The Snake Catcher Read online

  THE SNAKE CATCHER

  A NOVEL OF GERMANIA AND ROME

  HRABAN CHRONICLES: BOOK 4

  ALARIC LONGWARD

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE SNAKE CATCHER

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

  MAP OF AUGUSTAN ROME

  MAP OF NORTHERN EUROPE B.C. 12

  NAMES AND PLACES

  CAMULODUNUM, ALBION (A.D. 42)

  BOOK I: THE SNAKE ARM

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  BOOK 2: GERMANI CORPORES CUSTODES

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  BOOK 3: THE SCRIBE AND THE PREFECT

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  BOOK 4: OLD GRUDGES

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  BOOK 5: SERPENTS IN THE EAST

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CAMULODUNUM, ALBION (A.D. 42)

  Copyright (C) 2016 Alaric Longward

  Cover art by Markus Lovadina (http://artofmalo.carbonmade.com)

  Cover design by (http://www.thecovercollection.com/)

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

  For Freya the Red, and the readers who enjoy stories of old times

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  Greetings, and thank you for getting this book. I hope you enjoy it and also read the Maroboodus and Adalwulf, books related to this series. When you have completed the story, I would appreciate if you could take the time to rate and review the story on Amazon.com and/or on Goodreads. This will be incredibly valuable for me going forward and I want you to know how much I appreciate your opinion and time.

  Please visit:

  www.alariclongward.com

  and sign up for my mailing list for a monthly dose of information on upcoming stories and information on our competitions and winners.

  OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

  THE HRABAN CHRONICLES – NOVELS OF ROME AND GERMANIA

  THE OATH BREAKER – BOOK 1

  RAVEN’S WYRD – BOOK 2

  THE WINTER SWORD – BOOK 3

  THE SNAKE CATCHER – BOOK 4

  THE BANE OF GODS – BOOK 5 (COMING 2016)

  GOTH CHRONICLES - NOVELS OF THE NORTH

  MAROBOODUS - BOOK 1

  GERMANI TALES

  ADALWULF

  THE CANTINIÉRE TALES – STORIES OF FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEONIC WARS

  JEANETTE’S SWORD – BOOK 1

  JEANETTE’S LOVE – BOOK 2

  JEANETTE’S CHOICE – BOOK 3 (COMING LATE 2016)

  TEN TEARS CHRONICLES – STORIES OF THE NINE WORLDS

  THE DARK LEVY – BOOK 1

  EYE OF HEL – BOOK 2

  THRONE OF SCARS – BOOK 3

  THIEF OF MIDGARD – STORIES OF THE NINE WORLDS

  THE BEAST OF THE NORTH – BOOK 1

  QUEEN OF THE DRAUGR – BOOK 2 (COMING AUGUST 2016)

  MAP OF AUGUSTAN ROME

  MAP OF NORTHERN EUROPE B.C. 12

  NAMES AND PLACES

  Adalfuns the Crafter – mysterious old man trying to help Hraban fight Tear. Will help Hraban three times if Hraban proves himself worthy.

  Adalwulf – champion of Hulderic.

  Adgandestrius – a Chatti adeling, son of Ebbe, brother to Gunda.

  Adminus – Catuvellauni noble in Britain, brother of Togodumnus and Caratacus. A schemer and former exile in Rome.

  Agetan – son of Tudrus the Elder, brother of Tudrus the younger, twin to Bohscyld.

  Albine – daughter of Ebbe the Chatti.

  Albis River – Elbe River.

  Ansbor – Hraban's rotund friend, sarcastic yet staunch.

  Ansigar – Hraban's scheming friend.

  Antius – also Gaius Antius. A trader and negotiator, a servant of Rome who is plotting the downfall of both Germania and certain Roman nobles.

  Antonia Minor – widow of Drusus.

  Aristovistus – in the past, a famed leader of a confederacy of Suebi. Tried to conquer Gaul 58 B.C. Defeated by Gaius Julius Caesar. Grandfather of Balderich, the old leader of Marcomanni.

  Armin – Arminius, a Cherusci noble, son of Sigimer, husband to Thusnelda, foe of Rome, of Maroboodus and of Segestes.

  Arrius Vibius Bricius – a Mediomactri Gaul noble living near Rheine, father of Cassia.

  Aska – first man created by Woden, Lok, and Hoenur.

