DAMASCUS BLADE

Xerxes, the god-king of Persia, seethes. The recent death of his father still stings, but the humiliating defeat of his armies at Marathon cuts deeper. Now, only one power dares defy his rule: the scattered city-states of Hellas. As Persia mobilizes its vast armies for a final, crushing blow, the Greeks ready themselves for a different kind of contest - the revered Olympic Games. Among them are the children of Dienekes and Galatea, siblings driven by the dream of Olympic glory. The youngest competitors ever to enter the arena, they face daunting odds and fierce rivals. But soon, the thrill of competition will pale before the desperate struggle for survival. For Xerxes' fury knows no bounds, and his vengeance will make the Games look like mere child's play.