war band, with rumors circulating that they resorted to cannibalism, either deliberately or as a last resort. The Tafurs launch an attack on Veille du Père, but Hugh and his friends had prepared traps, and so killed all but one. The last Tafur attacks Hugh before his escape, breaking his staff, revealing a hidden reliquary — the Holy Lance that pierced Jesus Christ's side as he lay on the cross. Peasants flock to the spear, so Hugh marches on Treille and takes Baldwin prisoner. Next, he marches on Borée. The leader of the Tafurs, "Black Cross," attacks Hugh but he and the rest of the Tafurs are defeated. Stephen (Anne's evil husband who had recently returned from the Crusades), threatened to kill Emilie, but a plot by Hugh and Anne saves her. Stephen runs into the castle with Hugh in pursuit, and Anne kills Stephen with the Holy Lance. References 2003 American novels Novels by James Patterson Novels set in the Middle Ages American historical novels Novels set in France Fiction set in the 1090s Little, Brown and Company books