Catherine and her squire Gauthier de Chazay joined the Pilgrims in Puy-en-Velay. The leader of the troop was a man of about forty-five named Gerbert Bohat. He was tall and thin, and seemed to bear the stigma of all human passions. Catherine had the impression that he did not like women at all and when he spoke to her his voice was cold and almost hostile. However, he was cordial with the other pilgrims.

Among the pilgrims were two young people from Paris, a girl called 'Margot', and a young man, 'Josse Rallard', with whom 'Gauthier de Chazay' became friends... After many hours of arduous walking, mostly in the fog, they arrived in the vicinity of the Domerie d'Aubrac, but one of the pilgrims tripped over a stone. Catherine supported her as best she could, but 'Gerbert Bohan' rudely attacked the two women.
When they reached the day's destination, Catherine wanted a room for the exhausted woman, but was told that all the rooms were occupied and that the noble lady did not want to share a bed with anyone.....

Catherine did not let herself be discouraged and went to the room of this noble lady and to her great surprise and joy, it was none other than her old motherly friend the Countess 'Ermengarde de Châteauvillain' whom she had not seen for five years.
Ermandgarde ordered that the chamber of one of her servants be given to the totally exhausted pilgrim woman.

Catherine stayed with the Countess and thus learned for the first time that Catherine was now the Countess of Montsalvy. She was very happy for her and said: she had won in the end...! But Catherine told her about the misfortune that happened to Arnaud and that she was on her way to Compostela to find Arnaud......

To Catherine's great surprise, the Countess tells her the next day that she will accompany her to Compostela, even though she has a foot injury... Gerbert Bohan soon begins to have heated discussions with Ermengarde, who does not care, and they continue without the other pilgrims... Yet... Catherine, Gauthier and their new companions notice that Ermengarde starts to slow down their pilgrimage and take rest after rest. This irritates Catherine because she wants to hurry - hoping to catch up with Arnaud. But Ermengarde convinces her friend that she really can't walk anymore and they enter the abbey of Ronceveaux. Meanwhile Gauthier and Josse observe that one of the soldiers in the Countess's escort is turning around and going in another direction...!

While Ermengarde is in one of the chambers, Catherine joins the others and a stranger enters the great hall. Catherine can hardly believe it, it is her friend from her Dijon and Bruges days, the painter 'Jean Van Eyck'. At first she is delighted by such a coincidence, but it turns out that the soldier was on his way to Burgundy to bring him a message from Countess Ermengarde!
... Catherine is outraged by this breach of trust on the part of her old friend, for in the painter's luggage is a missive from 'Philippe de Bourgogne'. She refuses to read this dispatch and goes directly to Ermengarde, who wants to make her understand that Duke Philippe still loves her dearly and that it is better for her, since Arnaud is lost to her anyway...! She tells her: « You can't cure someone of leprosy » ... Catherine goes downstairs and reluctantly reads the letter. After a conversation with Margot, she throws it into the fire...

While it is obvious to Catherine that she will never return to Philippe, a wounded man is brought to the hospice. This man had been attacked by bandits. It turns out to be Fortunat, Arnaud's squire and companion to Compostela. When he recognises her, he starts to insult her and his face is covered with joy.
He says that in Toledo they met the Cortege of the Ambassador of the kingdom of Granada. This ambassador, however, was none other than the sister of the Caliph of Granada...! Princess Zobeida was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and she had sent for her doctor who had cured Arnaud, for he had never had Lebra...

...and since his wife had chosen 'Pierre de Brézé' (see book 4) -  he was now well and free. Montsalvy willingly let himself be seduced by the princess! He, Fortunat, was sent home to tell his mother the good news... and Arnaud, with the Cortege, continued on his way to Granada...

For the first time in her life, Catherine felt jealous! It was obvious for her that she would go to Granada to get Arnaud out of the arms of this princess. Meanwhile, Margot overheard a conversation between Ermengarde de Châteauvillain and Jean van Eyck. The latter would have taken Catherine to Dijon, even against her will. The trio informed Catherine and they decided to flee from the guesthouse during the night......

While Margot distracted the soldiers in Burgundy's service, they were overpowered by Josse and Gauthier, four horses were seized and they fled. The path was steep and they rode in two groups. Catherine and Josse in the lead, Gauthier and Margot in the rear. Suddenly they heard shouting but Gauthier and Margot had disappeared - and there was no answer to their call....

Josse Rallard, who only wanted to make the pilgrimage because he was on the run from Paris for theft, asked Catherine if she would take him into her service. He promised to serve her faithfully. Catherine, who had a good sense of humanity, agreed, saying that she had an old friend in Granada who had once told her to come to him if she was in need and this is where they would now go....

