Overview
Aristonicus, former Roman legion commander, is about to claim his retirement lands in Antioch. Along the way, he meets Paulus, head of a small band of Nazarites, on their way to Jerusalem. When Aristonicus decides to linger with this company, nothing prepared him for the life that awaits him at the end of their journey. As they travel, Aristonicus finds himself intrigued by the firebrand persona of Paulus, as he tries to spread the message of their deity, called Jesus, who is unlike all the Roman gods he has come to know and sacrifice. Pax Romana is without its barbaric episodes, and Aristonicus soon finds himself dealing with ferocious and tricky bands of thieves and criminals, fighting for the small group. He also glimpses another life with a woman, and much more, a life change that could never be farther removed from the life the Romans had bestowed on him.