 After appointing himself a "Son of Hades," Lucius Vorenus takes over the Aventine in place of the late Erasmus Fulman. Still consumed by his dark rage, he explodes when he considers a difference of opinion with Pullo to be a challenge to his authority, and they have a violent falling-out. In their chess game of venomous revenge, Servilia makes her next deadly move on Atia, using a hired assassin, named Duro, the Julii houseboy. Timon grows ever more suspicious of his brother Levi s activities in the city. An angry, dejected Pullo tries to leave Rome, but returns to make peace with Lucius, only to learn some shocking news regarding Lucius  family that his children are alive and have been sold into slavery. Far from Rome in the province of Bithynia (eastern Turkey), the nomadic Brutus finds it rough going trying to raise an army to go against Mark Antony. Back in Rome itself, Antony is angling for the governorship of Gaul, which he will not gain without the support of the Senate or Cicero s coerced compliance. Also, Octavia has a meeting of minds with the dashing Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the general of Octavian s new army. The tide turns, but in an unexpected way for Antony, when Cicero finally gives him his answer... leading to Anthony taking matters in his own hands.