“We shall find him.”
“You are quite certain.”
“Yes,” said the tall man. “Quite certain.”
Maximus said, “They have no tombstones. Not one man in Treverorum wept for their passing.” He looked at his audience in turn and smiled. “In the name of Mithras, my Master, may the Gods be kind to you on your journey.”
“And you?” asked the tall man.
“I, also, have a journey to make.”
“Where do you go?”
“To the Gods of the Shades.”
The tall man nodded. He said, formally, “Then may you live in God.”
Maximus bent down and then straightened up, the sword resting in the crook of his arm. He raised his head and turned his eyes upwards to the sun. He said, “What is the end of it all? Smoke and ashes, a handful of bones, and a legend. Perhaps not even a legend.”
They watched him go through the broken gate, heard his feet, heavy on the flint strewn path. “He is going to his temple in the woods,” said the tall man. “Listen.”
There was a long silence, and then a deep voice cried, “Mithras!” and the cry echoed back across the hill. And after that the silence went on for ever.
LIST OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
Those marked with an asterisk are known to history.
Aelia — wife to P. G. Maximus
Agilio — post commander. Thirtieth Milestone.
*Alaric — Prince of the Visigoths
Aquila — Chief Centurion, 20th Legion
Artorius — Curator of Augusta Treverorum
Barbatio — Praefectus of auxiliaries at Moguntiacum
*Chariobaudes — C. in C. the Army of Gaul.
*Constans — son to Constantinus
*Constantinus — Chief of Staff at Eburacum; later self-styled emperor
Didius — squadron commander, 20th Legion
Fabianus — son to Saturninus
Flavius — garrison commander at Augusta Treverorum
Fredbal — a prisoner of war
Fredegar — sword-brother to Marcomir
*Fullofaudes — C. in C. the Army of Britain
Gaius — 2 i/c the Tungrian cohort
Gallus — tribune of the Rhenus fleet
*Goar — Prince of the Alans; cousin to Respendial
*Godigisel — King of the Siling Vandals
*Gunderic — King of the Asding Vandals
*Guntiarus — King of the Burgundians
Hermeric — King of the Marcomanni
*Honorius — Emperor of Rome
Julian — cousin to P. G. Maximus
Lucillius — senior tribune, 20th Legion
Marcomir — Prince of the Franks
Marius — a tribune of the 20th Legion
*Mauritius — Bishop of Augusta Treverorum
*Maximus (Magnus) — Chief of Staff to Theodosius in Britain; later self-styled emperor
Maximus (Paulinus Gaius) — a Roman soldier
Optatus (Julius) — Quartermaster, 20th Legion
*Placidia (Galla) — sister to Honorius
*Rando — King of the Alemanni
*Respendial — King of the Alans
*Saturninus — Chief Centurion, Tungrian cohort
Scudilio — commander of auxiliaries at Bingium
Septimus (Julianus) — retired Curator of Augusta Treverorum
Severus (Marcus) — a tribune of the 20th Legion
*Stilicho — Military Master of the Western Empire
Sunno — son to Rando; later King of the Alemanni
Talien — King of the Quadi
Veronius (Quintus) — a cavalry officer
Vitalius — adjutant of the Tungrian cohort
HISTORICAL EVENTS
353 — Martinus, Vicarius of Britain, “killed” by Constantine II.
364 — Valentinian I, Emperor of the West. Picts, Scots, Attacotti and Saxons raiding Britain.
367 — Picts, Scots, Attacotti and Saxons, in conspiracy, overwhelm the Wall and over-run Britain.
Fullofaudes, Duke of Britain, and Nectaridus, Count of the Saxon Shore, slain.
368 — Count Theodosius, sent by Valentinian I, reconquers Britain and restores the Wall.
375 — Death of Valentinian I.
Valentinian II and Gratian, Emperors of the West.
378 — Battle of Adrianople.
379 — Reign of Theodosius I.
383 — Magnus Maximus, military commander, acclaimed emperor in Britain; conquers Spain and Gaul from Gratian who is killed.
388 — Magnus Maximus defeated by Theodosius I, and executed.
395 — Death of Theodosius I.
Honorius, aged 11, Emperor of the West: Stilicho, the Vandal, appointed his guardian.
? — Stilicho improves the defences of Britain and withdraws some troops.
403 — Alaric, the Goth, invades Italy.
406 — Stilicho defeats Radagaisus who invades Italy.
Constantinus proclaimed emperor in Britain.
Coalition of Marcomanni, Quadi, Asding and Siling Vandals, cross the Rhine at Mainz and over-run Gaul.
407 — Alemanni sack Worms and annexe the right bank of the Rhine.
Constantinus, with his son Constans, crosses to Gaul with the last remaining troops in Britain, and establishes himself at Arles.
408 — Stilicho murdered at instigation of Honorius.
410 — Rome sacked by Alaric: Honorius bids the Britons look to themselves.
411 — Constans and Constantinus killed by Honorius’ troops.
PRINCIPAL PLACE NAMES
Anderida
Aquae Mattiacae
Arelate
Augusta Treverorum
Bingium
Belgica
Borbetomagus
Borcovicum
Boudobrigo
Caledonia
Colonia
Confluentes
Corinium
Corstopitum
Danubius
Deva
Dubris
Eburacum
Germania Superior
Gesoriacum
Hibernia
Hispania
Illyricum
Isca Silurium
Lemanis
Londinium
Lugdunum
Mauretania
Mediolanum
Moenus
Moguntiacum
Mona
Mosella
Nava
Padus
Pevensey
Wiesbaden (Germany)
Arles (France)
Trier (Germany)
Bingen (Germany)
Belgium, N. France and a part of W. Germany Worms (Germany)
Housesteads
Boppard (Germany)
Highland Scotland
Cologne (Germany)
Koblenz (Germany)
Cirencester
Corbridge
River Danube
Chester
Dover
York
Upper Germany: a province on the west bank of the Rhine
Boulogne (France)
Ireland
Spain
Illyria (Yugoslavia)
Caerleon
Lympne
London
Lyons (France)
North Africa, from Morocco to Algeria
Milan (Italy)
River Main (Germany)
Mainz (Germany)
Anglesey
River Mosel (Germany)
River Nahe (Germany)
River Po (Italy)
Pannonia
Petriana
Ratae
Remi
Rhenus
Rutupiae
Richborough
Salisio
Segontium
Taunus
Ticinium
Vetera
Vindolanda
Vindonissa
Viroconium