After an arduous journey, Catherine and Josse Rallard arrived in Burgos where they went to an inn. While she collapses on the bed from exhaustion, Josse meets 'Hans from Cologne' at the inn. He is a stonemason from Basel who works at the cathedral. The two men hear a loud noise while drinking a glass of wine, and Josse is shocked to see a seriously injured 'Gauthier de Chazay' lying in a wooden carriage with a wooden grill.  
He tells Hans that he is travelling with the 'Countess of Montsalvy' and that the man is one of their companions. With Hans' help, they manage to get Gauthier out of prison without anyone noticing. When Gauthier wakes up, he doesn't recognise anyone - he has two large head wounds and has lost his memory...!
Hans recommends them to go to Coca, to the castle/fortress of Bishop 'Alonso de Fonseca', who is a great scientist, collector of precious stones and alchemy.

While Catherine and Josse are in Burgos, Countess Ermengarde de Châteauvillain has decided to turn back as soon as Catherine was gone and travels herself to France. Queen Yolande and the merchant 'Jacques Coeur' are very surprised that she has requested an audience - did she not come from Burgundy where Duke Philippe reigns? She begs the queen to help her and recounts what happened at Ronceveaux. She tells of Catherine's mad idea to go alone to Granada to try to wrest Arnaud de Montsalvy from the arms of 'Princess Zobeïda', at the Caliph's court.
The queen, who appreciates Catherine's value, consults with 'Jacques Coeur'. He thinks that he has his ship 'Magdalene' ready to leave for Almeria as ambassador to Queen Yolande. The countess fights back tears and tearfully explains that her intentions were well meant... Queen Yolande does not quite agree with her, wanting to offer Catherine to the Duke as a gift against her will... but the Queen accepts Jacques Coeur's plans...

Arriving at the Castle/Fortress of Coca, they were warmly welcomed by Bishop 'Alonso de Fonseca'. He was a great scholar who spoke perfectly French. He promised that Gauthier's wound would be examined.
The young page by the name of 'Tomas de Torquemada' led her to her room and made Catherine shudder at the way he stared at her! Catherine was brought beautiful dresses - and as she went to see the wounded Gauthier, she met a ghost. She saw a man approaching her and fainted.
When she woke up, she saw the kind eyes of her old friend 'Abou-al-Khayr', who was the doctor in question. He managed to operate Gauthier, yet when the patient woke up, it turned out that he could not remember anything. Don Alonso told Catherine: « Sometimes, only a shock could bring back one' s memory » ...

Catherine was firmly convinced that this monk, 'Fray Ignazio', was none other than her first husband, 'Garin de Brazey'. Like Garin, he was interested in precious and rare stones. She approached him, but he made her understand that he only spoke Spanish! Abou-al-Khayr tried to convince Catherine that Garin was dead, but Catherine told him that it was him, and that he had also a patch over one eye like her first husband....

Catherine reflected on Don Alonso's words. She decided to go and kiss Gauthier during the night. As they kissed passionately, his memory came back and he recognised Catherine.

That same night, Tomas set fire to Catherine's room and would have been burnt alive if Josse had not saved her from the burning chamber. Don Alonso was very angry and sent the young man back to his father, not knowing what harm this 'Toma's would do later in his life... A monk on the road to horror with a great hatred for women...!
When Gauthier had recovered, Catherine insisted that they leave all together for Granada... As they said goodbye to their host, in the courtyard, 'Abou al-Khayr' suddenly started to laugh. He had remembered that 'Garin de Brazey' had lost the sight in his right eye, whereas 'Fray Ignazio' wore his bandage for his left eye...

Finally they arrived in Granada, where Abou-al-Khayr invited them to his beautiful house. He told her that he had obviously already seen Arnaud and that she should also understand that Arnaud was definitely grateful to the princess because her doctor had cured him...! But her husband was being held prisoner by Princess Zobeida who was extremely jealous!
As Catherine looks out of the window, she sees Arnaud riding by, followed by 'Zobeïda'! Nothing can stop Catherine, she wants to enter the harem to get closer to Arnaud. Her friend tells her that everything must be well organised for her to enter the 'Alhambra'.
He takes her to the house of 'Fatima', the 'Bath Attendant' who believes that Catherine is the doctor's slave. After a long and arduous journey, Catherine is emaciated and her hair is a mess. But the clever Fatima sees that a beauty has been brought to her house - and she has an idea... ...

After eight days of intensive care, Catherine has regained her former beauty. Fatima persuades Catherine to eat all the sweets brought to her and gives her a new name 'Light of Dawn'. Moryama, the guardian of the harem, comes to visit her. She gropes Catherine like a horse being sold at the market - and Fatima sells Catherine  to the Caliph's harem without informing Abou-al-Khayr...

Inside the 'Alhambra', Morayama leads Catherine to the other girls of the harem where she is delighted to find 'Margot'. She had been kidnapped by bandits to be sold to the highest bidder on the slave market! There is also another pretty girl from Burgundy called Marie, but here she is called 'Aïcha'. While Catherine is tense and chatting with the two girls, a red rose is suddenly thrown at her! Everyone looks at Catherine - it is the sign that the 'Caliph' has chosen her to spend the night with him! To get closer to Arnaud, her husband, Catherine is ready to do anything. She goes to the young Caliph, 'Muhammad VII'I, who is under her spell and immediately names her as his favourite.

