"As Rome rose to power in the third century BC, there was only one real rival in the Mediterranean -- Carthage. In the First Punic War, the Roman legions defeated and humiliated Carthage. Now Hannibal, a brilliant young Carthaginian general, is out for revenge, setting the stage for the greatest conflict of the ancient world. Caught up in the maelstrom are two young boys, Hanno, the son of a distinguished soldier and confidant of Hannibal, and Quintus, son of a Roman equestrian and landowner. A disastrous adventure will see Hanno sold into slavery and bought by Quintus's father. Although unexpected friendship springs up between the two boys -- and with Quintus's sister, Aurelia -- the fortunes of the two warring empires will tear them apart. They find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict, and an alliance forged through slavery will be played out to its stunning conclusion in battle." --Publisher's description.