eliud confesses prestcote's murder to cadfael. before he met elis at the abbey, eliud went to prestcote's chamber to recover einon's cloak, with einon's saddlecloth on his arm. desperate to prevent elis returning to marry cristina, he smothered prestcote with it, regretting it even as he acted. it was for naught, as he learned minutes later, when elis confessed his love for melicent. eliud left the cloak behind and later asked cadfael to accompany him to the room to ensure that the death was discovered. melicent overhears the confession.