ReneisadedicatedwarriormonkofthefamedKnightsTemplar,areligiousorderwhosemissiontoprotectChristianpilgrimshasdegeneratedintoapowergrabforwealthandinfluenceintheCrusaderKingdomDisillusionedbythecorruptmotivesofhissuperiors,Reneisnearlykilledatthedisastrous1187battlefoughtattheHornsofHattin,whichwipesoutmostoftheChristianarmyHeistakencaptiveonthebattlefieldbybrigands,butescapesandfleesintothedesertSavedfromstarvationbyHasan,amysteriousMuslimtraveler,hereturnsthefavorwhenHasanisattackedbyoutridersofSaladin'sarmyThetwotakerefugeinanisolatedoasis,thehomeofSoheila,widowofaMuslimwarrior,andSoheilanursestheseverelywoundedHasanbacktohealth