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174 AD. Winter’s icy grip tightens around Castra Romana, a Roman fortress on the Germanic frontier. Within its scriptorium, Valerius, a former Cherusci scribe turned Roman librarian, uncovers a chilling secret: a serpent’s script woven into the margins of Livy's *Ab Urbe Condita*, prophesying the legion’s destruction. This discovery coincides with the disappearance of the fort’s tactical manuals – not mere guides, but the blueprints for Rome’s military might.

Valerius, haunted by his barbarian past, is thrust into a desperate investigation. He’s aided by Kaitlyn Donnelly, a sharp-witted, ostracized scribe whose unorthodox methods and network of informants offer a crucial advantage. But their path is fraught with danger, shadowed by Optio Andrew Duke, a veteran whose suspicion of the barbarian scholar simmers just beneath the surface.

Deciphering the serpent’s script becomes Valerius’s obsession. He realizes the stolen manuals are being funneled to Arminius, a charismatic Germanic chieftain uniting the tribes against Rome. Arminius isn’t just seeking a military edge; he’s aiming to rewrite history, using Rome’s own knowledge as a weapon.

From the hushed scriptorium to the raucous taverns of Aquae Granni, a melting pot of spies and traders, Valerius and Kaitlyn uncover a web of deceit reaching the highest ranks of the legion. Suspicion falls upon a gambling centurion, a seductive camp follower with divided loyalties, and even the seemingly incorruptible Praefect. As whispers of the serpent’s prophecy spread, paranoia grips the legion, eroding morale and fueling Duke’s distrust.

Valerius must confront not only the external threat but his own internal demons. His loyalty is questioned, his identity scrutinized. He must choose between the empire that offered him a new life and the whispers of his heritage. Kaitlyn, too, is tested, her drive for recognition evolving into a fight for justice in a world that seeks to silence her.

At a tense diplomatic summit, a carefully orchestrated charade designed to mask the final exchange of the manuals, Valerius must expose the traitor. The confrontation isn't a clash of swords, but a battle of wits, a desperate gamble to unravel the conspiracy. In a stunning twist, the traitor is revealed, and the fragile peace on the frontier shatters. The consequences are far-reaching, setting the stage for a conflict more devastating than anyone could have imagined.

In the aftermath, Valerius is hailed as a hero, his barbarian origins now a mark of his loyalty. But victory is bittersweet. He has witnessed the empire’s vulnerability, the cracks in its facade. The serpent’s script, once a prophecy of doom, becomes a testament to the enduring power of words, a reminder that even the mightiest empires can be undone by secrets whispered in the margins.

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Rafbók: 6 november 2024