The second volume in The Last Roman trilogy, set in the final years of the Roman Empire Sixth-century Constantinople: Flavius Belisarius is barely eighteen and already commander of the cavalry patrolling the Persian frontier. A brilliant soldier but a poor schemer, Flavius needs to be both in order to survive the febrile politics of the Eastern Roman Empire. When his friend Petrus Sabbatius uses trickery to elevate himself to the position of co-emperor, Flavius finds himself embroiled in an explosive venture of machinations and warfare. As the valiant leader sets out to reconquer the Western Empire from the hands of the Vandals and Ostrogoths, Flavius is unaware that his wife, joining him on the campaign, has been secretly charged to spy on him. The brave general must battle against the deadly Sassanids and protect the co-emperor from his own subjects - who are out for blood.