Garin de Castel-Noir is a young squire about to make a choice between chivalry and the church, rescuing a shepherdess from the son of an ambitious baron he has to flee, taking the cross he joins the Crusade and becomes Garin de l'Isle d'Or, a revered knight and troubadour.
The shepherdess was in fact Princess Audiart, known as the Ugly Princess, daughter of Gaucelm the Fortunate. Her assailant was Jaufre de Montmaure, the son of her father's enemy who coverts his lands and claims Richard the Lionheart amongst his friends.