King Argentocoxos of Caledonii, one of the last Northern Pict tribes to yield to the Romans, reluctantly offers his daughter's hand in marriage as a last, desperate act to negotiate peace with the Empire. Caracalla, the eldest son of the aged and ailing Emperor, Septimius Severus, perversely relinquishes the beautiful Caledonian princess to his bride-less, homosexual brother, Geta. Princess Fiona is torn away from Galen, the man whom she believes she loves, and is thrust into an entirely different world. The Roman World. Alone and frightened, she grasps onto the one person who dares to show her kindness-- Marcus Camillus, a mighty ex-Primus Pilus, who is struggling to fight the demons of his past. This unique friendship soon develops into something more... an empowering love, which in turn casts them both into a vortex of unforeseen dangers. Once the aged emperor dies, he leaves both sons to rule his Empire. But separate divisions of Rome were not to Caracalla's liking. Once his brother is out of the way, murdered, the new, solitary emperor finds a most entertaining way to increase Rome's treasury for his war campaigns. What better way to enhance his riches than to use the Princess of Caledonii as a prisoner of war and enter her into the Gladiator's arena! Marcus and Fiona are thrown into some complicated situations, but through it all their love withstands and grows, giving them the hope and courage they need in order to survive a world that constantly dares to drive them apart.
