Harald Hardrada wants the throne of Norway. With the mad Byzantine emperor Michael The Fifth deposed, Harald turns his attention to the north. But General Maniakes has something different in mind for him. Using Hardrada as an instrument of death, he's not the only one who seeks to rule Byzantium. Bishops lie, soldiers fight, assassins stalk the streets and lovers lament. And in the end, they all lose their lives. Hardrada needs treasure to win his crown, and the new Empress Zoe has it. With few resources and even less time, Harald faces a difficult choice - and the specter of death is never far away.