"The Order of the Dragon dates back to the Fifteenth Century, when the Holy Roman Emperor, King Sigismund of Hungaria, along with Queen Barbara Cilli, formed the Order from members of the crowned heads of Europe. The Order's purpose and mission, was to "defend the Cross and to do battle against its enemies", wherever they might be found. These were the times of the Crusades, and the greatest threats to Christendom were the Ottoman and Turkish Empires, especially after the fall of Istambul.
"As the centuries passed, the Crusades ended, and the expansion of empires continued apace, but the Order fell into obscurity. But their purpose never changed: to defend Christendom. And the Order changed with the nature of the threat. Rather than leading the fight for temporal power, the Order recognized that the metaphysical threat was no less great. And that the natural world, might become the target of the forces of the supernatural, as well.
"So, the Order exists today, in the Twentieth Century, with its ancient purpose intact, but fighting a two-front war. Forces of one world will attempt to use power of the other world, for its planned confrontation. And the Order stands in their way, even now.
"You, My Lady, were born Percilla St. Cyr, of an English noble family. Your true bloodline, however, brings you in direct line of descent from Mircea Szilagy, who was Baron of Sibiu, and a Knight-Commander of the Order of the Dragon - and one of the last ones to hold the rank who possesed temporal authority as well as supernatural. The time and opportunity have arrived, Madam, to make claim to the Barony - and to the knighthood, and possibly help to restore some of the power and influence of the Order, so that the imminent confrontation with the Enemy will be successful!"
BTTT - I can't wait to read the next! :o)