Newlyweds Ruso and Tilla are ready to find a place to settle down, where they can unpack their wedding gifts and start a family. They return to Britannia for Ruso’s work; however, the only job available isn’t as a doctor, but as an investigator for the Roman government. A tax collector from the town of Verulamium is missing, and the town council swears that the tax man, Julius Asper, was trying to make off with the town coffers. But Tilla hears a different story from Asper’s lover, the beautiful Iceni princess Camma. According to Camma, Asper is the victim of a conspiracy, and she demands justice for herself and her newborn baby.

As Ruso digs deeper into the politics of Verulamium, he becomes increasingly suspicious of this supposedly cooperative tribe. Why do the townspeople welcome Ruso like a hero? Why is Camma treated like an outcast? Tilla has a sinking feeling about this town, and she puts herself in charge of defending Camma and her infant. As Ruso realizes that Tilla’s safety is at stake, he tries to give both the Roman government and the Verulamium council the answers they want. Ruso doesn’t realize that he is helping to cover up a vast conspiracy until it is almost too late to do the right thing for his family.