612 AD. Athens is no longer the bright centre of civilisation, but a provincial backwater in a fraying Empire.

So why has the Emperor diverted Aelric's ship from Egypt and ordered him here? And why is Priscus -- brutal, treacherous Priscus -- included in the warrant? Aelric ought to be saving the Empire's finances; Priscus ought to be leading its armies against the Persians. Has Heraclius decided to blame them for the bloodbath in Alexandria? Or is the truth far more dangerous?

Officially, Aelric's task is to "manage" a council of Eastern and Western bishops, men more inclined to kick each other to death than debate the Nature of Christ. Unofficially, he finds himself lodged in a derelict Athenian palace of endless corridors, whispering rooms, and a stench of ancient evil that even Martin, his cowardly secretary, cannot try to ignore.

When a headless, blood-drained corpse turns up, when a cult of the self-emasculated begins to move in the shadows, when the city rabble mutters revolt, and when an army rumoured to number twenty million barbarians approaches the frontier, Aelric realises he has been sent into a tightening trap.

Is this a mission to save the Empire?
A political death sentence?
Or something altogether stranger?

This fifth novel of the series weaves historical fiction with gothic horror. Even Priscus may become a welcome ally -- or perhaps he will not...

Praise for the Novels of Richard Blake

'Fascinating to read, very well written, an intriguing plot and I enjoyed it very much.' - Derek Jacobi, star of I Claudius and Gladiator

'Vivid characters, devious plotting and buckets of gore are enhanced by his unfamiliar choice of period... Nasty, fun and educational.' - The Daily Telegraph

'He knows how to deliver a fast-paced story and his grasp of the period is impressively detailed.' - The Mail on Sunday

'A rollicking and raunchy read... Anyone who enjoys their history with large dollops of action, sex, intrigue and, above all, fun will absolutely love this novel.' - Historical Novels

'It would be hard to over-praise this extraordinary series, a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a conspiracy thriller, vivid characters, high philosophy and vulgar comedy.' - The Morning Star

Richard Blake is a pseudonym for Sean Gabb, who is an historian, writer and university lecturer. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.

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• Literature & FictionAction & AdventureMystery, Thriller & SuspenseMystery

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