The Mask of Command

Set in late Rome, The Mask of Command by Ian Ross follows Aurelius Castus as he is tasked with leading Roman forces along the tumultuous Rhine frontier amidst political treachery and unrest. The story explores the chaos where distinctions between civilization and barbarism blur, and loyalties are tested, especially as Castus is caught between protecting two young boys—one being the emperor's heir and the other his own son. With danger lurking on all sides, he and his men must navigate a treacherous landscape of allegiance, honor, and survival.