Hadrian's Wall: A Novel

389 Pages·2005·1 MB·English

by  William Dietrich

To Holly
Contents

Map
x
Prologue
The northern wind blew across the ridge with a
howl… 1
Part One
I
No one knows better than I just how big our… 13
II
The messenger would come at dusk, the
signals promised, flags… 19
III
So Odo became houseboy to the villa of
Lucius Falco,… 31
IV
Many Romans believe slaves are morally
unreliable, but I, Draco, 35
V
Roman lady!” the peddlers shrieked, lifting
their trinkets up into… 41
VI
Their siege ended as quickly as it had begun.
The… 50
VII
Titus reappeared, leading a litter carried by four
trotting slaves. 55
VIII
It has been my experience that people are most
positive… 61
IX
The villa of Quintus Maxus, the first private
residence that… 70
X
I dismiss the landowner Quintus Maxus from
my chambers and… 82
XI
The party was six more days reaching
Eburacum, headquarters of… 84
XII
By the gods!” Clodius shouted, turning his
horse. “Thief!” And… 94
XIII
Of all the spectacles of human existence, a
wedding is… 105
XIV
The wedding of Marcus and Valeria began in
the long… 108
XV
Bride and groom at last came together at feast’s
end. 118
XVI
The first thing Valeria decided about married
life is that… 126
XVII
This man-boy Clodius has not impressed me,
from every… 137
XVIII
It was near dawn, time to strike. The grove of . . 143
XIX
There was a wild barbarian rush, and then
Marcus’s men… 151
XX
The kitchen slave Marta is prettier than the
vague description… 159
XXI
I’m having the senior tribune to supper,
Marta.” 163
XXII
I would like to be surprised by this tale, but… 171
XXIII
I can’t get up there,” Savia decided. 176
Part Two
XXIV
The barbarians had taken the riderless Roman
horses, and so,… 189
XXV
The dungeon of the legionary fortress of
Eburacum was hewn… 201
XXVI
As Valeria’s abductors rode up a grassy hill to
the… 207
XXVII
The euphoria didn’t last long. 221
XVIII
The prospect of a boar hunt filled Valeria with
excitement,… 232
XXIX
Valeria woke to the sound of lapping water.
She was… 243
XXX
I realize, when Savia is brought before me
again, that… 258
XXXI
Samhain was the first night of winter, the end
and… 264
XXXII
Valeria woke at midafternoon to a world that
seemed utterly… 277
Part Three
XXXIII
Valeria left you behind?” 291
XXXIV
The drums and signal fires started with the
Roman woman’s… 295
XXXV
This time Valeria knew the way. Time had
allowed her… 299
XXXVI
As I did in the beginning, once more I depend… 312
XXXVII
The Wall, Caratacus.” 316
XXXVIII
The Celts raced toward the Wall in a streaming
pack,… 320
XXXIX
Stillness settled over the battlefield. To the
south of the… 333
XL
The wedding of Galba Brassidias, senior tribune
of Rome and… 344
XLI
You let a rebel loose to kill your commanding
officer… 357
Epilogue
Thirty-nine years after the battle of the Wall, on
the… 363