The Youngest Templar: Keeper Of The Grail

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It is 1191; Tristan has led a simple life at a Cistercian Abbey since he was dropped on the doorstep 16 years before, just a few days old, but his life is substantially altered when a group of Templar knights come to the Abbey for a night's respite. Something about Tristan catches the eye of Sir Thomas Leux, the second in command of the Templar Regimento. Sir Thomas asks Tristan to leave the abbey and become his squire.

Even before Tristan accepts the job, the Marshal of the Regimento, Sir Hugh, strikes out against Tristan after Tristan scares his prize stallion, which responds by throwing the knight from the saddle. Sir Hugh is a venomous man and beats Tristan senseless in the stables later that night. Tristan is running away from his attacker when one of the monks comes looking for him. After a painful night of contemplation, caused not only by the tough decision but also from the bruises covering his body, Tristan decides to go with Sir Cartier 21 Must De Cartier Replica Thomas, and so his training with the Templars begins. Tristan learns to handle a sword in hand-to-hand combat and perform his squire duties, all while the Regimento simultaneously prepares a crusade to the Holy Land. When Tristan is again attacked by Sir Hugh, Sir Thomas comes along just in time, but not before Sir Hugh intimates to knowing information about Tristan's past. Tristan is left to wonder if Sir Hugh truly knows something about his heritage.

The Regimento spends three weeks at sea on its way to Outremer, the Holy Land. The Templar Knights join King Richard the Lionheart in Acre where they fight the Saracens, a Muslim army. Tristan's first battle is marked by his courageous rescue of King Richard when the king is knocked off his horse just feet away from attacking Saracens. Tristan rides to the king, jumps off his horse, insist the king get on his horse and ride to safety, which he does. Eventually, the crusaders take over the city of Acre, but the Muslim army soon surrounds them. Tristan and the knights must now survive in Acre for months with no incoming supplies or reinforcements as the Muslim army waits for more support. Ultimately, several more Saracen battalions arrive. The knights are outnumbered, and it becomes clear that defeat is inevitable. Sir Thomas and Tristan retreat to make a last stand at the Crusaders' Palace, a fortress within the city of Acre. Sir Thomas orders Tristan to make his escape from the city through the underground tunnels and caves under Acre and take a valuable artifact, the Holy Grail, which the Templar Knights have sworn to protect. Tristan then embarks on an even more remarkable journey, one where he must dig deep inside himself to find courage and resilience to keep going.

Michael Spradlin is a good story teller. Even readers who do not know much about the Replica Omega Speedmaster Crusades will be able to follow along with this tale of a boy learning about himself, learning how to become a man, and learning that he really is. Tristan is a likable character who shows tremendous bravery, loyalty, and cleverness. Readers can relate to Tristan when he faces Sir Hugh, the bully. The readers will be cheering for Tristan each time he escapes another close call.

This is the first book in a series, and the book does cut off rather suddenly. The characters still have much to do and many more adventures to have before the series is over. Michael Spradlin captures the time period of the Crusades with his clear descriptions of artifacts and places. Readers will be waiting for the next book to come out so they can find out what hap pens to Tristan, the youngest Templar.