The man in black

At the bustling horse‑fair of Fécamp in the autumn of 1637, the streets roar with the clatter of hooves, merchants’ cries, and the clamor of spectators. Through this lively chaos we meet Jehan de Bault, a proud yet uncertain young lord who claims a lineage that stretches back to the legendary Roland. His narration drifts between the colorful spectacle of the fair and the uneasy shadow of a France still under the iron grip of the Cardinal.

Among the tents and tight‑rope acts, a mysterious trio captures the crowd’s attention: a boy, an ape, and a man cloaked in black whose oversized iron armor glints ominously. The man’s unsettling presence hints at secrets buried beneath the revelry, while an astrologer’s cryptic offer to draw a horoscope suggests that fate may soon turn the tide for Jehan. As the fair reaches its fevered peak, the stage is set for intrigue, danger, and a clash between noble pride and the unknown.