The Valley Beyond

This book is the continuing saga of Lucía, 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 Lucía. Her wealth is coveted by Don Raimundo Ortega Díaz, the Conde of Donato. He needs Lucía'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 to obtain her wealth.

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing war against the Moors in late twelfth-century Spain, Lucía is trying to mature into her role as condesa. However, her life is not easy. What happens to her when she travels through Portugal? How do she and her ladies escape from the grasp of a band of Moorish raiders? How badly is Lucía wounded when she goes to warn Yusuf of a possible invasion of his village? As if life wasn't stressful enough, what happens to the city of Segoia when Lucía becomes regent? Also, what happens to Don Raimundo?

These questions and many more are answered as the saga of this adventurous young teen continues.