Akridos of Paliki is a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great. Because of his record, his bravery and his resourcefulness he is a member of the 'oligoi' -- 'The Few' -- the elite group of men who are specially selected for dangerous and daring tasks behind enemy lines.

On this occasion the prize at stake is the greatest empire in the world, Darius III's Persian Empire, but Akridos's daring leads him into a situation where he has to take charge of a group of desperate men, the 'ataktoi', and save their lives.

Terence Morgan (author of 'The Master of Bruges'. 'The Shadow Prince', 'Villon' and the biblical trilogy 'The Book of David' (i.e. 'Goliath', 'Saul'. and 'Joab') brings ancient Macedonia to life in his latest exciting historical novel.