Gods' Gaze

Every civilization in embryo aspires to be Rome. Every civilization on its deathbed laments Rome. Inspired by Rome, Gods' Gaze (100k words) is an epic historical fantasy of multiple POVs relying on authentic stratagems of twists and turns. No one gets to Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo out of trouble.

"All warfare is based on deception, like the theater."

Evoking his late father's words, Cato Duilius Claudius assumes the alias, Moon Xeator, and he vows to have his vengeance. In the upcoming years, he plots to restore the dual consulship, his father's legacy, by bringing down the Praetor Maximus and the Triumvirate that slaughtered his family when he was a child. Aware that nothing would crush a man as much as the chink in his own armor, he sows suspicions among his foes and lures them into overreaching. He games the power structure in which all participants are corruptible. Those he keeps around, he taps into their fears, hates, and wants as grist for his mill. He turns his friends into pawns, as does his life a board of chess.

But the game he plays cuts both ways. His vengeance also brings home the bitterest misery, which is to know so much and still have control over so little. And there is no return for him now. He can't look back as there is nothing behind; nor does he dare look forward, knowing the road ahead. All he has is the time at hand, and it all slips through him into ruins like quicksand. To reach his destination, he must trade in everything he holds dear, and when he finally gets there, what will he possibly find when nothing can ease the pain of his losses? Fleshed out by his flaws, Xeator never meant to choose good over evil. His journey brought him to the epiphany that every important idea is only valid as in a paradox with an opposing idea, and the power to rise obliterates, too.