This historical novel is about a handsome young Germanic horseman who served as a Roman auxiliary cavalryman during the early first century when Emperor Claudius' powerful legions invade the island of Britannia. Driven to revenge the murder of a childhood friend, Chatti Ivo pursues a corrupt Roman tribune across much of Western Europa, to become favored by tribal leaders and Roman aristocrats, including Emperor Claudius himself. During these first 29 years of his life, Ivo sees much of the good and bad of the spectacular young Roman Empire and finds love with Aurelia (the beautiful daughter of Mainz's Roman legionary commander) whom he rescues from the Rhine during his tribe's retaliatory raid against the arrogant tribune.