In my previous book, In the Wake of Hannibal, the story is told by Hannibal's brother Mago, by Mago's lieutenant Gisco and by Gisco's wife Sansara. Gisco and Sansara survived the war and produced six childtren. Fifty years later, the Romans have determined to destroy their old enemy, Carthage. Gillimas, Gisco and Sansara's youngest son is grandfather to Gilimas and Simabal, aged nine and twelve respectively. The Children's fathers, Mazeus and Bomilcar have died in the war against the Numidian King Masinissa.
The Romans played Carthage like an astute fisherman plays a fish. They demanded three hundred young, highborn hostages and young Gillimas' older brother Mazeus becomes one of them. Then they demanded that the Carthaginians totally disarm. The Carthaginians complied. Then they demanded that the Carthaginians leave their city and move at least twelve miles from the sea. The Carthaginians, despite being totally disarmed, determined to resist and the war began.
With his brother gone and his father dead, his Grandfather takes young Gillimas under his wing, determined to teach him business techniques and state craft. Grandfather Gillimas is a member of the Carthaginian Senate and a member of the Committee of 104 which rules Carthage.
Gillimas' mother, Yasbal, has become withdrawn since the death of her husband, but his Aunt Matessa remains strong and determined to keep the family going. She knows that the Roman siege will bring famine and she send the children out early every morning to harvest fruit and nuts from the abundant trees that grow in Megara, their wealthy suburb. Despite her providence, however, hunger and disease eventully kill most of the family.
On day the Romans enter Megara. The Carthaginians drive them out but take a number of Romans prisioner. The next day, the Carthaginian Suffete, Hasdrubal, has the prisoners tortured and killed on the city wall in full view of the Roman camp. Grandfather Gillimas chastises the Suffete for the atrocity and Hasdrubal determines to eliminate him. Young Gillimas watches in horror as his Grandfather is beaten to death by Hasdrubal's thugs.
Great Uncle Hanno, Grandfather Gillimas' older brother, takes charge of the children. When the Romans enter the city for the final time, setting about to destroy it, he advised Gillimas and Simabal to take refuge in the Temple of Eshmoun. He, himself, is determined to die fighting the Romans.
The Roman general, Scipio Minor, having destroyed the city, allows the 50,000 suvivors to surrender and be sold as slaves. Gillimas and Simabal are among them. They are taken to a camp near the city of Utica and put on the slave market. Simabal is purchaced by a brothel owner. Gillimas, much luckier, is discovered by Amandas, an old friend of his grandfather, who persuades his friend Polybius to purchase him as a gift for his friend Ectorius. Polybius knows that Ectorius, a former slave, hates slavery, and will free any slave he acquires. When Gillimas accidentally discovers Simabal's circumstances, he persuades Ectorius to intervene. Simabal is taken from the brothel but remains a slave in the household of Scipio Minor.
Gillimas fears to go to Rome where he believes he will be despised as a Carthaginian, so Ectorius takes him to his farm in Apulia where his sister, Andromache, take him under her wing. Eventually Ectorius encounters Simabal in the household of Scipio Minor and purchases her freedom and the two cousins are reunited.
