Year of Grace 1177. Saladin, the man who has sworn to liberate Jerusalem from the Frankish invaders, is about to die at the hands of some bandits when Arn de Gothia, a Knight Templar, unexpectedly appears, killing the aggressors and saving the life of the Muslim leader. At twenty-seven years old, Arn is already a seasoned veteran among the crusaders of the Holy Land. However, during the ten years that have passed since he left Scandinavian lands on his way to his penance in Palestine, he has learned to understand and respect those against whom he must fight. In his native Sweden, Cecilia, his adolescent love, has been confined to a convent as punishment for her carnal passion. There she has given birth to his son, who will be raised in the house of Arn's uncle, Birger Brosa. Outside the walls, the struggle for power between rival Swedish noble families continues.
Year of Grace 1177. Saladin, the man who has sworn to liberate Jerusalem from the Frankish invaders, is about to die at the hands of some bandits when Arn de Gothia, a Knight Templar, unexpectedly appears, killing the aggressors and saving the life of the Muslim leader. At twenty-seven years old, Arn is already a seasoned veteran among the crusaders of the Holy Land. However, during the ten years that have passed since he left Scandinavian lands on his way to his penance in Palestine, he has learned to understand and respect those against whom he must fight. In his native Sweden, Cecilia, his adolescent love, has been confined to a convent as punishment for her carnal passion. There she has given birth to his son, who will be raised in the house of Arn's uncle, Birger Brosa. Outside the walls, the struggle for power between rival Swedish noble families continues.
