Marcus buys him the next day, and Esca pledges his loyalty to Marcus, but remains reserved about his background. Marcus goes to live with his Uncle Aquila in Calleva, who takes him to the Saturnalia Games, where they watch the defeat of a young gladiator whom Marcus sways the crowd to spare (5). Marcus's badly broken leg does not heal and he is discharged from the Legions, with no idea what else he will make of his life (4).

Marcus survives and a Relief Force saves the fort Cradoc is killed, the revolt suppressed, and Isca Dumnoniorum laid waste. Marcus leads a small force out to escort a returning patrol and is attacked by Cradoc in his chariot, which Marcus sacrifices himself to crash (3). Two nights later, the fort is attacked in the predawn by the Dumnonii, led by a Druid. Yet Cradoc's wife Guinhumara is oddly guarded, and there are rumours of a Druid in the neighbourhood, worsening Marcus's concerns over a poor harvest (2). Marcus settles into the routine of Isca Dumnoniorum, getting to know his officers and a young local hunting guide named Cradoc, who challenges him to a test of chariot-driving and judges him fairly good. The departing commander advises him to watch out for stray Druids, who are capable of whipping up revolt among the local tribes (1). Marcus Flavius Aquila, orphaned son of the senior centurion of the lost Ninth Legion, commands the replacement garrison of auxiliaries at Isca Dumnoniorum, a frontier fort in the far west of Britain.

The eagle of the ninth