EAGLE'S PREY: Eagles of the Empire

Britannia AD44. The time has come to claim Britain for the Empire. Centurions Cato and Macro are preparing for what their leaders say will be the final battle against those natives refusing to accept the civilising force of Rome. The British savages will surely stand no chance against the might of the unstoppable Roman Army. But young Cato is more concerned about hot-headed cohort commander Maximus than about the enemy, and with Roman troops being brutally slaughtered, even grizzled veteran Macro is having doubts about the promised ease of their success. The troops' commander General Plautius is under considerable pressure from the Emperor to crush the natives once and for all. It is up to the crack Second Legion to hold a ford across the river Tamesis when the natives are forced into a trap. But Maximus's nerve breaks at the critical point, allowing the enemy leader Caratacus and his men to escape. Outraged by this failure, General Plautius orders the decimation of the unit. The choice is die or escape to become a fugitive pursued by soldiers of their own ruthless army. Hiding from their former comrades as well as the Britons, Cato's small band of fugitives have only one chance to redeem themselves before they are hunted down like animals. 468pp, paperback.