Synopsis

Zafar commanded Cestvs and his men to labor ceaselessly, day after day, wielding pickaxes against the earth. Though weary voices protested, Cestvs clung to Zafar’s decree as a fragile hope. Meanwhile, two messengers arrived bearing news of an imperial tournament. Emperor Nero himself had decreed Cestvs's participation, a summons from which there seemed no escape. With a heart full of unease, Cestvs entered the qualifying rounds, driven by the desire for freedom. The arena awaiting him was little