In this sweeping novel about one of the most fascinating periods in history, weaves together two dramatic stories occurring six-and-a-half centuries apart at a medieval castle in the dense Mediterranean forest of western Galilee. In 1271, a young German squire was witness to strange and treacherous events that took place in the Crusader castle when it was under siege. In 1926, archeologists on an American-led expedition to the same castle in British mandate Palestine stumble on a concealed subterranean passage, and within it, a remarkable find. These two episodes come together to expose a double drama of secrecy, deception, alchemy, and murder. is a must-read for anyone who enjoys action-packed historical fiction.