Barely eighteen and innocent of the desires of men, Marc is the sole survivor of a noble British family. When his home village falls to the invading Romans, he is forced to flee - and not just for life. He first finds sanctuary with Karl, the barbarian from far-off Germanica, whose words seem kind, but whose eyes conceal a dark and brooding menace.Is it only Marc's safety that Karl is interested in? Or is it something much more? And then they captured by Gaius, a general from Caesar's all-conquering army. Gaius has special plans foe Marc and Karl, plans which will take all three of them across the seas to Rome, the Imperial City, master of the world, sensual, decadent - and wicked beyond belief.