, o Irmão Cadfael pressente a sua inocência e prepara-se para deslindar um novo emaranhado de paixões humanas em que o amor, tanto nas suas facetas mais sublimes como nas mais obscuras, desempenha um inevitável papel.

«Uma sólida atmosfera medieval» The Observer

"The Sanctuary Sparrow" is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in spring 1140. Published in 1983, it is the seventh novel in The Cadfael Chronicles. The story opens during the midnight service at the Abbey, when a young man seeks sanctuary, just seconds ahead of a mob of locals fresh from a wedding feast, charging him with theft and murder. The novel was the second of the series to be adapted for television in 1994 by Central for ITV.

Liliwin, a wandering minstrel, is thrown out of Daniel Aurifaber's wedding feast after a jug is broken during his juggling act. Soon after, the groom's father is found senseless beside his empty money box. A lynch mob sets off after Liliwin, who claims sanctuary in the abbey. The next day, the Aurifaber's neighbour is found dead, and the ageing matriarch of their household has a seizure and dies soon after. The following day, the baddies make their escape taking the stolen gold and Rannilt - Liliwin's serving-girl friend - as hostage, but are stopped before the reach the Welsh border.

[Wikipedia Plot summary -- Article containing spoilers!]: The story takes place over 7 days in May 1140. At the midnight services of Matins on a lovely May night, a boy speeds into the Abbey church just ahead of mob after him for theft and murder. Abbot Radulfus stops the mob, grants the victim's request for sanctuary and successfully orders the mob to return in quiet the next morning to discuss their charges. Liliwin is a wandering jongleur[1] and entertainer, evicted from the goldsmith's wedding reception earlier for breaking a wine jug during his routine. A sergeant under Sheriff Prestcote informs Liliwin that he is accused of assault and robbery. The boy's term of sanctuary will expire in forty days; if he leaves the grounds he will be taken – if lucky by the Sheriff's men, if not by the townspeople. Abbot Radulfus firmly asserts the rights of sanctuary for Lilliwin, who protests his innocence. Daniel Aurifaber, grandson of the house, then requests Brother Cadfael to treat his grandmother at their home. Cadfael treats Dame Juliana, and interviews several in the household. He retrieves the juggling balls that Liliwin left behind. The greed of Dame Juliana permeates the household. Cadfael sees signs of Liliwin's innocence, expressing as much to Deputy Sheriff Hugh Beringar. Liliwin's only tears fall for the loss of his rebec, which Cadfael finds on a walk back to the Abbey. When Liliwin hears that the young maid Rannilt has sympathy for him, he is pleased. Brother Anselm teaches him to read and write music and works to restore the rebec to condition. A weekend in the Abbey sees Liliwin begin to recover from his wounds in a true sanctuary. On Monday Rannilt visits Liliwin with food from Susanna, and discarded men's clothing from Margery. The two fall deeply in love, then make love and fall asleep behind the chapel altar during Vespers. Liliwin's absence is noted. Liliwin and Rannilt wake at Compline having slept too long. Liliwin escorts Rannilt home, the pair walking past the guards on duty to watch for him. He risks his sanctuary for her safety. Liliwin sees Daniel leave the Aurifaber home that evening, which he reports to Brother Cadfael.
At the river's edge, Cadfael comes upon the body of Baldwin Peche the locksmith, the same person sought by Madog of the Dead-boat. Madog and Cadfael find clues of where his body was put in the river the day before. The townspeople accuse Liliwin of this crime immediately. Liliwin lies to Hugh Beringar, who saves him from the crowd. Later Liliwin confesses his real guilt to Cadfael.
Margery lies to shield her new husband when Beringar questions her. Margery establishes her power and stops Daniel's wanderings, while removing the suspicion of murder from his head. Together Daniel and Margery confess the truth of Daniel's whereabouts the night of the murder to Hugh Beringar. Secure with her husband, Margery vies with her sister-in-law Susanna for the role of housekeeper. Susanna was not allowed a dowry by her father; she is the housekeeper for her father, brother and grandmother over 15 years. Margery wins. Dame Juliana decides this while Cadfael is present, to be effective the next morning. Susanna puts her housekeeping accounts in order. Her grandmother hears her late in the evening at this task and comes out to talk with her, giving a compliment on her management of the stores of oatmeal, which Rannilt overhears. Dame Juliana suffers her fatal stroke. Her dying words to Cadfael are that she wishes she could have held her great-grandchild.
The next day, Madog and Cadfael find the place of Baldwin Peche's murder, where the Aurifaber property meets the Severn. Three plants grow there, found on his body. Further clues of rocks and a coin there point to the murderer, and the thief. Cadfael, Beringar and Liliwin realise that while Susanna could not have attacked her father during the party, an accomplice could have done so. Then Susanna retrieved the treasure from the well bucket and hid it in that oatmeal bin when the men chased after the jongleur. When Peche's servant boy found a coin in the well bucket, Peche attempted to blackmail Susanna, a distinct mistake. Liliwin sees danger for his Rannilt. Susanna killed Peche by hitting him with a rock and drowning him when he was unconscious, when he approached her in the midst of laundry day. She hid the body near the river where the laundry was dried, then gave Rannilt her holiday so no one would see the body where it fell, and her accomplice moved it by night. Cadfael realises that Susanna is pregnant and her accomplice is her lover. This is what Dame Juliana meant in her last words. Her lover is the Welsh journeyman Iestyn, and they will leave this night.
Liliwin secures his freedom from Hugh Beringar. Walter leads the pursuit of his own daughter. Beringar, Cadfael, Liliwin and the sheriff's men pursue Susanna, Iestyn and Rannilt, taken as a witness. They corner the fugitives in the Aurifaber horse barn near the road to Wales and a tense hostage situation develops. Iestyn negotiates with Beringar for safe passage for Susanna, in exchange for the release of Rannilt. Walter objects to any bargain that risks his money. Beringar is patient. Liliwin the acrobat climbs to the air vent, quietly peels away the lattice wood and enters the hay loft in search of Rannilt. As dawn breaks, Rannilt slips toward the exit as Iestyn goes for Liliwin with a knife. At the same moment, Susanna runs to Iestyn and takes the arrow meant for him. Hugh Beringar climbs to the loft to take Iestyn from his dead lover. Walter runs about gathering his coins, spread across the ground by the sorrowing Iestyn. In the epilogue, Liliwin and Rannilt marry at the Abbey, and are compensated by the townsfolk for their mistaken judgment of the jongleur. Brother Anselm gave Liliwin his rebec, fully repaired. After the ceremony, Liliwin asks the fate of Iestyn. Beringar will argue in his favour, as Iestyn did no murder, what he stole is returned, and he acted at his lover's behest. Beringar sees a future for him. Liliwin and Rannilt set out on their new life.