217 BC. The Gauls are restless. Where is the wealth, plunder and lands they were promised? Hannibal's army has become little more than a burden to be fed and quartered ... as welcome as a plague of locusts. Assassination plots abound as Hannibal is driven to take desperate measures to evade the assassin's knife.If Hannibal is to appease the Gauls he must act fast. The invasion of Italia must not be delayed - his very life depends on it - but as that winter of winters fades into memory he is faced with a stark choice. Should he strike east towards the plains of Umbria and face consul Gnaeus Servilius Geminus' legions holed up inside the unassailable walls of Ariminum? Or strike westwards into the plunder-rich lands of Etruria?Consul Gaius Flaminius' legions guard the western approaches. If any man can fire the bellies of Gauls with loathing it's Flaminius. But there is one other whose blood runs cold at the mention of the name. Flaminius ordered the brutal murder of Sphax's parents and Sphax has sworn a sacred oath to seek revenge. Can Hannibal trust the leader of his Numidian cavalry, or will this blood feud cloud his judgement? Sooner or later Sphax will have to face his inner demons.