In a time of chaos within the Empire of the West, Mara, the daughter of a Horse People chieftain, is kidnapped by slavers, igniting a series of events that affect various characters. Among them are Thomasius, a centurion; Manasa, a fellow slave; Aulus, a senator's disreputable son; Florianus, a eunuch; and Decimus, the enforcer for the General, the only hope for saving the Empire. As political and religious factions vie for power, the narrative explores themes of loyalty, survival, and the struggle against tyranny.
