612 AD. No longer the glorious cradle of all art and science, Athens is a provincial city in one of the Byzantine Empire's more down at heel provinces. Why, then, has the Emperor diverted Aelric's ship home from Egypt to send him here? Why has he included Priscus in the warrant? Surely, they have more important business in Constantinople. Isn't Aelric needed to save the Empire's finances, and Priscus to lead its armies against the Persians? Or has...