A richly emotional and fast-moving tale of servants who try to please both emperor and king while grappling with the lasting power of familial love.

Two thousand years ago Palestine was a minor kingdom situated between the Roman Province of Syria and the Roman breadbasket, Egypt. Strong hands were needed to keep the peace and Pax Romana prevailed because of the threat and sometimes the use of force.

Into this mix is woven a love story between Sphaerus, a personal servant to the powerful emperor Augustus, and Kallisto, a beautiful Jewish slave girl. To complicate matters, Kallisto brings into this relationship expectations of a Hebrew messiah. Whether in Egypt, Rome, or Greece, every Hebrew considered Jerusalem his home, and God help the Roman ruler who forgot that.

Delightful irony results when Eugenios, the son of Sphaerus and Kallisto, becomes an adviser to Herod. His successful family life provides a stunning comparison to the deranged families of his masters. Even a servant may learn that love is the most powerful weapon in life and the only source of true happiness.

Julian Bauer writes about integrity in governing, a knowledge he gained as CEO of his own company; as a Federal government executive; and as the president of a national non-profit organization. He has been married for fifty-six years to Carmen Espinosa and lives in Maryland.