Empire of the Eagle

An exotic blend of Roman, Hindu and more distant lore informs this second collaboration (after Imperial Lady ) between Grand Master Norton and Shwartz. After the crushing defeat at Carrhae of the Roman proconsul Crassus in 43 B.C., the victorious Parthians lead a captive remnant of one legion, along with its eagle standard, to the distant eastern Lands of Gold. As dispirited captives, a contingent of Ch'in and merchants struggle through the desert, a friendship develops between the tribune Quintus and Ch'in leader Ssu-ma Chao, who allows the Romans to win back their self-respect by rearming them to fight bandits. After one particularly dangerous stretch, Quintus encounters a strange old man, Ganesha, and the beautiful Draupadi who, much to Quintus's perturbation, claims that he is the reincarnation of her long-gone hero husband. As Ganesha and Draupadi join the larger group on its journey to ever greater dangers, Quintus learns they are being pursued by Black Naacals, immortal members of a sorcerous order. The doubting Quintus must master ancient powers to save his followers and others threatened by the ancient evil. Norton ( The Crystal Gryphon ) and Shwartz ( The Grail of Hearts ) weave a curious and convincing tale melding otherworldliness and dire reality.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The tribune Quintus was once a man of honor. But when Rome's might is crushed at the battle of Carrhae, Quintus can only watch with honor and hope gone as Rome's Eagles--the golden standards which every Roman believes houses the very essence of the gods--are dragged through the mud by the barbarian hordes. The Eagles will go East as bloody testimony to Rome's humiliation.

But even in Hell, there sometimes lies a path of redemption. Quintus will follow the Eagles, and strive to somehow recapture the honor that Rome has lost. He will abandon the logic that is Rome...and travel into the mists of myth and legend, where he will see visions of magic unknown to any Roman

And where he will learn to use barbarian magic to win back Rome's gods....