Aureliana was surprised how effective Severianus was as a commander. She had never rated any of these Christian leaders. Too soft for her liking: ‘all this love thy neighbour stuff’. But the Queen of the West Britons was glad that the Bishop of Eboracum was on her side. Indeed, if only he and his army had been with the Cornovii sooner, then Prythain might have been in Aureliana’s hands much sooner.

Except I would have had to deal with a rival for the throne when Severianus and I had got rid of the Vortigern. At least I now know that he is not really one of those ‘followers of Jesus’. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I found out that he is of the old order. And he wants Germanus killed just as much as I do, albeit for very different reasons....

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