Eagle in the Snow: A Novel of General Maximus and Rome's Last Stand

Maximus paused, and laughed quietly. “I stood on the road, a mile away—think of that—only a mile from the Aurelian gate, and I watched Rome burn as Alaric and his Goths sacked the city after their fashion. I watched his hordes straggle up the road with their booty, and I saw a frightened woman upon a horse, her ankles tied beneath its belly, who was their prisoner. It was Galla Placidia, but I did not help her. Honorius would not have cared; and I had no wish to be a slave.

“I turned and made my way back to Gaul, and on my way I met a courier in the imperial service, taking a rescript to the government of my old island. It was a long and hazardous journey, and he had little stomach for the task. He offered me gold to take it for him. I agreed. I carried the letter in the end of my sleeve, pinned over my damaged wrist, for safety, you understand.

“So I came back, and I went to Londinium, and I found a man who called himself governor of that city. ‘Well,’ I said. ‘You may choose as many emperors as you please. Honorius has freed you at last. You must look to yourselves now—if you can.’ Then I went north and found Saturninus, and I broke his heart with the news of his son. He asked me to stay and, if Fabianus had been alive, I would have done so. But he is dead, and I could not. So—I came back here to Segontium where it all began.”

Maximus stood up. “I have kept you awake when you should have slept. You are safe enough here in your cold mountains.”

The chief of his listeners rose and faced him. He was a tall man with cold eyes and a beaked nose. He said, “We do not always sleep. Somewhere we shall find others who are like ourselves. And somewhere there will be a man with a sword, who has a purpose as you had.”

“He may be hard to find.”

“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.

DIS MANIBUS

P GAIO MAXIMO FILIO CLAUDII ARELATIS

PRAEFECTUS I COH TUNG LEG XX VAL VIC

DUX MOGUNTIACENSIS COMES GALLIARUM

ANN LVII CCCCX ET Q VERONIO PRAEFECTUS

ALAE PETRIAE PRAEFECTUS II COH ASTUR

MAGISTER EQUITUM GERMANIAE SUPER ANN

LVI CECIDIT BELLO RHENO CCCCVII

SATURNINUS AMICUS FECIT

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