
In a quiet hermitage tucked among ancient beech trees, Denise draws water from a spring that locals deem miraculous. As dusk settles, a distant red fire flickers on the horizon, its silent flames hinting at unrest beyond the woods. The narration weaves together the peaceful rhythm of monastic life with whispers of a brewing Barons’ war that threatens the surrounding countryside. Listeners are drawn into a world where faith, loyalty, and looming conflict intersect.
Soon, the stillness of the forest is broken by a procession of shadowy figures—soldiers, messengers, and a covered body carried on a litter of ash boughs. Their muted conversations and the eerie moonlight reveal a secret mission that may reshape the fate of the region. As Denise watches from her cell, the reader senses the tension between the sacred solitude of the hermitage and the violent currents gathering outside. The stage is set for a tale of honor, betrayal, and the clash of ancient loyalties.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (559K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Mardi Desjardins & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net from page images generously made available by the Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
Release date
2020-10-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1877–1950
A hugely popular English novelist of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 60 books and reached an international audience with the bestselling novel Sorrell and Son. Trained in medicine but drawn to fiction, he became known for heartfelt, accessible stories about ordinary lives under pressure.
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