Marcus’s family name, Aquila, itself means “eagle.” His middle name translates to “blonde” or “golden,” and his first name is a derivative of the name of Mars, the Roman god of war. Thus, in essence the author has named him “Marcus Golden Eagle.” A Roman centurion approximately 19 years old at the beginning of the novel, Marcus is thoroughly Roman in his identity, raised in the center of the Roman world, the descendant of Roman soldiers and horsemen back to the origins of his long lineage. Marcus is distinctly Roman in appearance, of a deep olive complexion with dark hair, and distinguishable as a member of the Raven Degree of Mithras in the scar between his brows. His appearance holds a particular significance in the novel as a hindrance throughout his travels in the North, in that he is not able to exist past Hadrian’s Wall without a narrative to explain his presence, rendered conspicuous by his physical attributes.

Marcus was profoundly affected by the disappearance of his father when he was eight, and his grief and uncertainty intermingle within him, rendering him duty bound to protect his father’s memory and learn what happened to him.