Reneisadedicatedwarrior-monkofthefamedKnightsTemplar,areligiousorderwhosemissiontoprotectChristianpilgrimshasdegeneratedintoapowergrabforwealthandinfluenceintheCrusaderKingdom.Disillusionedbythecorruptmotivesofhissuperiors,Reneisnearlykilledatthedisastrous1187battlefoughtattheHornsofHattin,whichwipesoutmostoftheChristianarmy.Heistakencaptiveonthebattlefieldbybrigands,butescapesandfleesintothedesert.SavedfromstarvationbyHasan,amysteriousMuslimtraveler,hereturnsthefavorwhenHasanisattackedbyoutridersofSaladinsarmy.Thetwotakerefugeinanisolatedoasis,thehomeofSoheila,widowofaMuslimwarrior,andSoheilanursestheseverelywoundedHasanbacktohealth.　　WhilehewaitsforHasansinjuriestoheal,Renefindshimselftemptedbythesimplepleasuresofalifefreefromtheravagesofwar.HisgrowingattractionforSoheila,followedbynewsoftheatrocitiescommittedbyboththeChristianandMuslimarmies,leadhimtoquestionhisvowsofchastityandobedienceandhiscommitmenttotheCrusaderethos.ButthesecretthatHasanharborsbringsdownonthelittleoasisthewrathofSaladinsforces,ignitingaconfrontationthathasdevastatingconsequences--consequenceswhichfinallyholdtheanswersforhistroubledsoul.--OfficialSite