XLVIThe legion of Artos rode through southern Britain, and wherever they billeted themselves, men came to join them. They grew in strength each day, until at last Artos decreed that he could use no more of them. He formed a force of militia now, men who would act as permanent garrisons in such cities as Verulam, Camulodunum, Vricon, Deva and even Eburacum. The ironworkers of the Forest of Dean kept their forges glowing into the night, making helmets and armour and swords for the great army that had grown throughout the land. All men were anxious to share in the new glory.
And indeed a glory seemed now to have settled on Artos, not the fiery warrior glory that once he had dreamed of, but a more sober and more responsible glory. Now when men saw him, they saw not a headstrong young colt of
