The city perimeter wall of huge stone blocks faced with red brick hugged Rome in a protective embrace.
“Eleven miles of walls,” Brother Tanolfi said, “built by Emperor Aurelian five hundred years ago, because the settlement outgrew its old ramparts so everything erected outside was defenceless. What interests us,” he turned to Father Denehard, “is Roman law forbade the burial of the dead intra muros, so they interred our martyrs in deep graves alongside the roads leading out of Rome.”
intra murosNot caring about martyrs, Begiloc turned to Caena, “It"d take a mighty host to storm these walls.”
The Saxon blew out his cheeks. “Ay … yet they say it"s been done.”
The two men stared in awe at the fortifications and the Flaminian Gate ahead. Droves of pilgrims, merchants and countrymen, who d
