Il segno del drago

"The Dragon! We saw the Dragon, on All Saint's Night. The end of all Times is above us, and the seven trumps of the Seven Angels are going to blast!" It's just the prophecy of an old monk roaming around Chambéry's streets, thundering about judgement and impending punishments, or really that 999 Christmas shall mark the Millennium’s and World’s end? The merchants, gathered in town because of the customary Advent Fair, seem too taken up with their own business to pay attention to a voice foreshadowing only calamities. Neither can listen the newly-arrived travellers, anyone with his own history and a secret to keep, who find themselves gathered together out of interest, fate or necessity. To Amboise de Montsalvy, undisputedly renown scholar and physician, that’s the starting point of a long journey to take young Adelaisa from Burgundy, betrothed to Marquis Olderico Manfredi, to Turin’s Marchland. To Captain Colin Bois, clever and valiant mercenary, that’s the place where he’ll find another profitable hiring for himself and his men, ready to defend, against payment, Adelaisa and Amboise. To the enigmatic Illait from Isley, foreigner and pagan, that’s the beginning of a long flight from the stake, and from the abuse of a Bishop willing to do anything necessary to steal away the secret of the druidic wisdom, whose keeper is Illait himself. To any of these people Chambéry is the starting point of an adventure that shall lead them, through mountains and snow-covered paths, to brave dangers in thousands, by whose means everyone shall be able to test himself, to appraise his own courage and loyalty, dealing with puzzling events, suspended amongst reality and magics.