In the year 117 A. D., a man called Speed arrives in the west central part of Scotland. Speed has a mission: to assimilate into the Lomond tribe and unite the local tribes against the Roman Empire. The emission will not be an easy one. He arrives at Loch Lomond, builds a boat, marries a local princess, and establishes a home on the east side of the lake. Speed begins traveling as the Lake Tribe ambassador and visits other settlements, trying to convince their leaders to create a defense force against the encroaching Romans. But the highlanders and the lowlanders are proud, and working together isn’t in their blood. It will take every ounce of Speed’s diplomatic skills to convince them to join together. Yet the Romans pose a threat to their way of life, and unless they take a stand, they risk losing their land, their culture, and their very identity. The Caretaker is the fi rst in a new series by Richard F. Jarmain, one that combines compelling, vivid details and vibrant characters to create a sprawling historical tale set during the late Iron Age—the start of the reign of Hadrian.