Prentice Hugh

A scholarly preface sets the stage, musing over the true hands that shaped Exeter Cathedral in the late‑1300s and warning readers of inevitable anachronisms in this medieval tale. The narrator’s careful footnotes on currency and customs invite listeners into a world where a pound was worth fifteen modern ones, grounding the story in its gritty, historical reality.

The action bursts onto the bustling Stourbridge Fair, where a wiry eleven‑year‑old boy fends off a gang of rough‑handed urchins with nothing but a short cudgel and fierce pride. Just as the skirmish reaches its fevered climax, a sprightly Franciscan friar and an older teen appear, their amused gazes hinting at a larger adventure yet to unfold. This opening promises a vivid blend of scholarly intrigue and lively, street‑level drama that will keep you turning pages.