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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

Caecilius ran past, bellowing at men to get covers over all the artillery. Rufus trailed after him, echoing the shouts, but with less sense of purpose. Someone yelled a warning and then Crispinus was smothered by damp leather, beaten to the ground as a tent ripped free from one of the huts, and the legionary with him gasped as a spiked peg drove into his arm. They rolled on the ground, and there seemed so much of the great sheet that Crispinus could not fight his way out until help arrived.

‘You all right, sir?’ Arrian’s face was filled with concern.

‘Yes, but get help for that man.’

A horseman appeared, somehow weaving his way through the chaos and managing to keep his mount from bolting. He skidded to a halt, and there was no mistaking that gaunt, leering face.

‘They’re attacking on the eastern side!’ Vindex shouted to be heard over the wind. ‘The chief says to watch out over here as well, and that they’re holding, but could do with whatever help you can spare.’ He nodded affably, and did not bother to explain whether the chief was Ferox or Cerialis.

‘Fetch me a horse!’ Crispinus shouted. ‘Now!’

Vindex’s gelding tried to run, felt the pressure of the bit in his mouth and contented himself with a crablike shuffle to the side.

‘I’m coming with you,’ Crispinus told him. ‘Once they bring a horse.’ They did, very quickly, as well as a couple of legionary cavalrymen, which was the most escort to be found in all the confusion. Rufus came jogging back. ‘Tell the primus he is in charge!’ Crispinus shouted to him, then jumped into the saddle. ‘Whoa, boy, whoa,’ he added, smoothing the stallion’s neck. ‘Tell him I am going to see what is happening on the far side and that he is to stand to arms here and be ready to send reinforcements when I call or he feels he can spare them.’

Rufus nodded, face nervous, but then he always seemed nervous whenever anything happened suddenly.

‘Come on, let’s go!’ Crispinus called to Vindex, who probably could not hear as another tent noisily tore itself apart nearby, but kicked his horse on to follow the legatus as he sped away. One of the legionaries’ horses bucked, kicking out and almost hitting Rufus. The rider was flung up, bounced hard back in the saddle, bounced again and somehow stayed on. He let go of his spear, and clung on to the mane as the beast half ran, half hopped after the others.

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