X Summary

Julian spends the winter of 355-356 in Gaul with few troops and struggling to find a way to survive. He has his first taste of battle and says he is delighted to discover that he is not a coward. There are no major battles. Though Julian is prepared to fight, he has shared control with Constantius' own generals. Oribius is with Julian, and it's he who reminds Julian that Constantius has given him a detailed list of instructions. However, when Julian opens the packet, it's information on etiquette, right down to recipes for dinner parties. Julian briefly considers running away. He tells Oribius that he would even be willing to become a slave, for that's all he is in his current position. Julian describes his passage through Gaul. He says that he wonders about the fact that Constantius prompts fear and awe in...