What is the rising action of Crispin: The Cross of Lead?

The rising action of Avi's young adult fiction novel, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, is somewhat unusual because the story follows a series of tense events with long, perhaps boring breaks in between. I would say that the rising action begins when Crispin awakes in the forest after the funeral to find Steward Aycliffe and a mysterious partner having a conversation by torchlight. From this moment, we get the sense there is something else going on in the story which Crispin isn't quite aware of. Over the next two days, he hides in the forest to keep away from the Steward's eye. The tension of the story surges again when Crispin intends to meet Father Quinel to prepare for his journey and is chased off by Aycliffe's men. Next, the story lulls again as Crispin journeys to some undetermined village, trying to survive on wild foods. So the pattern of excitement and calm continue with Crispin meeting Bear, performing in Lodgecot, learning to juggle on their journey, and finally arriving in Great Wexley. 
During the portion of the story which occurs in Great Wexley, I feel that the tension of the rising action increases exponentially until the climax of Crispin confronting Steward Aycliffe occurs.