Theodore was a prosperous farmer in the village of Abrostola. In the course of gaining his wealth, he'd alienated many of his neighbors. One day, he was found murdered. His death became problematic for Abrostola: Emperor Constantine V was an iconoclast, as was his governor in the Anatolic theme, Lankinos. If the village went to government officials, their icons would be discovered. Thus it fell to the village priest, Father George, to solve the murder. Theodore's widow, Anna, was quite adamant that if the priest could not find the killer, then she would go to Amorion and involve the authorities.