Menedemos, the dashing young sea captain, and his helper (and cousin), the scholarly Sostratos, are back in a new adventure.Soon after their successful return to Rhodes, the two cousins find that Greece is a dangerous place after the death of Alexander. Various factions fight and vie for power and the neutrality of Rhodes itself is threatened as opposing forces maneuver for advantage in the eastern Mediterranean.But Menedemos and Sostratos are determined not to let circumstances stand in the way of a profitable venture...especially since they are now in possession of a rare skull which appears to be from the mythical creature known as the Gryphon.But can they survive long enough to benefit from their unusual discovery?