From Burgundy, Claude Mercier travels to devote himself to the Bible -- and the sword.As ready as his Latin, Claude's blade comes in for quick use in the outwardly peaceful city of Geneva -- for the young scholar finds himself at odds with a drunken bravo, then thrust into the company of mysterious schemers who conspire against Geneva itself. Stranger yet, a man with alchemical leanings exerts mysterious power over the daughter of Madame Royaume -- a girl who burns herself in front of Claude, to warn him against the trying times to come