A loveable rogue who always seems to find trouble and then wriggle his way out of it. Popular with most of his class as he is cheeky and acts the clown.

He’s very good at making up excuses which are part truths. To make them believable he often twists or leaves out the bits that could get him into hot water.

He becomes a close friend of Alfie and has come to regard Saima with respect bordering on friendship - but don’t tell his mates! He is clever but laziness spoils what could be better work. His great love is sport, especially football.

A model student and although she knows it, she does not show off. She is clever and asks really good questions. She is excellent at most subjects and works hard. She lives with her mum and dad who run the local convenience store.

She is certainly a student that teachers crave to have in their classes because of her excellent attitude.

An interesting fact is that she is the fastest runner out of all the boys and girls in the whole of her Year Group.

Alfie is shy and doesn’t make friends easily. He prefers his own company but becomes friends with both Charlie and Saima who look out for him. He is easily picked on by other boys in particular, who see him as being a bit weird.

His parents tend to shelter him and keep a close watch on what he does and who he is with. They are not keen that he is friends with Charlie. Alfie is however pretty good at anything mathematical and surprisingly good at sport.

The only son of Metallus, the Blacksmith. He is older than Charlie, Saima and Alfie by a year or so. He works for his father and is strong for his age. He is skilled in metalworking but also knows how to hunt and move stealthily. He is also a fearless climber.

The village blacksmith who repairs and makes all sorts of equipment for the Romans in the fort. He is not particularly fond of them however but never shows his feelings.

He is a strong man and is seen by the villagers as a pleasant, gentle giant. He is father to Ruus.

Orcus has nothing to recommend him. He is a very overweight, Roman bully who desires to be rich. He is cunning and ruthless. He would sell his own mother for ten denarii.

He works as a clerk for the Publicanus in the local fort. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d kill him and take over the money handling and become Publicanus himself as quick as a flash.