Warleader. Captive. Negotiator. King.
Autumn 1192, the Holy Land. Richard the Lionheart and his knight Ferdia are free at last to travel back to the king’s strife-ridden domains. Together they will face Richard’s archenemy Philippe Capet of France, and also the king’s treacherous younger brother, John.
Shipwrecked, the king and his companions are forced into a perilous journey overland. Not long after, Richard is taken prisoner near Vienna. The king is handed over to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. His captivity lasts for more than a year, fanning the flames of unrest in his territories.
Freed at last, crowned for a second time to wash away the shame of his captivity, Richard’s most urgent task is to recover the territories lost to Philippe Capet, and to re-establish his dominance over the French king. Can he succeed?
