The great wall of hadrian reached from the west to the east of the country - a hundred and thirty kilometers of forts and watch-towers, shutting out the trouble-making tribes of the north.
on a morning in early summer, marcus and esca were allowed through to the north side of the wall, amd into what was once roman valentia before the tribes drove the romans out. esca was dressed in the clothes of his own people again. marcus, too, was dressed as a briton. he had also grown a beard, and was now 'demetrius of alexandria', an eye-doctor, and carried papers to prove this. they rode horses that had once belonged to the roman army, and mercus's box of medicines was tied to esca's horse.