The Treasure of Montsegur

About this book

One woman's unforgettable quest for freedom, love, and god.Rescued from the ruins of Béziers, Jeanne enters a turbulent world shaped by faith, war, and sacrifice. She grows to womanhood among the Good Christians of the Languedoc, seeking refuge at the mountain citadel of Montségur as crusaders march upon the south.There she is drawn to William, a battle-weary English soldier who tests her vows and captures her heart. Torn between the peaceful Cathar faith and an earthly passion, she faces a desperate struggle for survival, truth, and grace.Four hundred believers trapped on a Pyrenean peak, and one desperate bid to keep the Church of Love alive. Albigensian Crusade: From the burning walls of Béziers to the ten-month siege of Montségur, witness the devastating holy war waged against the people of southern France. Medieval Church: Explore the secretive world of the Good Christians, where vegetarian ascetics reject Rome's authority, translate forbidden scriptures, and confer spiritual baptism through the laying on of hands. Forbidden Love: Jeanne's bond with William, a battle-scarred veteran of the Holy Land, pulls her between the spiritual celibacy urged by Lady Esclarmonde and an obsessive earthly desire. Forced Proximity: Trapped atop a sheer precipice alongside hundreds of besieged defenders, Jeanne and William must navigate old jealousies and bitter rivalries as starvation closes in. Race Against Time: With the fortress poised to fall, trusted guides are lowered by ropes down the vertical cliff face under cover of darkness to spirit the sacred wealth into mountain caves.