Chapters 41 - 44 Summary

In the morning, Cassia and ten of Corvinus' best guards take off to the palace to rescue Alexander and kill Hagiru. As they ride through the desert, they are attacked by a band of marauders. At first, Cassia thinks the bandits want only to steal their weapons and money, but then she realizes that they have not come to rob them, they have been sent by the queen to kill her. The Roman guards manage to kill all the attackers but one, who flees toward the palace, presumably to inform Hagiru that Cassia is not working alone. The guards are wary to enter the palace today, since they will be expected, and ten Roman guards would never be able to overtake an entire palace army. They turn back to camp, but Cassia is determined - she must reach the palace today...