The Romans have vanquished the rebel alliance, leaving Calgus, Lord of the Northern Tribes, a prisoner of the chieftains he once led. But there's no rest. The new Roman leader's plan is to capture Dinpaladyr, the Selgovae fortress of spears, and return it to a trusted ally. In a select group of the infantry going north with the Petriana cavalry, Marcus Aquila burns for revenge on an enemy army that killed his best friend. They take the fort before the rebel army arrives. However, whilst disguised as Centurion Corvus of the 2nd Tungrians, he's only days ahead of two of the emperor's agents sent from Rome to kill him. And they are pitiless assassins. They know his real name, and too much about his friends.