"It's 300 A.D in the eastern Roman Empire. A soldier named Marcellus takes a leave of absence to visit his father and get married. Then he meets a dragon, an alluring beast that seems ready to fulfill his dreams of wealth, family, military success, and a secure Empire. But is the dragon everything it claims to be? And what about the Christians on his father's estate who show Marcellus a way of life that is both strange and attractive? And why does the dragon view these Christians as a threat to the Empire? As he tries to answer these questions, Marcellus comes to realize that he may have to choose between a life of Roman prosperity and becoming an outlaw in the Empire he loves."--Page 4 of cover.