Roman Britain, AD 44. The land is far from tamed. A puppet king is doing little to calm the hatred of the native tribes and bring them under Roman rule. Fighting is in Optio Horatius Figulus' blood. His Celtic ancestry is mocked by his fellow soldiers, but it gives him the toughness essential for survival. That toughness will be tested to the very limit when he is sent on a mission deep in hostile territory. Exceptionally well-paced historical thriller!