484 AD:Streets of the empire
Charged by the young King Clovis to lead his embassy to the Empire with the ambitious aim of being recognized as a friend and ally of Rome in the now distant Gaul, Marcus takes the beautiful and ambitious princess of the Franks with him and finds back his Empress, to which he is bound by a complicated relationship of loyalty, affection and distrust. Aelia Ariadne is increasingly surrounded by declared enemies and hidden traitors, even in the narrowest circle of her own family; to defend herself, she will have to rely once more on her trusty western centurion, but in doing so she will risk losing forever not only his affection for her, but also his respect. And while Marcus will again do his duty to the fullest against the enemies of the Empire, the Augusta will discover that the haughty Teuton princess led by him to court could represent a threat more dangerous than ever.