Athenian General Themistocles, hero of the Battle of Salamis, has been exiled from his beloved Athens and has been living in Magnesia in the Persian empire, for many years, under the personal protection of the Persian King, Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes has given refuge and position, and a very comfortable life to Themistocles, in return for Themistocles being Artaxerxes general, should Artaxerxes wage war again against the Athenians again. Themistocles has built a life and brought up his beloved youngest daughter Asia, as governor of Magnesia.

 

But things are about to change.

 

Artaxerxes has decided to go to war and has sent an envoy to Magnesia to tell the general to take up arms against Athens and fulfil his promise, and when this envoy comes, he starts to take an interest in Asia, Themistocles's daughter, as well as telling the general that he must honour his duty or else.

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Athens, however have been secretly been keeping a spy on Themistocles for many years to make sure the old general hasn't been planning a rebellion on Athens  - a young Athenian man called Timias who has been living very happily in Magnesia undercover as a fisherman. Timias has, however, fallen in love with Asia, and Asia has been fallen in love with Timias, (although unaware that Timias is an Athenian spy), and they have started a clandestine relationship - but Timias has no plans to tell Asia that he is spying on her father. Now Athens, having heard of the Persian's plan to use Themistocles as their general in the upcoming war against them, and knowing Themistocles brilliance at war, have sent two assassins operatives to help Timias kill Themistocles by poison before Themistocles joins the Persian battle fleet.

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Meanwhile, Themistocles housekeeper, Badia - who has been spying on Themistocles for the Persians since she joined his household- has discovered that Themistocles is gravely ill, although Themistocles has told Badia to kept it quiet. Badia who has become like a mother to Asia, and is balancing her loyalty to Themistocles, Asia and also her Persian handlers must also now content with the envoy making sure she is doing her duty for Persia, while also trying to fend off his attentions, and also trying to fend off his attentions that he is also directing to Asia, as well s dealing with her love for Themistocles manservant ??? . ??? is also trying to protect Asia and knows there is something up with Themistocles and doesn't quite trust Timias either. Themistocles must also balance his desire to keep protecting Asia, Badia and ??? from the threats of the envoy if he doesn't join the Persian battle fleet, Asia's long term security, but also concealing his illness and worry that is he doesn't do what the envoy wants him to do, he and his daughter, along with all his household will be killed. But is Themistocles still angry at the Athenian's that punished him? Does he really want to betray his homeland even if they have ostracised him? What happens he can't honour the vow he made? Can he make sure that all those depend on him have enough if he should die and safety from the Persians if he doesn't and he's not there to protect them - they couldn't return to Athens or anywhere else.