Cassia, a young slave, has never known freedom. She has spent her life serving Mistress Helena, whose brutality has been increasing. With her son, Master Marius, away so much overseeing their shipping business, Helena has no one to tame her fury.

But the streets of Ancient Rome aren't safe for Cassia either. Christians are being found and taken to be executed by orders of Emperor Trajan and Pliny the Younger. When Cassia's own mother, Livia, is taken to jail, Cassia is sure that all is lost.

When Master Marius returns home, he finds his household in chaos and people he cares about taken away from him. As a leader in his community, how can Marius share the Good News that he has found for himself and make a difference in the lives of the people he loves? And can he ever bring his mother the peace that she longs for?

In a time when Christianity is against the law, freedom is something that few can claim. But perhaps freedom is more easily obtained than any of them realize.