Enemies of the EmpireIt's AD 188, and a tiresome three day journey to the forested outskirts of the Empire is the last thing Libertus, freedman and pavement maker, wants to make. Not only are there wolves and bears, but Celtic rebels may well regard the lone coach as fair game. But when Marcus Septimus asks Libertus to join him on official business, he knows he can't refuse his benevolent patron. En route to the garrison town of Isca, they stop at Venta: a simmering

At stake is all humanity

Physically weakened and suffering from combat fatigue

but he never dreamed he'd experience such pure terror

His arrival in Deva (more commonly known as Chester) does little to improve his mood and

Their arrival creates a sense of foreboding

Inspector Wang Anzhuang of the Public Security Bureau is expecting a pleasant night out at the People's Opera House

in a thriller about love

" his dream seems fulfilled

It's impossible

The skirmishes are far from glorious and operations often rough and bloody

invigorating

the hare Bescarum and the badger Sagaxus