Part One

     It was a warm day in the city of Val Royeaux. The sound of people in the street mixed with the

Chant coming from the Grand Cathedral in the warm breeze creating a symphony that echoed off of

the buildings surrounding the Corbeaux estate. Lounging on her window seat was a young woman.

Mirielle often spent the better part of the morning staring out her window, admiring the magnificent

cityscape and listening the sounds floating through the air. Today, however, would be different.

Sighing, she stood and straightened out her skirts. A twinge of sadness came over her as she closed

the window knowing this was the last time she would spend her mornings in this fashion. By

tomorrow she would no longer be known as Mirielle Corbeaux, from now on she would be known as

Baroness Lucrece. Putting on her mask, she left her bedroom of sixteen years for the last time.

     The Grand Cathedral's white stone exterior was nearly blinding in the mid morning sun. The

Chant of Light was loudest here at its epicenter. Normally, Mirielle would think it was calming as it

was beautiful. Today, however, the loudness of it nearly shattered her already shaky nerves. She had

agreed to this marriage, yes, but now she was more nervous that she had ever before been in her life.

She took a deep breath as the doors of the Audience Chamber opened. With her eyes fixed on the

Sunburst Throne, Mirielle began walking forward to her new life.