A rich, dramatic adventure set in the tumultuous years of the late sixteenth century in France - a time of assassinations, poisons, seers and the sword. When Nostradamus proclaims to the French court his prophecy of a great massacre, the young King Charles only laughs. But the great soothsayer's also has a message for Melisande, the minstrel's daughter, who he believes is linked with him by Fate. And as the Angel of Death approaches, Nostradamus entrusts to her safekeeping some very special parchments - parchments that the rulers of France would do anything to see...