Many years have passed since the Occitanian knights killed Richard the Lionheart in a courageous battle to keep the Blue Flame - sparked at the moment of Christ's death - from falling into the wrong hands Now it is in danger once again, as enemies from the north draw near In the midst of this looming battle, lifelong friends Raimon, son of a Cathar weaver, and Yolanda, daughter of a Catholic Count, are falling in love But a new religious crusade is about to begin, setting boy against girl, family against family, neighbour against neighbuor, south against north