Book excerpt: This book is the continuing saga of Lucia, an active teenager, whose curiosity and behavior tend to get her into trouble. At the age of thirteen, she inherits the Condado of Segoia from the presumed death of her father, Don Fernando, while on crusade. In addition, she inherits several titles and a vast amount of wealth from her mother, Lady Margaret, who dies while giving birth to Lucia. Her wealth is coveted by Don Raimundo Ortega Diaz, the Conde of Donato. He needs Lucia's wealth to raise an army to take the throne of Castile and to plunder the vast riches that lie to the south in al-Andalus. He plots her demise in order to obtain her wealth. Set against the backdrop of the ongoing war against the Moors in late twelfth-century Spain, Lucia is trying to mature into her role as condesa. However, her life is not easy. How is she going to handle a possible battle with an order of warrior monks and, later, with the church itself? How does she handle an attempted rape? What happened to her dear friend, Isabella, who she loved as a sister? Even a journey to visit parts of her condado can be fraught with danger, especially from the troublesome Moors. As if life wasn't difficult enough, Lucia has to combat a blizzard, along with her confidant and dear friend, Gabriella, on their way to Christmas in Palencia. What happened to Gabriella? Were they rescued, and if so, by whom? Questions asked and questions answered weave their way through this saga of an adventurous young teen.