In the second century A.D., the roman emperor Marcus Aurelius made a deal with the Sarmatians, a fierce barbarian tribe opposing his legions across the Danube: the fighting would stop if they supplied Rome with eight thousand horsemen. Left with no other choice but defeat, the Sarmatians accepted the deal and sent their best warriors into the hands of their enemies.

Thus began the Roman life of Ariantes, a warrior-prince in a land not his own. While his fellow tribesmen chafe under Roman rule, resistant to any and every command, and appalled at the Roman's clumsiness with horses, Ariantes alone realizes that, in order to preserve his regiment's culture and customs, and the happiness of his men, he must sacrifice some of his own.

But it would seem that there is more to romanization than just living indoors, and Ariantes finds he must fight for his life against the silent scheming of Roman officials, unwittingly playing a part in their game -- a part in which his survival could spell his doom.

"Those looking for a successor to Robert Graves would do well to consider Gillian Bradshaw."
   THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER