The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)

by Ken Follett

then he would recall how she had suddenly turned as cold and hard as rock; and thinking of that made him feel that he never wanted to have anything more to do with women. However, the vow of obedience would be difficult to keep, he could tell already. He was happy to take orders from Philip, who was intelligent and organised; but it was hard to obey the foolish sub-prior, Remigius, or the drunken guest-master, or the pompous sacrist.

animal’s greyish-brown coat was scarred in several places, indicating that it had survived at least one previous contest. A heavy chain around its waist was fixed

Beautifully written. Breathtaking