Barbara Blomberg — Volume 01

The story opens amid the bustling courtyard of the ancient Golden Cross in Ratisbon, where a procession of nobles, clerics, and soldiers drifts through bright spring light and sudden rain. The atmosphere is thick with chatter, jokes, and the weary sighs of seasoned halberdiers, all while a group of youthful imperial pages—sons of German and Italian counts and a Dutch baron—make their way past the bustling crowd, their velvet garments hinting at the prestige that surrounds them.

Soon, the arrival of the Bishop of Arras, the Emperor’s trusted counsellor, and his physician creates a ripple of quiet curiosity. Their solemn presence cuts through the merriment, and the courtiers instinctively step aside, aware that something significant is about to unfold. As the rain patters and the palace doors swing open, the listener is drawn into a world of courtly intrigue, looming decisions, and the subtle tensions that pulse beneath the glitter of imperial ceremony.