Italy at the turn of the 15th century is a dangerous place to be away from home. Rosso's brief career as a mercenary left him longing for peace. He's settled into a quiet, contemplative life in Rome as a novice monk. Or is he? On the eve of taking his final vows, Rosso disappears. None of his friends know where he's gone, or why. And he's not the only one who's missing. There's a rumor that Rosso's friend Marco and his family were carted away by sinister strangers in the dead of night. The intrigues of Cesare Borgias and his sister, Lucrezia, reach into the farthest corners of the countryside. They have the power of their father, Pope Alexander VI, and the Vatican behind them. But what would a power-hungry dynasty want with an Augustinian scholar or a Roman blacksmith's family? Does Rosso hold the secret to what happened? Priests, tavern owners, shepherds, and street urchins must band together to find out. In the process they'll discover that heroism comes in many forms, and often from those who least expect it.