Britain, AD 51. The Roman army closes in on Caratacus, but an intercepted message reveals a plan to sabotage the campaign and kill Macro and Cato. Unaware of the traitor’s identity, they advance through the western mountains as Roman units and allied tribes compete for advantage. The pursuit of Caratacus becomes inseparable from an internal investigation in which the wrong act of trust could destroy the army’s chance of ending the resistance.
The pursuit of Caratacus should be a straightforward military objective, but the traitor turns every Roman success into a possible trap. Macro and Cato must judge officers and allies while operating in country where communications are already difficult.
The investigation also reflects the politics of conquest. Rome depends on cooperative British tribes as well as legions, so false accusations could destroy alliances needed to finish the campaign. Trust becomes a strategic resource as important as numbers or weapons.
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