Three centuries after the Vatican created the first known superhuman, the kingdom of Byzantium now stands alongside a handful of others from the ruins of a global war. Sulayman Khan, the exiled prince of Bengal, is quietly biding his time until he can return to his homeland and reclaim his princehood. One night, while patrolling in colonized Darfur, Sulayman clashes with Byzantine warriors. The incident is witnessed by a member of the Vanguard, a council of Muslim royals preparing for an upcoming war with Byzantium, and Sulayman is offered the role of commander. But Sulayman must earn his army's respect and deal with his growing affection for the queen he serves, for the looming war brings whispers of superhuman warriors and the mysterious emperor responsible for his exile.