September 618 AD. The Byzantine Empire is losing its war with Persia. Syria and Egypt are occupied. The Balkans are lost. Italy is going, one bite at a time, to the Lombards. The Catholic Church is already an independent power. At 15, Rodi is the youngest agent in the Byzantine secret service. He's in Ravenna to find dirt on an Exarch suspected of having his hand in the till. His mission goes exactly to plan - until a freak accident leads to murder...