This precious Emperor Gratian of ours had a bodyguard of fur-cloaked Scythians , and he was so crazy about them that he dressed like them . In Rome of all places in the world ! It was as bad as if my own Father had painted himself blue ! ' `` No matter for the clothes , '' said the Pater . `` They are only the fringe of the trouble . It began before your time or mine . Rome has forsaken her Gods , and must be punished . The great war with the Painted People broke out in the very year the temples of our Gods were destroyed . We beat the Painted People in the very year our temples were rebuilt . Go back further still . '' ... He went back to the time of Diocletian ; and to listen to him you would have thought Eternal Rome herself was on the edge of destruction , just because a few people had become a little large-minded . ' I knew nothing about it . Aglaia never taught us the history of our own country . She was so full of her ancient Greeks . ' `` There is no hope for Rome , '' said the Pater , at last . `` She has forsaken her Gods , but if the Gods forgive us here , we may save Britain . To do that , we must keep the Painted People back . Therefore , I tell you , Parnesius , as a Father , that if your heart is set on service , your place is among men on the Wall -- and not with women among the cities . '' ' ` What Wall ? ' asked Dan and Una at once .
` XXXXX meant the one we call Hadrian 's Wall .
Aglaia Britain Dan Diocletian Father Gratian Greeks Parnesius Rome Una