Catherine decides that she will try to reach Arnaud with the help of Margot and Marie. The girls start arguing about some fruits by the pool and in the confusion Catherine is able to slip away and she is able to approach Princess Zobeida's quarters. She approaches a fenced window stops death.
She witnesses the seduction of Arnaud, who is drunk and allows himself to be seduced by the princess. An Arnaud like she has never seen before and who plunges her into deep misery. She sneaks back to Margot and Marie undetected and tells them what she has seen. They both try to console her, while Fatima the Bath attendant, comes to visit and brings her some fruit. In one of the oranges is a message from 'Abou al-Khayr' telling her that Gauthier and Josse are now part of the Caliph's household....!

The next day, the Caliph's sister, Princess Zobeïda, who had been told about her brother's latest 'favourite', appeared. On her appearance, everyone threw themselves to the ground, except Catherine, who had to suppress her anger and jealousy. Morayama ordered her to get down on the ground, but Catherine got up and let the princess examine her. The latter asked her if she could not hear well... To which Catherine replied: « I don't know you and I won't do it ». And she sits down again...
Zobeida looked at her with contempt and told her that she should not abuse her luck. She was in a very good mood today - and besides, she was not as beautiful as she had been told... and there was something she absolutely should know. She definitely shouldn't show her face in her private quarters, or she would die.... And with that, she turned and left...
In utter despair, Catherine threw herself on the couch and sobbed ...

But Catherine's fighting spirit did not vanish. She took Montsalvy's dagger, which 'Abou-al-Khayr' had sent her in secret, and managed to break into Zobeïda's appartments.
By chance, Arnold is alone in the chamber, lost in thoughts. He turns around, thinking that it is one of the women from the harem who has slipped into the room. When he recognises Catherine, he first believes it to be a fantasy. They embrace and slide onto the couch without noticing that Princess Zobeïda is watching them kissing and making love ...

Arnaud curtly explains that Catherine is his wife and the mother of his son. She should show some character and let them both go... The princess laughs mockingly and threatens them with death.
Catherine, outraged, grabs her and threatens her with her dagger. Arnaud reacts in the blink of an eye and snatches the dagger from Catherine. They both run to the door with Zobeida, which is unfortunately closed. The prisoner tries to free herself from the embrace and Arnaud stabs the princess more or less involuntarily. Before they can escape, the 'Vizier' arrives and shouts throughout the palace for help...

Arnaud is immediately arrested and Catherine brought before the Caliph who informs her that Arnaud has to die because he laid hands on his Royal sister.  He is not interested to know that 'Arnaud de Montsalvy' is her husband,
... and as soon as he will be executed - he will marry Catherine and will make her his 'Sultana'. She begs for Arnaud's life but the cruel Caliph says the only favour he will grand her is that she can kill the Frankish Knight with the Montsalvy dagger, so he does not suffer the terrible faith in wait for him...
Abou-al-Khayr has in secret sent for the Caliph's enemy 'Mansour ben Zegris' - and while the Caliph's men and those of Mansour are fighting against each other, Catherine, the injured Arnaud with the help of Abou-al Khayr, Gauthier and Josse they  escape...

Five days later, they reached the large city of 'Almeria' where they meet 'Jacques Coeur', who has arrived with his ship the 'Magdalene', and they all sail back to France to safety.
Arnaud has recovered from his  wounds from the torture - and Marie, Margot, had also managed to escape from the Alhambra in the confusion. They say goodbye to their old friend Abou-al-Khayr who had promised to come and seek them one day at Montsalvy...

One year after their return to Montsalvy, the new castle of Montsalvy is completed. There was great joy in Montsalvy, not only for the inauguration of the brand new castle but also for the baptism of Catherine and Arnaud's new child, little 'Isabelle', named after her Grandmother, Arnaud's late Mother.
They were honoured by the presence of Queen Yolande of Aragon, who will be the Godmother of the little girl, and Constable Arthur de Richemont, who agreed to be Isabelle's Godfather...

The couple's best friends, such as 'Jean de Xaintrailles', 'La Hire' and 'Jacques Coeur', also travelled to Auvergne to attend the inauguration of the castle. Among the guests was also 'Marie Vermeil', who married 'Josse Rallard' and became lady-in-waiting to Catherine... Many Lords of other castles, friends of Montsalvy, celebrated with Catherine and Arnaud.

After the very successful feast, alone at last in their new quarters, Arnaud promised never to leave Catherine alone again... and yet... suddenly Catherine remembered hearing that the King's captains were going to gather in Paris to finally repel the English... he tells Catherine not to worry, he couldn't resist if his 'King' ordered him to come... and naturally she would accompany him, there were enough castles where she could stay during the battles... yet Catherine is already starting to feel uneasy...

Yet... would the proud Arnaud de Montsalvy keep his word to his wife... ?

Marie Vermeil/Aïcha accompanied Catherine and Arnaud de Montsalvy to Montsalvy. She became a good friend of Catherine and married Josse Rallard who also stayed in Montsalvy. Marie was promoted to the rank of 'lady-in-waiting' to Catherine.