"1 - Ghost King (v1.0)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

FOREWORD
Ghost King is a fantasy novel and not intended as historically accurate. However the cities of Roman Britain, as named, did exist in the areas suggested, as did certain of the characters who appear in these pages.
Cunobelin was certainly a powerful warrior king, who earned the title Brittanorum Rex from the Roman writer Seutonius. Cunobelin reigned for forty years from his base at Camulo-dunum, possibly giving rise to the Arthurian legends.
Paullinus was also a true man of history, and did defeat the Iceni of Boudicca during the ill-fated uprising. During the same period the Ninth Legion did indeed disappear. Some historians claim they were ambushed and destroyed, others suggest a mutiny that the Romans covered up.
The manoeuvres of Roman military units are detailed as accurately as research and the needs of drama allow.
The language used is relatively modern, and undoubtedly there will be some students who find it jarring to read of arrows being 'fired', when of course the expression evolved only after the introduction of matchlock muskets.
Similarly 'minutes' and 'seconds' appear ahead of their time.
Such arguments as may be offered can be overcome by pointing out that since the language being spoken is not English, but a bastardized form of Latin-Celtic, some licence in translation should be allowed.
Of the life of Uther Pendragon, little is known. This is not a history of the man, but a fantasy.
In other words it is not the story as it was -but as it ought to have been.
David A. Gemmell Hastings, 1988

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
(in alphabetical order)
ALHYFFA Daughter of Hengist, wife of Moret
BALDRIC Warrior of the Pinrae
GAEL Son of Eldared, King of the Brigante
CULAIN LACH FERAGH Warrior of the Mist, also known as the Lord of the Lance. Master of weaponry.
ELDARED Brigante King and Lord of Deicester Castle. Betrayed his brother Cascioc twenty years before to help Aurelius gain the throne.
GWALCHMAI King's retainer. Cantii tribesman
GOROIEN The Witch Queen, immortal and ruthless
HENGIST Saxon king, father to Horsa, the warlord
KORRIN ROGEUR Woodsman of Pinrae. Brother to Pallin
LAITHA Ward of Culain
LUCIUS AQUILA General of the Romano-British forces
MAEDHLYN Lord Enchanter to Aurelius MORET Son of Eldared
PALLIN Half-man, half-bear, tortured by the Witch Queen
PRASAMACCUS Brigante tribesman
SEVERINUS ALBINUS Roman legate of the Ninth Legion
THURO Son of High King Aurelius Maximus and the Mist Maiden, Alaida
VICTORINUS King's retainer and First Centurion
ROMAN NAMES OF BRITISH SETTLEMENTS
ANDERITA - Pevensey
LINDUM - Lincoln
CALCARJA - Tadcaster
LONDINIUM - London
CAMULODUNUM - Colchester
LONGOV1CIUM - Lancaster
PINNATA CASTRA Ц Inchtuthill
CATARACTONIUM - Catterick
SKITIS ISLAND - Isle of Skye
DUBRIS - Dover
VENTA - Winchester
DUROBRIVAE Ц Rochester
VINDOLANDA - Chesterholm
EBORACUM Ц York
LAGENTIUM Ц Castleford
VINDOMARA - Ebchester

CHAPTER ONE