The globally bestselling thriller that paved the way for THE DA VINCI CODE & countless copycat conspiracy novels. In the 8th century AD Ibn al' Arabi the Moorish governor of Barcelona bestowed a magnificent gift upon Charlemagne Holy Emperor of half of the known world: a chess set with the power to transform the course of history. New York City 1970. Catherine ' Cat' Velis a computer expert working for one of the world's largest accountancy firms is sent on a dangerous assignment to retrieve an object of immeasurable value from somewhere in the remote reaches of Algeria. Montglane Abbey France 1790 Mireille de Remy & her cousin Valentine are young novices at the fortress-like Montglane Abbey. With France aflame in revolution the two girls burn to rebel against constricted convent life
- & their means of escape is at h&. Buried deep within the abbey are pieces of the Montglane Chess Service once owned by Charlemagne. Whoever reassembles the pieces can play a game of unlimited power. But to keep the game a secret from those who would abuse it the two young women must scatter the pieces throughout the world...