Brother Cadfael 01: A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters

Cadfael, "that all the free men are called to the church tomorrow after Mass, to hear what our prior is proposing. No doubt we shall see Rhisiart there."
    "See and hear him," said Cai, and grinned. "He speaks his mind. An open-hearted, open-natured man, with a temper soon up and soon down, and never a grudge in him, but try and move him when his mind's made up, and you're leaning on Snowdon."
    "Well, a man can but hold fast to what he believes right, and even the opponent he baulks should value him for that. And have his sons no interest in the harp, that they leave it to their sister?"
    "He has no sons," said Bened. "His wife is dead, and he never would take another, and there's only this one girl to follow him."
    "And no male heir anywhere in his kinship? It's rare for a daughter to inherit."
    "Not a man on his side the family at all," said Cai, "and a pity it is. The only near kin is her mother's brother, and he has no claim, and is old into the bargain. The greatest match anywhere in this valley, is Sioned, and young men after her like bees. But God willing, she'll be a contented wife with a son on her knee long before Rhisiart goes to his fathers."
    "A grandson by a good man, and what could any lord want more." said Padrig, and emptied the jug of mead and passed the horn along. "Understand me, I'm not a Gwytherin man myself, and have no right to give a voice one way or the other. But if I may say a word my friends won't say for themselves - you having your duty to your prior as Cai has to his lord, or I to my art and my patrons - don't look for an easy passage, and don't take offence if your way is blocked. Nothing personal to you! But where the free men of Wales see no fair dealing, they won't call it by fair names, and they won't stand aside."
    "I should be sorry if they did," said Cadfael. "For my part, the ending I want is the fair ending, leaving no man with a just grievance. And what of the other lords we can expect to see there? Of Cadwallon we've heard, two of our brothers are enjoying his hospitality. And his lands are neighbour to Rhisiart's?"
    "It's a fair piece beyond to Rhisiart's hall, on through the forest. But they're neighbours, boundary to boundary, yes, and friends from youth. A peaceable man, Cadwallon, he likes his comfort and his hunting. His way would be to say yes to whatever bishop and prince commend, but then, his way normally is also to say yes to Rhisiart. For that matter," owned Bened, tilting the last drop from the horn, "I know no more than you what either of them will have to say in this matter. For all I know they'll accept your omens and bless your errand. If the free voice goes with your prior, then Saint Winifred goes home with you, and that's the end of it."
    It was the end of the mead, too, for that night.
    "Bide the night here," said Bened to Padrig, when the guests rose to walk home, "and we'll have a little music before you leave tomorrow. My small harp needs to be played, I've kept it in fettle for you."
    "Why, so I will, since you're so kind," said Padrig, and weaved his way gently into the house with his host. And Cai and Brother Cadfael, taking their leave, set off companionably shoulder to shoulder, to make their way back to Father Huw's house, and thence in courtesy a measure of the way through the woods towards Rhisiart's hall before they parted.
    "I would not say more nor plainer," said Cai confidingly, "while Bened was present, nor in front of Padrig, for that matter, though he's a good fellow - so are they both! - but a traveller, not a native. This Sioned, Rhisiart's girl... The truth is, Bened would like to be a suitor for her himself, and a good, solid man he is, and a girl might well do worse. But a widower, poor soul, and years older than the lass, and a poor chance he has. But you haven't seen the girl!"
    Brother Cadfael was beginning to suspect that he had indeed seen the girl, and seen more than any here had ever been allowed to see. But he said nothing.
    "A girl