Cannae--that terrible battle that brought disaster to Invincible Rome, spelled disgrace to young Linius Julius, even though he had fought courageously. For thereafter he found his fellow Romans more menacing than even the fierce Carthaginians had been.

There was Pulvius, the revenge-crazed officer who sought to slave his fury through Julius...and Varro, drunken generation of the TRAITORS' LEGION, who led his men to shame and exile...and Nara, the sensuous peasant girl turned courtesan, whose hold on the young soldier was the most threatening of all.