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It's the end of the fourth century, and the Romans are leaving Britanicca. Philippa is fourteen and an orphan, living at Mount Temple, high on a bluff overlooking the River Trisantonis. The old scholarly priest Father Florian has been kind to her. But when he is forced to retire, Philippa realizes she is no longer safe there. She convinces Justinian, an Army recruiter, to enlist her. Philippa undergoes the rigors of basic training at the Ares Mons training camp, after which she is assigned to the all-but-forgotten outpost of Vindavia Nova. There Pippa becomes aide to the camp's colorful and charismatic general, Cassius Ambrosius, and she befriends his enigmatic intelligence agent Brian Magnus. Philippa learns about duty and sacrifice during her time with them. She also sees and hears some things that seem impossible. She wonders if she will ever discover the truth, and also, if she will ever achieve her dream of traveling west to the Tin Kingdom of Dumnonia, and the shining castle over the sea. These books are inspired by the old tales. They are really one story, told across the three volumes, each with a different person's point of view. The stories present the archetypal hero's quest, which involves overcoming obstacles, finding one's place in the world, and connecting with others. These tales are about duty, tolerance, inclusion, kindness, redemption, restoration, accountability, bravery, and self-awareness. We begin on the ground in book one. In book two we go deep down to get to the bottom of things. We transcend in book three, up into the atmosphere.