Reneisadedicatedwarrior-monkofthefamedKnightsTemplar,areligiousorderwhosemissiontoprotectChristianpilgrimshasdegeneratedintoapowergrabforwealthandinfluenceintheCrusaderKingdom.Disillusionedbythecorruptmotivesofhissuperiors,Reneisnearlykilledatthedisastrous1187battlefoughtattheHornsofHattin,whichwipesoutmostoftheChristianarmy.Heistakencaptiveonthebattlefieldbybrigands,butescapesandfleesintothedesert.SavedfromstarvationbyHasan,amysteriousMuslimtraveler,hereturnsthefavorwhenHasanisattackedbyoutridersofSaladin'sarmy.Thetwotakerefugeinanisolatedoasis,thehomeofSoheila,widowofaMuslimwarrior,andSoheilanursestheseverelywoundedHasanbacktohealth.