Melanthrix the Mage

In the first volume of The Hieromonk's Tale fantasy trilogy, set in an alternate history in the year 1205, Father Afanasy begins searching for clues surrounding the carefully-hidden secret of his birth, Melanthrix the Mage gains much influence at the court of Korynthia, a killer viciously murders members of the government, and someone-or something-seems to be pushing the kingdom steadily towards all-out war with Pommerelia, its neighbor to the west.