When magistrate Marcus Septimus's beloved wife and child are kidnapped, he turns to Libertus for help. Unless Marcus uses his power to release a certain political prisoner, he will never see his family alive again. Libertus is well aware of Marcus's dilemma: give in and sacrifice his reputation for standing firm against bribery, or refuse and provoke unimaginable consequences. But Libertus has also made a powerful enemy. How can he help his patron - and himself - this time?