Anatolia, AD260. The city of Edessa, a Roman outpost, is on its last legs after a Persian
siege by the troops of Shapur I, of Persia. The Roman Emperor Publius Licinius Valerianus agrees to meet his adversary to negotiate peace; but no negotiations are initiated... no peace sactioned. The meeting turns out to be a trap, by betrayal, and Valerian ends up in enemy hands along with the commander of his personal guard, Marcus Metellus Aquila, and ten of his most valian and trusted soldiers. Their destiny is sealed: They are marched to the Persian Empire and put into the horrible prisoner mining camp of Aus Daiwa;forced into slavery, in a hell from which no man has ever escaped.
But- Metellus- Legate of the Second Augusta Legion, hero of the empire-and his men break free and find shelter at an oasis where they meet a strange exiled prince. The Romans agree to become his private militia, agreeing to safeguard the prince's
journey back to his homeland, Sera Maior, the mythical kingdomof silk- China. It is the only way of
getting out of Persia and having any hope of getting home.
And so they begin an extraordinary and epic journey through the forests of India, the Himalayan mountains, the deserts of Central Asia all the way to the heart of China. In that faraway land the Romans discover that the prince's family have been overthrown and the empire in new hands. The Romans face inhuman tials and battles of awesome violence. Together they also come to know of an outstanding civilization, a marvellous culture, men both intelligent and tolerant, and women who are beautiful and passionate. but everything is at stake: love, life, and te very survival of the two most powerful empires of the world.
This amazing piece of work is a MUST-READ as it shapes history into the very essence of adventure to create a novel that is simply enthralling (which is why i cant ruin the rest for you).