Papias' son

The son of Flavius Antigonus Papias journeyed with his father to Brocolitia on the Wall in Britannia along with three other merchants. Papias and his son were also Christians, but they were careful to keep that secret; only Secundinius, a merchant from Gaull, knew this fact; the others assumed they were homosexuals.

All four stayed in the inn of Gaius Julius Decuminus, which was uncomfortable. Brocolitia's decurion, Quintus Vestinus Corvus, took a hand in forcing peace on the four. On the very first night, Secundinius quarreled with Brocco and Tertullus, the other two merchants, over the private room; Secundinius snored, and they were tired of hearing it. When Corvus intervened, Decuminus suggested the Greeks have the room, since they'd been quiet. Papias refused on behalf of himself and his son, and in turn suggested Secundinius should have the private room, so as to isolate his snoring from everyone else. Corvus and Decuminus both agreed with the logic.

The next day, Corvus and the fort's standard-bearer, Calpurnius Firmus, went to the market to buy wine for the fort's mess. They briefly visited Papias' wagon first, where Corvus purchased a few items. While examining a box, he inadvertently found a secret compartment with a ring inside. Papias' son alerted his father, who quickly informed Corvus was not for sale. Corvus recognized the significance of the ring, but kept it to himself.

One the third morning, Secundinius was found murdered at a shrine to Belatucadrus. Corvus and Firmus went to the shrine and examined the body, finding a knife wound to the belly. They then went to the inn. Decuminus reported that Secundinius had quarreled with Papias the night before, and Papias refused to speak of a matter publicly. Then Secundinius attempted to argue with Brocco and Tertullus in turn. Then all three left the inn.

The investigation seemed to point to Papias first, especially when Firmus found a bloody knife in Papias' wagon. However, during interrogation, Corvus revealed that he knew Papias was a Christian, which was a sect not fully understood in that part of the Empire. While Papias insisted his beliefs would not allow him to commit murder, Corvus concluded that Papias was too smart to have actually killed Secundinius, but until other evidence turned up, Papias would have to remain in custody.

However, Corvus proved dogged, and soon deduced Tertullus was the killer. Tertullus confessed, and Corvus took him into custody. Tertullus asked Papias' for forgiveness, which Papias freely gave as required by his faith. Privately, Corvus doubted that the courts would be as forgiving.