The story begins by unfolding the actual history of how the city of Rome came to be and builds a sense of pride the Romans shared in their culture. Fictional events in the life of a Roman soldier follow. Gnaeus serves under Pompey Magnus and battles against the rebellious Spartans, and then helps Julius Caesar defend the empire's northern borders against the advancing Celts and Germans. Ultimately Gnaeus's judgment and loyalty are called into question when he discovers that his real enemies may be the very people he's been fighting for.