her family’s quest for safety amid the chaos. The opening of the work introduces the aftermath of the fall of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and the subsequent fragmentation of Germany into small states. It vividly describes the tumultuous circumstances surrounding Nuremberg and the siege of Liège by Duke Charles the Bold. Afra, a young mother, anxiously awaits her husband Matthias's return from the battlefield, embodying the fear and uncertainty faced by civilians during wartime. When Matthias returns wounded, the couple must confront imminent danger as the city faces another assault. The story sets a tone of resilience and familial love amid despair, laying the groundwork for the unfolding themes of survival and societal change against the grand tapestry of history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)