At the age of nine Fernando Fadrique, a servant's son, witnesses the battle of Alarcos in 1195 and meets two very important men--King Alfonso VIII and Rodrigo de Coca, who allows Fernando to be his page. In the years that follow, Fernando accompanies the men and saves the king's life three times. Despite his passion for adventure and exploration, Fernando's true wish is to ask for the hand of In?s, a beautiful noblewoman whose high standing puts...