A 聽stirring adventure novel set amid the tumultuous clashes between the 聽Roman and Carthaginian empires, battling for control of the 聽Mediterranean, north Africa and Rome itself.

Atticus, the young 聽Greek captain, is now a commander of the growing Roman navy, blockading a 聽port near Tunis, when the Roman legions suffer terrible defeat by the 聽triumphant Carthaginian army, spearheaded by the elephant charges. He 聽and his ships escape together with the main body of the Roman fleet out 聽maneuvered by the more skillful Carthaginians and then caught and almost 聽completely annihilated by a terrible storm.

Atticus and his crew 聽are among the handful of survivors and being the messenger of this news 聽to the Senta in Rome brings Atticus into political troubles, almost as 聽stormy as the sea. He begins to feel not only that a Greek 聽will never 聽be accepted by the Romans but also that the behavior of many, north 聽politicians and soldiers, is such that he is not sure that he wants to 聽be a Roman.