In this final installment of the Mark of the Lion series, Atretes, the Germanic warrior, returns to play a central role in the story. Hadassah is confined to the cells below the arena and is facing death once again. Marcus, shattered by the loss of Hadassah, goes in search of God, while his sister Julia lies dying of a strange new illness, longing for a forgiveness beyond her reach. Meanwhile, Atretes vows to move heaven and earth to find his son—the baby he thought was dead, and whose life Hadassah has saved—and take him back to Germania. Only one thing stands in his way: Rizpah, a Christian widow who has cared for the baby since his birth. Atretes has not counted on Rizpah’s fiery resistance to having “her son” taken away, nor is he prepared for the woman’s strength and beauty. From their first meeting, the two are caught in a stormy battle of wills. Marcus and Julia and, finally, Atretes, come to realize that God’s love can heal all scars and bring forth a new dawn.
