Six-Crossed Knot: Backdrop to Masque

Masque is the tenth story in Six-Crossed Knot, a series based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The story takes place in the spring of 1604, roughly six months after Jack became a vampire. Philippe has a larger role than his first appearance in the prequel, Walking Shadows. Matthew and Ysabeau are also in the story. Locations for this story include the Globe Theatre and two palaces -- Hampton Court and Whitehall.

The Knights of Lazarus was a medieval secret organization somewhat similar to the Knights Templar. Very little is known about them, and Deborah Harkness created a fascinating history of the group for All Souls Trilogy. She imagined that Philippe founded the order of chivalrous knights during the period of the Crusades. Originally restricted to vampires, by Elizabethan times it had expanded to include other creatures and warmbloods. Among the characters featured in Six-Crossed Knot, in addition to Matthew and Philippe, Walter Raleigh and Hal Percy are members of the order.

Gerbert d'Aurillac is mentioned for the first time in my series. Gerbert is the head of a rival clan of vampires. He was reborn around 740 and appears to be a little over fifty years old. From 999 to 1003, he ruled the Papal States as Pope Sylvester II. He is a firm believer in vampire superiority and is contemptuous of witches, daemons, and humans. For a short period of time he owned the Book of Life, but he let it slip from his grasp before he became aware of its significance.

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• Six-Crossed Knot Story Summaries and Reference Page