Two young Parthians, brother and sister, are caught up in the great rivalry between Rome and Parthia in Asia Minor during first century A.D.. At that time Parthia was Rome's greatest enemy, fightng over land as well as trade routes to Seres, land of silk. Larius and Kyra become wards of Rome when their father, a Parthian nobleman, is killed in battle. In order to save his sister from slavery and possibly worse, Larius is caught up in political intrigue when he agrees to become a spy for his would-be benefactor, the Roman procurator, Publius. From this point on things become more complicated for both Kyra and Larius. As their lives intertwine with history, they experience the good and the bad. Most of all, they survive, heroic and strong. Jack Adler is a widely published author who teaches UCLA extension classes in Journalism and writing.