  Balderich – grandson of the famous Aristovistus, grandfather of Hraban, leader of the Marcomanni.

  Bark – brother of Wulf, priest of Freyr, foe of Maroboodus.

  Bero – brother of Hulderic. Followed Hulderic from Gothonia to regain his ring and vengeance. Foe to Maroboodus.

  Bohscyld – son of Tudrus the Elder, brother to Tudrus the Younger, twin to Agetan.

  Burbetomagus – shared capital of the Mediomactri Celts and the Vangiones.

  Burlein – youngest brother of Isfried and Melheim, noble of the southern Marcomanni.

  Camulodunum – city of Camulos, former capital of Trinovantes, now lorded over by the Catuvellauni.

  Caratacus – Catuvellauni in Britain, brother to Togodumnus and Adminus.

  Cassia – daughter to Arrius Vibius Bricius, a Gaul, and a healer.

  Castrum Flamma – a Roman fort in the lands of the Luppia River.

  Castrum Luppia – a Roman fort in the lands of the Matticati.

  Catualda – son of Bero, cousin to Maroboodus.

  Catuvellauni – a tribe in Britain, foes to Catuvellauni and Atrebates. Lords of Camulodunum, where Hraban is hiding Thumelicus.

  Chatti - a fearsome Germanic tribe living north of the Maine river, south of the Cherusci.

  Chauci – mighty Germanic tribe of the north.

  Cherusci – a mighty Germanic tribe living at Weser and Elbe Rivers.

  Chariovalda – lord of the Batavi, allies of Rome, client to Drusus and Hraban's captor.

  Cilia – slave of Julia, lover of Wandal

  Cornix – optio of the nineteenth legion, servant to Gaius Antius.

  Danubius River – Danube River.

  Draupnir – ring of Woden. Every ninth day, this wondrous, dwarven-crafted ring would spill eight others.

  Draupnir's Spawn – spawn of Draupnir, Woden's ring, and the influential ancient ring of Hraban's family.

  Ebbe – Chatti noble, father of Gunda and Adgandestrius, ever ready to oppose Rome.

  Embla – first woman created by Woden, Lok, and Hoenur.

  Ermendrud – daughter of Fulch the Red, lover to Hraban, then Wandal's wife to be.

  Euanthe – whore and later wife of Tudrus

  Euric – father of Wandal, a blacksmith.

  Felix – a Celt slave to Maroboodus and Hraban. Hraban's friend.
<
br />   Flower – slave of Cassia

  Fulch the Red – warlord of Bero, father of Ermendrud.

  Fulcher – Hraban's conscience and friend.

  Gaius Caesar – heir apparent to Augustus, son of Julia

  Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus – the first man of Rome, seemingly keeping Rome a republic, but in reality, creating an empire where he would hold the power over the military and much of the legislative power. Strove to ensure the continuation of his line in charge of Rome.

  Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus – Caligula, the Roman Emperor whom Hraban sacrificed to elevate Claudius.

  Gaius Sentius Saturninus – a Roman consul, supporter of Augustus. In the book, he is helping Drusus with the wars of 12 B.C. to 9 B.C. A fair ruler, a wise general. In reality, he would not arrive in Germania until 4 A.D. and would he replaced by Varus in A.D. 6.

  Galdr – magic, spells, rhythmic spell singing.

  Gau – a Germanic county, administrative area.

  Gernot – Hraban's weak-willed brother.

  Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso – son of famous Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, a praefectus of auxilia.

  Gothoni – old Germanic tribe from the Baltic Sea.

  Grim – Ubii Guard

  Grinrock – capital of the southern Marcomanni, home of Isfried.

  Gulldrum – ancient abode and shrine of Tear's clan and god by Elbe River.

  Gunda – a Chatti noble, daughter of Ebbe

  Gunhild – sister to Sigilind, Hraban's aunt. Daughter of Balderich.

  Gunnvör – Burlein's archer, slayer of Guthbert.

  Guthbert – Batavi rider of Maroboodus, brother of Leuthard.

  Hadewig – Thumelicus's real name.

  Hagano – Hraban's friend, youngest of the Bear Heads.

  Hands – a Chatti bounty hunter.

  Hard Hill – capital of the Marcomanni, oppidum hill next to Rheine.

  Harmod the Old – champion of Hulderic.

