The Guild of Salt and the The King’s Messenger
Set in 1173, our story begins with Ralph as he agrees to accompany Father Geoffrey and deliver a message about the Earl of Leicester’s secret invasion. The king’s army must be informed, but they’re in the north countering the Scots. With many unfamiliar eyes and ears on the road, they must tread carefully. Along the way, they encounter Esme and her maid Muriel, who are running from an abusive soon-to-be husband. Esme hopes to reclaim her inheritance kept at the Stewart’s House in Lynn—the same place Father Geoffrey’s band is traveling. Unfortunately, Esme’s deed has been indentured, one piece with the bishop and one with her cruel betrothed who happens to be closer on her heels than anyone realizes.
Stated metaphorically nowadays, “don’t shoot/kill the messenger” was first expressed as far back as 442 BCE by Sophocles in Antigone. In Plutarch’s Lives, a messenger delivering painful news has his head cut off. The tension is built up early as a wounded messenger arrives where Ralph and Father Geoffrey reside. The author does a splendid job setting the historical scenery throughout the journey. The characters and their relationships are the heart of this novel. The women can be slightly catty at times, but overall, each character’s own path to self-discovery drives the plot. From hearing a choir sing in a church for the first time to improvising an escape from a high-seas pirate attack, the way the characters experience new things is gorgeously realized. The historical details are delightful and immersive. I look forward to more by this author. Recommended!
