The Trail of the Sword, Volume 2

In a winter‑blue Montreal, the quiet of a modest stone house holds a world of tangled loyalties and quiet heroism. Abbé Dollier de Casson, a towering priest who doubles as a violinist, fills the cramped room with music that seems to summon memories of love, violence and distant France. When the door finally opens, a young, daring stranger steps inside, eyes fixed on the cherished Stradivarius that the priest has just set aside.

Their brief encounter hints at a friendship forged in the harsh frontier, where honor is a borrowed coin and every gesture carries a hidden weight. As snow muffles the streets outside, the two men exchange glances that speak of past deeds, unspoken promises, and a shared readiness for the challenges that lie ahead. This opening paints a vivid portrait of early Canadian life, blending the clang of swords with the sigh of a violin in a tale that feels both intimate and expansive.