The Lord of the Sea

A sudden, breath‑stopping cry in a cramped Lisbon synagogue marks the beginning of a tangled tale of prophecy and ambition. An aged woman, clutching a candle, foretells a coming day while an enigmatic young lady called Estrella receives a mysterious child she names Rebekah. Their conversation drifts to a sailor named Richard, whose fleeting encounter hints at a larger, unsettled destiny that will soon touch many lives.

Beyond the narrow streets, Europe erupts in violence and anti‑Jewish edicts, sending families scattering across the continent. In the midst of this upheaval, the shrewd financier Frankl seizes the chance to acquire vast estates, riding a wave of newfound prosperity that sweeps England. Yet the rapid rise of wealth brings anxiety, as land becomes scarce and ordinary people find themselves empty‑handed though the world buzzes with trade.

Now settled in Westring Vale, Frankl imposes an odd decree: every tenant must wear a fez with a tassel as the manor’s livery. The mandate sparks whispered debates in alehouses and markets, setting the stage for a clash between tradition, authority, and the restless spirit of a community on the brink of change.