1098. Having settled their differences with the emperor of Constantinople, the troops of the First Crusade poured into Asia Minor, pushing back the Turks and reclaiming the lands of the region in the name of Christianity. However, on the borders with Syria, their advance was halted by the strong walls of Antioch. With winter approaching menacingly, the crusaders found themselves trapped in a long and fruitless siege, suffering from hunger, deprivation, and fierce counterattacks from the Muslim defenders of the city. The danger of failure is now visible.

In this gloomy and heart-wrenching atmosphere of misery and despair, the body of a murdered Norman knight is discovered. His master, the ruthlessly ambitious Bohemond, asks Dimitrios Askiates to uncover the killer. However, Dimitrios' investigation leads him through intricate, dark paths where envy, betrayal, and fanaticism poison the very heart of the crusade.