The Lion and the Fox

Almost as soon as Richard the Lionheart became king, his younger brother Prince John was plotting to gain the crown of England for himself. His claim was tenuous because for many people, their nephew Arthur of Brittany, had the superior claim. He was the son of an elder brother Geoffrey. But Arthur was a young child which would mean a regency if Richard died without an heir.

John's reputation for unreliability was reinforced by his attempts to ally himself to Richard's arch-rival, King Philip Augustus of France to secure the crown - sooner, rather than later. He also took pains to attempt to prevent Richard's release from prison, after his capture on returning from the crusades. And there was always the fear that Berengaria, whom Richard married shortly before reaching Acre in Outremer, might produce a son. Something John couldn't allow.

Fortunately, Sir Guillaume Cadeil, now preceptor of the Templars' small grange at Sompting in Sussex, can be called upon by the English provincial master to ensure the young queen's safety. Except that he must juxtapose this responsibility with investigating several mysterious disappearances in the village.

This final part of the Sir Guillaume Cadeil Chronicles - which feeds into the start of the Pitt Family Saga - follows events across Christendom, as The Order seeks to ensure a smooth succession to the English crown when Richard dies.