The Witch of Acre: An Outlaw Knight Tale

by David Pilling, Warren Design (Illustrator)

He vanished without a trace. Only one man dares to find him—before it’s too late.

Summer, 1191. As the armies of the Third Crusade lay siege to Acre, King Richard the Lionheart vanishes without warning. His knights search the desert in vain. The crusade teeters on the brink of collapse.

Only one man swears an oath to find him—Blondel de Nesle, the king’s loyal minstrel and closest companion.

Alone, Blondel rides into a strange land of monsters and warlords. His quest leads him to the Witch of Acre, a mysterious sorceress who holds Richard under a terrible enchantment.

She offers Blondel a single chance to save his recover the Bloodstone, an ancient relic shrouded in legend.

The Witch of Acre is a short standalone prequel to Outlaw Knight (I): Crusade by David Pilling—perfect for fans of historical fantasy, medieval adventure, and myth-touched tales of chivalry.

Genres: Medieval, Historical Fiction

59 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read featuring Blondel de Nesle, historical figure and supporting figure in Outlaw Knight (I): Crusade, on an adventure of his own during the Third Crusade. I enjoyed the depiction of the troubadour-knight very much, but found the story a bit less satisfying than the main novel that spun it off.

[Mitchie Baudelaire]

Well it's certainly not every day that you come across crusades x king Arthur × Dante's divine comedy crossover! All my fave teas in one! Fill it up to the brim please!