In ancient Greece, sometime between the stories of Homer and the histories of Herodotus, something happened that changed the world. Two brothers, Niko and Paramon, one destined to serve a lord and the other to serve a merchant, are forced apart. One must stay; the other must follow his lord wherever he goes. Paramon is thrown back on his own resources, but will do everything he can to make his own way. And his destiny is to discover a secret that will change everything, a secret that men will not hesitate to kill for. (Libraries Australia)