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Rome in the year 140: After a fatal raid on her master, the 17-year-old kitchen slave Charis is bequeathed to heirs at the Germanic border, far away from her rich Italian homeland. Searching for a way of escape, she is soon ensnared by the prophet Chaeremon whose oracular pronouncements are rapidly gaining followers. To what aims is he using the miraculous Pilae Mattiacae that are said to rejuvenate their users? And does he maybe use a banned World Machine to set down his prophecies? Charis may receive help only from the house of the Gallic priest Restitutus who against his will becomes the main opponent of the increasingly influential prophet.