Marcus Goes to War

To honor his dead brother's obligations, Marcus has agreed to help the city of Amatista defend itself in the coming war with mighty Diamonte and its allies, but the arrogant Gota who rule the Jeweled Cities refuse to believe an infantry composed of the despised Qing and Gente peoples can prove to be any kind of threat in the coming war. Little do they understand that Marcus isn't training mere soldiers. He's making legionnaires—the most highly disciplined and effective fighting force in the world—a fact that the Gota are about to learn at the sharp end of the legion's swords and spears.

This volume includes the books The Battle for Amatista, The Centinela Gambit, and Morganita Burning, continuing the rousing action begun in the bundle titled Marcus Takes Command.

The Battle for Amatista: With the passes to Ópalo forced open again, Prefect Marcus Venandus hoped to gain a respite to build his army for the war he knows is coming in the spring. Unfortunately, his enemies understand all too well the threat he poses to them and are taking steps to kill him before he reaches next year's battlefields. Assassins, both mundane and magical, step out of the shadows to strike at him, while other conspirators take advantage of the intense divisions within the city to spark riots to bring the government down. Unable to differentiate between friend and foe, will Marcus and his few trusted comrades be able to win the Battle for Amatista?

The Centinela Gambit: Surrounded by enemies, Prefect Marcus Venandus launches a bold stroke to eliminate one opponent in the coming war. The key to his plan is the fortified border town of Centinela—the Sentinel of Southern Morganita. Its fortified walls are strong enough to delay conventional forces for weeks, giving the other enemy city-states plenty of time to invade Amatista from the east. Yet, one thing Marcus has learned in the Jeweled Hills is that the locals do not understand the full capabilities of legion-style infantry. Can he take advantage of their ignorance to neutralize Centinela? Or will his risky gambit cost Marcus and his allies the war?

Morganita Burning: The long-feared war has erupted and Prefect Marcus Venandus and his newly raised legion are on the front lines of the fighting. After the successful conquest of a fortified border town, Marcus leads his men deep into Morganitan territory, part of a daring plan to secure Amatista's rear by eliminating its major northern opponent before its other foes can join in the fighting. Yet will his new infantry prove up to the task? Despite new weapons and the strategies of far off Aquila to direct them, Marcus' men are badly inexperienced and riven with the same deep-seated racial prejudices that embroil all of the peoples of the north. With just as many enemies within as without, can Marcus find the path to victory?