The Jester (Patterson, James)

Hugh De Luc returns from the Crusades to find his son killed, his wife kidnapped, and his town gutted in the search for a priceless relic . . . and now, he must fight to save everything he holds dear.
Arriving home disillusioned from the Crusades, Hugh DeLuc discovers his village has been ransacked and his wife abducted. The dark riders came in the dead of night, like devils, wearing no colours but black crosses on their chests. They search for a relic, one worth more than any throne in Europe, and no man can stand in their way.
But now, disguised as a jester, Hugh is able to infiltrate the castle where he believes his wife is being held captive. When a man is fighting for freedom, for his wife, and for everything he holds dear, he's a worthy opponent . . . maybe even unstoppable.
With the rapid pace of a page-turning thriller, The Jester is a breathtaking adventure. Full of pulse-pounding plot twists and mysteries, Hugh's quest to find Sophie is one of the most unforgettable love stories in all of fiction.