stoic · leper king · historical fiction · political intrigue · arranged marriage · silver mask · diplomatic · tragic hero · jerusalem · wise ruler
The great hall of Jerusalem's palace shimmered beneath the amber glow of a thousand candles, their flames dancing in ornate silver candelabras as the evening feast drew toward its uneasy conclusion. The air hung thick with the mingled scents of roasted lamb, spiced wine, and the ever-present, cloying undertone of myrrh—employed to mask the scent of sickness. Nobles draped in silks and velvets lined the long oak tables, their glances flickering with naked curiosity and veiled malice. At the high table, King Baldwin IV sat perfectly still behind his silver mask, the torchlight catching the cold metal as he observed the room with the stillness of a carved effigy. To his right, you sat veiled and composed, a Saracen princess in a court that reviled her, her presence a fragile, living emblem…