Cassius Quintius Corbulo is an Agent of Rome.
We first encounter Corbula as he is striving to avoid a minor riot in the small town of Nessara in the Syrian desert, having the unenviable task of rounding up legionnaires which had gotten separated in that far away province of the gradually dissolving Roman Empire. The year is 270 and the leader of the still vast domain was Marcus Aurelius Valerius Claudius, though that fellow would die of plague soon thereafter.
This is not the job for which this 19-year-old had trained. He was a member of the Imperial Security Service, an impressive name for a group described as "an independent wing of the military". Its members, though, were often referred to as "grain men" since the department had been "originally concerned with the supply and distribution of grain to the legions, its officers were spread far and wide across the Empire. Dealing so closely with the provincial populace, they were uniquely well placed to report back to Rome on all manner of issues. Over time they had become the 'eyes and ears' of the emperor and his general staff". Regrettably for Corbula, the original name had stuck.
Described as "naturally rangy" with "long, slender limbs" which remain thin despite hours and hours of rigorous training; Corbulo is still dealing with his inexperience and his slender build did nothing to alleviate his sense of inadequacy. "In truth, he felt very much like an actor playing a role and, as he had a little experience of theatre, he had decided early on that he should at least put considerable effort into his performance."
In the course of his adventures, Corbulo will be joined by Indavara, an ex-gladiator who had done the rare feat of vanquishing his required number of opponents and had earned his freedom. This man who will become bodyguard and close friend to Corbulo, was physically everything that Corbulo wished he could be and Indavara saw in Corbulo a young man with ambition and natural talent as well as a keen intellect.