Two young friends divided by ancient rivalry must face the carnage of battle in this historical novel of the Second Punic War.

As Rome rose to power in the 3rd century BCE there was only one real rival in the Mediterranean: Carthage. In the First Punic War, the Roman legions defeated and humiliated Carthage. Now Hannibal, a brilliant young Carthaginian general, is out for revenge.
Caught up in the maelstrom are two young boys, Hanno, the son of a distinguished soldier and confidant of Hannibal, and Quintus, son of a Roman equestrian and landowner. A disastrous adventure will see Hanno sold into slavery and bought by Quintus's father. Although an unexpected friendship springs up between the two boys—and with Quintus's sister, Aurelia—the fortunes of the two warring empires will tear them apart.