Dead Man's Ransom - Characters

Characters

• Brother Cadfael: Benedictine monk at the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He was born in North Wales, and lived an adventurous life, including participating in the First Crusade. He is fluent in Welsh and English. He joined the Abbey in his middle years, where he is the herbalist. He is 61 years old in this novel.

• Abbot Radulfus: Head of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury, based on the real abbot of that time, sometimes called Ranulf in historical documents. He is a man of authority and quick decision, who lets Cadfael leave the Abbey on occasion for special requests from Hugh, or his own pursuit of information.

• Brother Edmund: Infirmarer at the Abbey. He feels responsible for failing to have a constant watch on the ailing sheriff, none aware of any threats to his life in his home territory. In truth, he takes diligent care of those in his charge, and was the one to recall that Anion was still walking with his crutch as his leg slowly healed.

• Brother Rhys: Blind older monk. He is in the infirmary when Sheriff Prestcote is there; he hears the sounds of who enters and leaves the Sheriff's room.

• Brother Oswin: Assistant to Cadfael in the herbarium. He has improved greatly in his skills. He handles everything as to making of medicines while Cadfael travels twice to Wales. He is about 20 or 21 years old, and was introduced in The Leper of Saint Giles.

• Gilbert Prestcote: Sheriff of Shropshire. He was appointed by King Stephen in One Corpse Too Many. He owns manors on the borders with Wales, giving him a history of disputes with his Welsh neighbors, holding strong views against them. He is in his late fifties in this story. He took wounds at the battle and was taken prisoner by Cadwaladr. His wounds lay him very low, but both Welsh and English expect him to recover fully with time and care. In his weakest moment, he is murdered.

• Melicent Prestcote: Daughter of Sheriff Gilbert Prestcote by his first wife. She is about 18 in this story, with golden blonde hair. She falls in love with Elis ap Cynan. She fears her father will not like her choice, but never asked him.

• Sybilla, Lady Prestcote: Second wife of Gilbert Prestcote. She is the mother of his only son, 7-year-old Gilbert, who will inherit his father's lands. She and her family await Prestcote's return in the Castle, where Elis is held, then move to the Abbey guest house when Prestcote returns still weak from his wounds. She is twenty years younger than her husband, so in her later thirties.

• Hugh Beringar: Deputy Sheriff of Shropshire. He was appointed by King Stephen in One Corpse Too Many. He is 26 years old in this story. His manors are in Maesbury near the borders with Wales. He is a close friend with Cadfael, and put to the test of defending the shire when the Sheriff dies.

• Aline Beringar: Wife of Hugh. She is 21 years old in this story. Cadfael joins her to visit with his godson Giles, now walking, and await the return of Hugh from the battle of Lincoln. She was introduced in One Corpse Too Many.

• Alan Herbard: Young lord in Shropshire. He is appointed to hold Shrewsbury Castle in Hugh Beringar's absence, and is quickly challenged with his first defense actions.

• John Marchmain: 19-year-old cousin of Hugh Beringar. He is left as surety for Prestcote in the exchange of prisoners, and serves as messenger from Owain Gwynedd to Hugh Beringar on his return.

• Sister Magdalen: Nun at the Benedictine cell at Godric's Ford. She was introduced in The Leper of Saint Giles as the novice Avice of Thornbury, and is now a full member of the nunnery, well-established with her colleagues and the people living nearby. She is a resourceful woman who attracts friends easily in her new life, and becomes a friend of Cadfael in this story.

• John Miller: Forester at Godric's Ford. He is a huge and strong man, of service to the nuns there in the attack and later to the wounded cousins from Wales recovering from the second attack.

• Anion ap Griffri: Half-Welsh lay servant of the Abbey skilled with the livestock. He is in the infirmary mending a broken leg when Sheriff Prestcote is returned to Shrewsbury. He was born illegitimate to his English mother, and later met his Welsh half-brother. In this story, he seeks out his Welsh father for the first time, to be claimed as a son with full rights in Wales, when he is about 27 years old.

• Griffri ap Llywarch: Welshman in Owain's domain. He is the father of Anion ap Griffri, which he is delighted to learn when Anion comes to visit him in Wales. He is about 50 years old.

• Elis ap Cynan: Young landed Welshman. He chose unwisely to join the fighting at Lincoln under Cadwaladr, whose group left him behind, nearly drowned, after they tried to attack the nuns at Godric's Ford. He is distant cousin to Owain Gwynedd, of princely upbringing. He was betrothed in youth to Cristina. He speaks Welsh and English, and has the gift of the bard's tongue. He first feels love for a woman when held at Shrewsbury Castle. He is 21 years old, cousin to Eliud, and raised as foster brothers when his parents died young.

• Eliud ap Griffith: Son of Griffith ap Meilyr. He was raised from infancy with his cousin and foster-brother Elis. He loves Cristina. He arrives in Shrewsbury as groom to Einon ab Ithel, to be left as surety in the exchange of prisoners. He is 21 years old, and is watchful of his foster brother, who is less cautious in life.

• Owain Gwynedd: Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales, real historical person. He talks with both Hugh Beringar and Brother Cadfael as the former seeks to put down common enemies and the latter seeks the proof of the murderer.

• Cristina merch Tudur: Daughter of Tudur. She is a Welsh girl betrothed in youth to Elis. She loves Eliud from childhood, but does not speak up for her true wishes until the midst of this story, getting her father's support in choosing her own husband. She has dark hair and dark eyes, is about 18 years old in this story.

• Tudur ap Rhys: Welsh retainer of Owain Gwynedd. He is father of Cristina and a lord of Tregeiriog whose manor is used as a base by Owain for the necessary defense against Chester's forces.

• Einon ab Ithel: Captain under Owain. He leads the party returning the ailing, captured Sheriff Prestcote to Shrewsbury. He is a wealthy man, owning extensive lands with gold mined on them. He is a big muscular man in his forties.