In his Gallic Wars, one of the few women Caesar mentions is Odelia, sole heir of Orgetorix, the most feared of the Helvetian (Swiss) chieftains Orgetorix has the secret ambition of leading the Helvetians across the river into the rich lands of Gaul (France), insisting he has no fear of the Roman retaliation. To achieve his aim, he pledges his daughter in marriage to the Gaul Dumnorix, King of the wealthy Aeduans, who had ousted his older brother Divitiacus for allying with Rome and replaced him with the younger brother. Although a handsome man, Dumnorix seems to have little to recommend him other than a pleasant smile, and Odelia knows no man can rule with only a pleasant smile. Besides, she intended to marry the Helvetian's best warrior, Ticus. But, as her father's sole heir, she must honor her father's wish and the best interests of her people. So she becomes Dumnorix' unwilling bride as Gaul prepares to receive a new Roman commander, Julius Caesar. As events foreshadow the end of their world, Odelia finds that nothing and no one is as simple as she thought it was.