  Hengsti – the war king of the Matticati, allies of Rome, famed riders.

  Hermanduri – vast Suebi nation covering much of the Weser River. Roman allies.

  Hraban – the Raven, the Oath Breaker, the main character of the story. Son of Maroboodus, he is telling his story to Thumelicus, so he might one day have his fame redeemed and his daughter Lif know him.

  Hulderic – Hulderic the Gothoni, noble of ancient house, father of Maroboodus, grandfather to Hraban, brother of Bero.

  Hunfrid – a Vangione noble, son of Vago, brother of Shayla, Koun, and Vannius.

  Inguiomerus – a Cherusci noble, brother to Sigimer and Segestes, foe of Rome, but envious of Armin's growing power and of Armin's ability.

  Isfried – lord of the southern Marcomanni, head of his own large family. Ally to Bero, Balderich's lord. Brother of Melheim and Burlein.

  Ishild – daughter to Tear, sister to Odo, she is a girl entwined in her mother’s and brother’s attempt to destroy the world. Torn between her family and her love for Hraban, she makes Hraban's life full of hard choices.

  Istros – Dacian gladiator

  Iullus Antonius – son of Marc Antony.

  Julia – daughter of Augustus, wife of Tiberius

  Kleitos – the Prefect of the Guard

  Koun – a Vangione noble, foe to free Germani. Brother of Shayla, Vannius, and Hunfrid, son of Vago.

  Leuthard – a Batavi warrior who served Bero, then Maroboodus. Brother to Guthbert, Maroboodus's bodyguard.

  Lif – Hraban's and Ishild's daughter.

  Lífþrasir – son of Odo.

  Livia – mother to Drusus and Tiberius, wife of Augustus

  Lok – a trickster, half deity, half giant. Bound by the entrails of his own son for causing the death of Baldur, son of Woden, and for his chaotic nature.

  Lucius – a man of Maroboodus, who deserted.

  Lucius Gaius – son of Julia

  Luppia River – Lippe River in middle Germany. Where much of the Germanic wars took place.

  Maelo – famous opponent of Rome, Sigambri Germani noble.

  Marcomanni – the bordermen, Suebi Germanic tribe divided into two gaus, counties. Led by Balderich and Maroboodus.

  Marcus Lollius – Roman noble and supporter of Augustus

  Maroboodus – son of Hulderic, father to Hraban and Gernot, husband to Sigilind. A man returning home after a long period, bringing with him war and threat of destruction of the whole world.

  Marcus Romanus – a Roman exile living with Hulderic, teacher to Hraban. Servant of Maroboodus.

  Mare Suebicum – the Baltic Sea.

  Mare Germanicum – the North Sea.

  Mathildis – wife of Brimwulf

  Mattium – famed capital of the Chatti, home of Ebbe. Oppidum.

  Mediomactri – Gauls living west of Rheine River, opposite to the Marcomanni. Share their land with the Germanic Vangiones, foes of Maroboodus.

  Melheim – brother of Isfried, brutal and treacherous. Noble of the southern Marcomanni.

  Moenus River – Maine River, where Hraban lives as a youth.

  Moganticum – a major Roman military base started by Agrippa, it kept growing into a naval base and a trade city. Mainz of today, located where Maine River combines with Rheine.

  Nero Claudius Drusus – Stepson of Augustus, son of Livia, brother of Tiberius. The leader of the early wars against the Germani east of Rheine, and the greatest, best liked leader of his time.

  Nihta – a Germani warrior of the Rugii tribe, a harii, night fighter, and champion of Maroboodus. Deadly with a sword.

  Odo – son of Tear, brother of Ishild. The driving force behind the god who wants to destroy the worlds. Hraban's nemesis.

  Oldaric – the other Chatti lord, father of Albine. Stubborn and slow to oppose Rome.

  Pipin – a Batavi guard of Hraban.

  Quadi – a Suebi tribe, allies of the Marcomanni north of Maine River.

  Radulf – a Batavi guard of Hraban.

  Ralla – a völva at Hard Hill.

  Rallo – Ubii Guard.

  Rochus – a Cherusci noble, brother of Armin, son of Sigimer.

  Ragnarök – the final battle of Germanic mythology, the end of most of the living things, the gods included.

