Ben Stiger, legate of the lost Thirteenth Legion, a nobleman from an infamous family, and born fighter, has defeated the enemy army before Lorium and raised the siege of the city. Having been named emperor, Stiger has traveled to Mal’Zeel and claimed his throne by force, spilling blood in the process and removing those who would steal his right to the Curule Chair.
Stiger is now unquestionably the emperor, the last man standing. Or is he?
Hundreds of miles away, the Cyphan Confederacy’s armies are marching along the coast, moving inexorably toward the capital, leaving a swath of destruction in their wake. Stiger’s army marching up from the south is still weeks away. The newly formed imperial army under the command of General Mechlehnus has marched to strike at the enemy. Mechlehnus has yet to acknowledge Stiger as emperor and may even seek the throne for himself. But that is the least of Stiger’s problems.