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Contents ( 111)
  1. BY ADRIAN GOLDSWORTHY
  2. CONTENTS
  3. MAP
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. I
  6. In the hill country
  7. Nearer the Euphrates
  8. The same night
  9. II
  10. The temporary camp of Legio VIIII Hispana, Fifty-five miles east of Cyrrhus
  11. Fifteen days before the Kalends of March
  12. III
  13. On the training grounds outside Zeugma
  14. Fifth day before the Nones of March
  15. In the house of Simon the merchant, Nicopolis
  16. The next day
  17. IV
  18. The temporary camp of Legio VIIII Hispana
  19. V
  20. Outside Nicopolis
  21. Eleventh day before the Kalends of April
  22. Nicopolis
  23. The same day
  24. VI
  25. On the road to the crossing at Zeugma
  26. Tenth day before the Kalends of April
  27. VII
  28. Zeugma
  29. Seventh day before the Kalends of April
  30. VIII
  31. The camp of VIIII Hispana
  32. One day before the Nones of April
  33. Nicopolis
  34. The same day, late afternoon
  35. IX
  36. Outside Nicopolis
  37. Eighth Day before the Ides of April
  38. X
  39. Near Nicopolis
  40. A little later
  41. XI
  42. In the plain in front of Nicopolis
  43. The Ides of April
  44. Nicopolis
  45. The same night
  46. XII
  47. In front of Nicopolis
  48. Eighteenth day before the Kalends of May First day of the siege
  49. XIII
  50. Outside Nicopolis
  51. Seventeenth day before the Kalends of May Second day of the siege
  52. XIV
  53. Outside Nicopolis
  54. Fifteenth day before the Kalends of May The fourth day of the siege
  55. Nicopolis
  56. The sixth day of the siege
  57. XV
  58. Up country
  59. Thirteenth day before the Kalends of May The eighth day of the siege
  60. XVI
  61. Zeugma
  62. That same night
  63. XVII
  64. The siege lines outside Nicopolis
  65. Eleventh day before the Kalends of May The tenth day of the siege
  66. XVIII
  67. The large camp to the east of Nicopolis
  68. Tenth day before the Kalends of May The eleventh day of the siege
  69. Nicopolis
  70. Late on the fourteenth night of the siege
  71. XIX
  72. Before Nicopolis
  73. Fifth day before the Kalends of April Sixteenth day of the siege
  74. XX
  75. Outside Nicopolis
  76. The Kalends of May The twenty-first day of the siege
  77. XXI
  78. Before Nicopolis
  79. The day before the Nones of May The twenty-sixth day of the siege
  80. Nicopolis
  81. The next day The twenty-seventh day of the siege
  82. XXII
  83. North west of Nicopolis, some miles from the road
  84. Fifth day before the Ides of May The thirty-second day of the siege
  85. XXIII
  86. In front of Nicopolis
  87. The day before the Ides of May The thirty-fifth day of the siege
  88. XXIV
  89. Outside Nicopolis
  90. The Ides of May
  91. The thirty-sixth day of the siege
  92. XXV
  93. The breach in the western wall
  94. XXVI
  95. Outside Nicopolis
  96. Seventeenth day before the Kalends of June The thirty-seventh day of the siege
  97. The prison at Nicopolis
  98. Three days later
  99. The forty-first day of the siege
  100. XXVII
  101. The citadel at Nicopolis
  102. The last hours of the fourteenth day before the Kalends of June
  103. The forty-first day of the siege
  104. XXVIII
  105. Nicopolis
  106. The same night
  107. EPILOGUE
  108. The next morning
  109. HISTORICAL NOTE
  110. GLOSSARY
  111. CAST OF CHARACTERS

*

Crispinus could not help thinking of Cleopatra as the hooded and cloaked figure was ushered into the dining area of the praetorium. The maid appeared for the moment, the one her mistress had flung into the grasp of her attackers, and then they were alone. A meal was set on the table, half in Greek style and half according to Jewish custom, since Hadrian had told him that the princess favoured Hebrew practices. Crispinus was not sure whether these would permit a shared meal, assuming that she was ardent in her adherence to their rules. She could refuse if she wanted, and at the very least the offer was a mark of hospitality. In deference, and in case the alarm went up again, he had on well brushed shoes, a bleached tunic and a muscled cuirass. His sword hung from a stand, ready for him to slip the belt over his shoulder.

‘Welcome,’ he said, inclining his head the tiniest of fractions. Roman senators bowed to no one, save emperors whose memory would be damned as soon as they were dead and it was safe to insult them. ‘May I offer you some light refreshments. There is wine from one of my own estates.’ That was not actually true, but it came from vineyards nearby and she was not likely to notice the difference.

The princess stood in front of him, her hood so deep that he could not see her face. She said nothing.

‘I know dear Cerialis has already apologised for the misbehaviour of our men last night, but I too must beg your forgiveness. You will not see those men again.’ Cerialis had strict instructions to ensure that, and let her think what she chose.

Still the princess stood, like a small statue being delivered for a garden and still covered to protect it. When she moved, it was fluid, and if not Cleopatra and her laundry bag, the hooded cloak fell away behind her, and Crispinus had to wonder a good deal about Arrian’s mother, for the silk dress was almost transparent. Presumably the respectable matron wore other layers underneath.

Azátē let him take a good look, then dropped to her knees, hands clasped in front of her. ‘Please, lord, help me,’ she begged, her Greek with a heavy accent yet clear in every word. ‘I beg you to save me and save my people.’ The performance was a good one, making him wonder whether royal ladies were taught this sort of thing as children or by instinct knew how to do it. Crispinus tried to remember what age the divine Julius had been when Cleopatra came to his room and stirred his pity, lust and interest. This girl was a similar age, but he reckoned that he was a decade or so younger than the dictator. So much the better.

The legatus reached down and took hold of her arms. Azátē looked up, the faintest of bruises on her cheek and he suspected that she could have concealed that if she had wanted.