Cannae—that terrible battle that brought disaster to invincible Rome, spelled disgrace to young Linus Julius, even though he had fought courageously. For thereafter he found his fellow Romans more menacing than even the fierce Carthaginians had been. There was Puvius, the revenge-crazed officer who sought to slake his fury throught Julius...and Varro, drunken general of the Traitors' Legion, who led his men to shame and exile...and Nara, the sensuous peasant girl turned courtesan, whose hold on he young soldier was the most threatening of all.