The year is 273AD. The month is August.
"Imperial agent Cassius Corbulo is about to go rogue. His bodyguard, Indavara, has been kidnapped and has seemingly vanished off the face of the earth. Having spent weeks trying to discover his fate, Cassius's time is up: his superiors want him to return to duty. But when an old ally's daughter is enslaved, he feels obliged to repay a long standing debt."