War. Pestilence. Famine. Heresy. It is a time of great marvels and a time of desperation and despair. Fourteenth century Europe is about to drag itself into the brilliance of the Renaissance; already there are glimmerings of new ideas, new hope. But the present is enmired in war, famine, superstition and pestilence. Some turn frenziedly to bastard religions, enacting pagan rites and orgies by flickering firelight in the dead of night. Others seek...