The Virgin Provoked

<p><strong>Love can kill you.</strong></p><p></p><p>The Virgin Provoked is a medieval mystery set in Carcassonne (now France) that follows Bertwoin a plowman who must come to grips with his family's struggle for honor and power - a struggle that is hostile to his love for the alchemist's virgin.</p><p></p><p>Tensions rise when the alchemist summons Bertwoin to help investigate the savage murder of Ermessen a farmer's wife with no enemies. Ermessen's daughter Armendis is found lying befuddled near a dung heap clutching a bloody dagger. Though all evidence points to her guilt the alchemist believes she may not have killed her mother.</p><p></p><p>To prevent Armendis from being arrested by the <em>bayle</em> and to give the alchemist time to prove Armendis' innocence Bertwoin and his aunt hide her. Then Bertwoin and Flowia the alchemist's virgin. go searching for clues. While interviewing a priest Bertwoin learns that his father plans to settle a boundary dispute by marrying him to a neighbor's daughter instead of Flowia.</p><p></p><p>Then Armendis disappears. Bertwoin finds and helps rescue her but the <em>bayle</em> intercepts Armendis and arrests her.</p><p></p><p>The alchemist uses a piglet to learn the true identity of the murderer. However when he presents his evidence in the Great Hall before the <em>visconte</em> and the seneschal they refuse to accept it. Armendis will be made to confess to the murder of her mother.</p><p></p><p>To save Armendis Bertwoin must do the unthinkable and take the risk of being hanged himself.</p><p></p><p>The Virgin Provoked is a complex tale of smoldering emotions and cold-hearted murder. The novel explores the themes of family loyalty gender roles and the corrupting influence of power and jealousy in a patriarchal medieval society.</p><p></p>