Die Schwertchronik

Highly exciting, opulent, and brilliantly researched historical fantasy set during the time of the Crusades. A secret mission from the Pope sends the young knight Raoul von Bazerat to Jerusalem in 1303: Under the pretense of being on a pilgrimage, he is to find the legendary scepter of Saint Anthony. For the terminally ill Raoul, this journey may be his last chance to give meaning to his otherwise indulgent life. However, death could catch up with the knight sooner than expected, as amidst the warfare, intrigues, and power struggles in the Holy Land, Raoul is not the only one seeking to possess the scepter. Soon, he finds himself pursued by papal agents as well as the Sultan's mercenaries. During a perilous escape, Raoul encounters the Egyptian Jada. She too harbors an unfathomable secret—and is the only one who knows the truth about the scepter of Anthony. Intrigues, power struggles, and magic during the Crusades in the Holy Land: With "The Pope's Envoy," Christoph Lode has crafted a captivating medieval novel that delights with its historical accuracy as well as its multifaceted characters and well-measured fantasy elements. "A magnificent narrative cinema." Alex Dengler, Bild am Sonntag. Writing under the name Daniel Wolf, Christoph Lode produces historical novels that regularly appear on bestseller lists.