August. 383 AD. Flavius Maximus has declared himself emperor and crossed into Gaul. The civil war with Gratian has been short and the rightful ruler of the West lies in an early grave. Now two men face off across an empire. Theodosius in the east his armies large but reliant on mercenaries. Maximus in the west his forces small but battle hardened and loyal to a fault. In the middle of the chaos at the heart of a dying world two old friends march at the heads of opposing forces. Tribune Sixtus Victorinus fights for the West. Not out of loyalty to Maximus but to his two sons who are bound by oath to fight for the pretender. And General Gaius Felicius fights for the East. Outcasted by Maximus he will stop at nothing to see the usurper toppled. But if his old friend stands in his path is the road to vengeance still one he will choose to tread? War is coming and both men must look inside themselves and decide what is greater: the cause they fight for or the bonds of fellowship.
