Hammer of God (The Dark Ages Saga of Tristan de Saint-Germain) (Volume 2)

Hammer of GodThe Dark Ages Saga of Tristan de Saint-GermainBook 2The bloodiest and most visceral conflict of history: the Crusades: a murderous rampage of hatred and intolerance that bared its ugly fangs in the 11th Century and whose venom lingers within us to this very day.Eighteen-year-old Tristan is inducted into the Benedictine Order. Beneath the watchful eyes of Odo de Lagery and the Cardinals of Rome who quickly begin grooming Tristan as the very promise of the Church's future, Tristan is tasked with carrying out the secret orders and assassinations of the Benedictine underground.However, Tristan holds a secret. He is hopelessly drawn to a beautiful Romani gypsy girl, Mala, whom he had met as a boy. They encounter each other only on a few occasions after first meeting but each has now fallen under that mysterious thrall between near strangers that overcomes all reason and defies all convention. Despite his holy vows, his rigid monastic indoctrination, and his labors on behalf of the Benedictine underground, Tristan cannot and will not refute his growing and unbridled passion for Mala. Their clandestine relationship will weave a twisted trail that can only lead to heartbreak, betrayal, and tragedy as Tristan's stature continues to rise within the Church as it fights schism from within and the dire threat of Islam arising from Spain, Africa, and the Middle East. Politics, religion, family bonds, loyalty, honor and a man whose heart is torn between doctrine and true love. In the year 1073, seven-year-old Tristan de Saint-Germain is abandoned by his mother and placed in the care of Grand Prior Odo de Lagery and the Black Monks of Burgundy, France. The young lad's frightening intelligence quickly gains the favor of his new mentor as well as the attention of the Vatican leadership, and at age eighteen young Tristan is inducted into the Benedictine Order. Beneath the watchful eyes of Odo de Lagery and the Cardinals of Rome who quickly begin grooming Tristan as the very promise of the Church's future, Tristan is tasked with carrying out the secret orders, embassies, and assassinations of the Benedictine underground on behalf of the Gregorian Papacy