einon will not ransom a live man with a dead one. eliud, elis and six others of einon's party must remain as suspects. after einon departs for wales, melicent accuses elis of murdering her father, as only he was known to enter the room. as elis protests his innocence, cadfael recalls that an ornate gold pin which had fastened einon's cloak was missing when prestcote was found dead. elis does not have it, so others must have entered the room. elis and eliud share a cell in the castle under their parole of honour not to leave. after her father's funeral, melicent departs for godric's ford with sister magdalen, sorting out her own feelings.