  Sabinus – Roman Procurator in charge of taxing Herod’s estate

  Segestes – also Segestes the Fat, a Cherusci noble, brother to Inguiomerus and Sigimer, uncle of Armin and father of Thusnelda. Roman sympathizer. Ruler of the Cherusci lands west of Weser River.

  Seidr – magical power of Freya, the war goddess, mistress of seduction. Völvas use it.

  Seiren – lover of Grim.

  Shayla – a half Celt, half Germani druid, opponent of Tear, trying to steer away the prophecy of the end of the world. Sister to Vannius, Koun, and Hunfrid.

  Sibratus – Quadi noble, brother of Tudrus the Older and Tallo.

  Sigambri – old Germanic tribe living around Lippe River. Always at war with Rome along with the Bructeri, Usipetes, Marsi and Tencteri.

  Sigilind – daughter of Balderich, wife of Maroboodus, mother of Hraban and Gernot.

  Sigimer – a Cherusci noble, father of Armin, brother of Segestes, ruler of lands east of Weser River.

  Suebi – a vast confederacy of Germanic tribes stretching from Sweden to Danube River.

  Tallo – Quadi noble, brother of Tudrus the Older and Sibratus.

  Tear – also called Zahar, the mother to Odo and Ishild. Reluctant servant of her old god bent on destruction of the world.

  Tencteri – Germanic tribe from the Lippe River.

  Thumelicus – the man Hraban is spinning his story for. Son of Armin and Thusnelda, rescued by Hraban. He is recovering in Albion, Camulodunum.

  Thusnelda – a noble Cherusci woman, wife of Armin, daughter of Segestes and mother of Thumelicus.

  The Three Spinners – norns, the Germanic deities, or spirits, sitting at the foot of the world tree, by the Well of Fate, weaving the past, the present, and the future of each living creature. Al
so called Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld.

  Togodumnus – king of the Catuvellauni, lord of Camulodunum where Hraban is hiding Thumelicus. Brother to Adminus and Caratacus.

  Trinovantes – a tribe in Britain, foes to the Catuvellauni.

  Tudrus the Older – brother of Tallo, nephew of Sibratus, a Quadi noble, and leader of the westernmost of the Quadi.

  Tudrus the Younger – eldest son of Tudrus the Elder, the brains of the three Quadi brothers.

  Ulrich – Ubii Guard

  Vaettir – Germanic nature spirits.

  Vago - king of the Vangiones, foe to Marcomanni and the Quadi. Leader of I Vangiorum, a Roman Auxilia unit. Father of Shayla, Koun, Vannius, and Hunfrid.

  Vangiones – a Germani tribe serving Rome.

  Vannius – a Vangione noble, son of Vago, brother to Shayla, Koun, and Hunfrid.

  Varnis – Sigambri Germani noble.

  Varus - Publius Quinctilius Varus, supporter of Augustus, took over Germania from Saturninus. Did not understand how to treat the Germani, and Armin took ample advantage of Varus's shortcomings, causing the destruction of three legions.

  Veleda – the girl Hraban must find for Tear and Odo.

  Visurgis River – Weser River.

  Wandal – Hraban's ham-fisted, slow-witted friend. Son of Euric.

  Woden – also known as Odin, the leader of the Aesir gods, one of the creators of men and the world.

  Woden's Gift – spawn of Draupnir, Woden's ring, the influential ancient ring of Hraban's family.

  Wulf – a vitka from village of Hraban. One of the few who are trying to stop the prophecy that will end the world. Hraban's former tutor, foe to Maroboodus.

  Wyrd – fate in Germanic mythology.

  Yggdrasill – the world tree, where the nine worlds hang from. Source of all life.

  Zahar – see Tear.

  CAMULODUNUM, ALBION (A.D. 42)

  The death of a lord is a spectacle, Thumelicus, my lord.

  This morning, our host, Togodumnus, the King of the Catuvellauni and of the Trinovantes, stood over what was left of his traitorous, younger brother, Adminus. The dying man had plotted with Rome, against his own people. He had tried to give you and me to Claudius. He did all of this for the usual reasons. He was to gain power and riches, and he dreamt of a kingdom of his own, no matter the Roman heel pressing on his neck. He would have received such rewards when the Wolf of Rome finally arrives on the shores of Albion. Yes, Claudius would have given him much, had he managed to turn us both over to the Romans.