Nathan is a wealthy, successful Jewish merchant living in Jerusalem during the Crusades. Known throughout the region for his wisdom and generosity, he values human life and shared morality over rigid religious divisions. He returns from his travels to find his beloved daughter narrowly survived a fire, prompting him to seek out the mysterious knight who saved her.

The Templar is a young Christian knight captured by Muslim forces during the Crusades. His life was miraculously spared by the sultan because he bears a striking resemblance to the sultan's deceased brother. After bravely pulling Recha from a burning building, he initially dismisses the gratitude of her family, preferring to remain aloof and fulfill his knightly duties without recognition.

Recha is Nathan's beloved daughter, a young woman recuperating from the trauma of nearly burning to death. In her feverish recovery state, she is convinced that the mysterious knight who pulled her from the flames is a literal angel. She is deeply devoted to her father and eager to properly thank her rescuer.

Saladin is the Muslim sultan governing Jerusalem during the Crusades. While he possesses military power and moments of great mercy, he is severely disorganized when it comes to managing the finances of his sultanate. His treasury's depletion leads him to scheme about borrowing money from the region's wealthiest merchant.

Sittah is Saladin's intelligent and highly strategic sister. She acts as a confident advisor to her brother, seeing the practical realities of their financial and political situations more clearly than he does. She takes an active role in planning how to secure the funds the sultanate desperately needs to function.

Daja is a Christian woman who serves as a companion to Recha in Nathan's household. Her husband was a soldier in a European army, and she holds out hope of one day returning to Europe. She is fiercely protective of Recha and eagerly tries to facilitate a connection between her ward and the Christian knight.

Al-Hafi is a dervish who currently serves as Saladin's treasurer. The role brings him considerable wealth but causes him immense stress due to the sultan's careless financial habits. He values his personal friendships over his political appointment and openly considers resigning from his post.

The Patriarch is the head of the Christian church in the Jerusalem area. He represents strict, unyielding religious dogma and operates with political ruthlessness. He views the Muslim rulers as enemies to be destroyed by any means necessary, including espionage and assassination.

The Lay Brother is an associate of the Christian church who works under the Patriarch. A former hermit, he was taken in by the church but is now pressed into running undesirable and morally questionable errands for his superior. He is more compassionate and reasonable than the Patriarch he serves.