The youngest child of a Norman noble family, Oliver is fated for the monastic life until his life is turned upside down after a grotesque altercation at the abbey. He trains as a Templar Knight, travelling first to the Holy Land, then to Sicily and ending in Spain. His quests across the Mediterranean Sea bring him to the courts of the most powerful men of his time, from the King of Jerusalem, to the Byzantine Emperor, and to the court of Roger II of Sicily. He becomes a pawn in the hands of the rulers he has pledged his fidelity to, experiencing both the treacheries and the horrors of war, in all its ruthlessness, and the diplomacies extended to him, from people of all faiths. His adventures begin when the mysterious words of a fortune teller tell him, ''The lion will travel to the east but will settle to the west. You are destined for victories in many battles but none of them will bring you glory and only your enemies will recognize your true value... Remember that the cross and the crescent moon are both in your destiny and they will always cause you struggles. Three times you will fall in love but only one will bring you happiness and joy." Oliver has no idea these prophetic words will set him on the most fantastic journey of his life.