Pontius Pilate has been replaced by Prefect Marcellus who is ill suited for handling the intrigues and outright perils in the Jewish fortress city of Jerusalem. His wife appeals to her brother-in-law, Emperor Tiberius, for assistance. Marcus Magnus, a Praetorian Guard Centurion and once First Spear to two legions, now elevated to the position of "Fixer" to the throne, is dispatched. Marcus is a twenty-year veteran of the legions and is aided in his assignments throughout the empire by a Nubian warrior princess and a deadly Greek bowman. Working for the Prefect becomes dangerous when beset by 60 bandits holding the strategic city of Petra hostage. More life threatening are the powerful priests of the Jewish Sanhedrin who believe Marcus a threat to their religion. Their soldiers outnumber the Roman Legionnaires in the country. They also have Bedu assassins to call upon. His biggest surprise comes from finding he cannot trust the Roman legionnaires assigned to the Prefect. Add a traitorous military attache and his wanton conniving high born wife who wishes to overthrow the government, and Marcus realizes he may be in over his head. What starts out as a peaceful last assignment before retirement now morphs into a struggle to stay alive.
