16-year-old Pagan Kidrouk finds himself in Jerusalem assigned as a squire to Lord Roland Roucy de Bram, a Knight Templar whom Pagan immediately decides would cast Saint George in the shadow with his noble and saintly bearing. Pagan is an orphan who believes his own father was one of the 'Infidels' the Crusaders have come to the Holy Land to fight. When Salah ed-Din (Saladin) successfully attacks the city, a peace is negotiated for the release of the inhabitants. To Pagan's horror, Lord Roland forfeits his freedom to save others, but Pagan is determined to save the only good person who has ever come into his life.