Rebellions in the provinces, murders in the Eternal City – and a mission to steal one of the greatest artefacts of the ancient world… Vespasian is serving as a military officer on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, suppressing local troubles and defending the Roman way. But political events in Rome – Tiberius’ increasingly insane debauchery, the escalating grain crisis – draw him back to the city. When Caligula becomes Emperor, Vespasian believes that things will improve. Instead, he watches his leader deteriorate from being Rome’s shining star to a blood-crazed, profligate madman. Lavish building projects, endless games, public displays of his incestuous relationship with his sister, Drusilla, and a terrified senate are nothing to Caligula’s most ambitious plan: to bridge the bay of Neapolis and ride over it wearing Alexander’s breastplate. And it falls to Vespasian to make the dangerous journey to Alexandria to steal the legendary armour. Vespasian’s mission will lead to violence, mayhem and murder – and, in the end, to a betrayal so great it will echo through the ages…