From The Publisher: Ottah, an Egyptian necromancer, is in league with forces that want to destroy the Empire. He has a secret Network of necromancers and conspirators throughout Rome. The governor of Egypt has discovered the plot, and has uncovered the names of the conspirators. He has commissioned a centurion to take the list of names back to Rome on board a merchant ship. The reason a merchant ship is being used is to preserve secrecy. However, Ottah learned of the betrayal of one of his men and discovered the name of the ship that the centurion is traveling on. He just manages to catch the ship as it is leaving the port of Alexandria, and he curses the ship and all on it, sending it into oblivion. Najja, one of Ottah’s assistants, is one of the passengers on board. He is insane, thinking that he will gain immortality if he helps Ottah destroy the ship. He travels with magic powder that is capable of summoning spirits of the dead. Ottah’s amulet, carried by Najja, is the key to removing the curse.