“Deep within Sherwood forest stands a simple wooden statue: life-sized, and clearly carved from the whole trunk of a tree. It shows a life-sized and unusually detailed woman, with a sword in one hand, and a scroll in the other. From those others who have seen it, I have heard that it represents the vaulted folk hero Katrina of Maldon, Queen of Sicily, and lover of the tragic Allie the Upshot. It is one of the most haunting constructions I have seen within these Isles of Britain: at once celebratory and mourning; both true to life, and fictional. I must discover the truth of this Katrina of Maldon.”

— From the notes of Damien Chanteur

“The stories of the Queen and her love for a bandit, and the wildness of her youth, has echoed down the years from the great epic cycle of Katrina and Alyson: supposedly written by the Queen of Sicily, Katrina herself. History attests to the true existence of a Queen Katrina of Sicily, and it is seen as by her acts that the seeds were set for Kingdom of Sicily's ascendency within the Empire that was to come. However whether the Katrina Cycle is itself a true record of history, or even written by the Queen herself is far from self evident: the text has been massaged by some over the years, and the other writings of the Queen Katrina have sadly been lost. Regardless, it is obvious to even the most casual eye that this cycle has had a most profound shaping effect on the development of literature in Europe.”

— Extract From A Queen and A Bandit: Commentaries on the Cycle of Katrina and Alyson

One of the servants in the Palace at Palermo walks their daily route through the place: through the gardens from the main entrance and on towards the kitchens. This day, however, something catches their eye as the wind blows away the olive-tinted leaves that shade the palace from the sweltering summer heat. On investigating they can see a stone slab, with words carved into it, and although the ravages of times have dulled the writing somewhat, it is still perfectly legible.

QUEEN KATRINA OF SICILY,

YOU CLAIMED YOUR THRONE AS OUR GOLDEN AGE SEEMED TO DIE.

YOU THREW BACK THE EMPIRE, YOU MAINTAINED OUR PROSPERITY, YOU KEPT US WHOLE.

ON THIS, THE DAY THAT I HEAR OF YOUR DEATH, SICILY MOURNS FOR YOU.

YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THIS, BUT I PRAY THAT ST. WILLIAM WILL PROTECT YOUR SOUL IN YOUR PASSING

SICILY REMEMBERS YOU,

ALWAYS.

'Odd,' They think, 'That such a thing should be carved here.' And they ponder who could have carved it and why. In the end they decide that it doesn't really matter, as the sentiment is heartfelt: still, they come and look at it again each day for a month, as if expecting it to fade back into the rock.