In the aftermath of a battle between the great powers of Egypt and her old foe Kush, Pharaoh Kheper-Re rules Thebes, the city of the golden gates. But his old arch-enemy wants him dead and the very future of Egypt hangs in the balance. Commander Shenq, leader of Pharaoh's most elite warriors, will stake all on a plan for defense. The shrewd Commander, unpopular with his superiors, must use his wit and skills to balance conflicting loyalties and ward off the invaders. In a court where a Hebrew prophet interprets troubling dreams and a bodyguard lies awake tormented by rumors, Commander Shenq comes to realize that the quest for peace has never been more challenging.