Hraban the Marcomanni has never met his father Maroboodus, exiled in far-away Rome, but this is about to change. In the age of early Roman Empire, Augustus is creating his legacy with gladius as the legions begin the arduous work of subjecting the troublesome and divided Germani tribes. Such great, distant issues do not concern Hraban, a young man bent on becoming a spear lord, giver of rings, a warrior praised in the dark halls of his kin. He is the Raven, and son of great lords.

Hraban the Marcomanni has been cast out of his tribe by his treacherous father Maroboodus. He has lost his tribe, his mother and both grandfathers, and his fame and honor with the ones he loved. He has been lied to, he has been used to further his father's plots and in the end discarded, and his lot was to linger in slavery to Odo, a priest to Lok until he would die, having fulfilled the needs of a deadly prophecy.

Hraban's dice are cast. He has chosen to serve Nero Claudius Drusus, the mighty Roman general and the stepson of the princeps of Rome, Augustus. He has abandoned his hope of ever finding fame and home with the Marcomanni and has turned his back on Armin the Cherusci, who offered him a place amongst the foes of Rome and Maroboodus, Hraban's traitorous father. Yet, the fate of Drusus is not to idle in Gaul, but to take the war to Armin and the Cherusci, and Hraban follows him to war, serving the great lord in his drive to slay Armin.

Hraban is riding for Rome. Having lost Drusus to the schemes of a highborn noble in Rome, Hraban and his friends follow Tiberius, and join the Germani Corporis Custodes, the illustrious Germani guard of Augustus. Their mission is not only to guard the lives of the family of the Princeps, but also to uncover who is trying to kill the sons and grandchildren of Livia, wife of Augustus. Drusus is already dead. Will Tiberius be next? Is Julia, the daughter of Augustus to blame, as everyone believes?