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Quite near the center of south-central of Medieval France, in the Year Of Our Lord, 1535, Lady Marie Therese Caron stepped off a heavy traveling carriage in the courtyard of Aufey Castle.

Youthful, gracious Marquis Robert Moreau, one of the four noblemen below the Duc de Languedoc, greeted her upon arrival. His family had been tasked with administering the northern-most territory of the duchy for generations.

Death is seldom planned. And Lady Marie had been orphaned at the loss of her father, le Comte’ (or baron), a vassal of the marquis. Since she had no brothers, her cousin assumed the baronry, essentially pushing her out. At that time, it was but weeks prior to the marriage arranged years earlier to Lord Robert’s second son. Thus the teenager had been invited to Aufey early. In the time leading up to the wedding, the couple had, against the customs of the time, fallen in love. Marrying the second son fit just fine with the quiet girl’s nature. For Lord Dominque his role as the anticipated future seneschal of the Providence made him the man out of the spotlight but vital to its function. His bride and he were ready to play support roles to the larger personalities that were next in line of succession.

Out of the dark of night came a force of attackers. In a traitorous act the Captain-of-the-Guard had deployed far too many of the vassel knights and garrisoned soldiers away from the castle. It gave a fatal advantage to the invaders. The Moreau dynasty fell that night.   Lady Marie managed to survive the bloodbath, flee the castle and surrounding area. She found herself taken in by a generous hearted couple, doing naught but marking time.

Then a rumor came to town… One of the Moreau lords survived the attack…