Gone is the boy who joined the legions. What remains is a man torn apart by the savagery of battle, the heartache of lost love. He does not know what became of his wife, and now he must balance being both a soldier and a father. And yet, for all his pain, he shall have to endure more than he ever thought he could. His valour in the northern wars has not gone unnoticed, and now he is to be given a special mission. Marcus Aurelius' star falls with his health. One day the sun will rise on his successor and son, Commodus. But he must be ready, must know what it is to lead. Centurion Albinus has been chosen to educate him. From Pannonia to Rome, to the far reaches of the east, Albinus must protect Commodus from enemies both inside the empire and out. Can he keep the Caesar safe? Can he nurture him, teach him what it is to be a man? Can he be the ?