Noémi

A craggy limestone cliff rises over the river Dordogne, its sheer face riddled with a precarious wooden stair that leads to a hidden castle perched in a wind‑blown cavern. The stone, white as chalk yet hard as granite, encloses a forgotten stronghold that can be entered only from below, its only access vulnerable to a single clever sabotage. Jean, a young craftsman busy shaping a lance, is jolted from his work when a mysterious girl perched high above begins to dismantle the steps with a long‑handled hammer, demanding that he keep his distance.

The girl, striking in appearance and fierce in resolve, controls the dangerous ascent with calculated blows, forcing Jean to navigate the treacherous stair one safe rung at a time. Their tense exchange reveals a rivalry rooted in secrets and survival, as both must decide whether to trust the other or remain enemies on the edge of the abyss. The opening sets a vivid, high‑stakes tableau that invites listeners to follow the perilous climb and uncover what lies within the cliff‑top fortress.