Rome: AD 69, the Year of the Four Emperors. Three emperors have ruled in Rome this year and a fourth, Vespasian, has been named in the East.

As the legions march towards civil war, Sebastos Pantera, the spy whose name means leopard, returns to Rome intent on bribery, blackmail and persuasion: whatever it takes to bring the commanders and their men to Vespasian’s side.

But in Rome, as he uses every skill of subterfuge, codes and camouflage he has ever learned, it becomes clear that one of those closest to him is a traitor who will let Rome fall to destroy him.

Together, the two spies spin a web of deceit with Rome as the prize and death the only escape.