‘You’ll remember from your basic training,’ Macro said as he hefted the yoke off the ground and laid it out on Pavo’s shoulder, ‘that the first thing a legionary is taught to do is march with a full complement of equipment.’

‘But, sir, this is too much,’ Pavo said glumly, his legs nearly buckling under the weight.

‘Britomaris is going to make you sweat like never before. He will come at you like a bull. You can’t do anything about that. But you can prepare for when the going gets tough.’ Macro pointed with his wooden sword to the porticoes at the north and south ends of the training ground. ‘First circuit: run the length of the ground and back.’

Pavo grumbled as he broke into a lumbering trot towards the north portico.

‘I said run, not bloody crawl!’ Macro roared.

‘I am running!’

‘I am running, sir!’

‘Sir . . .’ Pavo grunted as he picked up the pace, his cheeks puffing and his face reddening with effort. He could feel his heart thumping inside his chest. Dry, hot air singed his throat. The yoke dug into his shoulder. In the army the young trainee had completed his fair share of marches with full equipment, but that had been at a steady pace. Now he was sprinting, and the exertion quickly took its toll. He broke out in a hot, salty sweat.

‘Now get back here!’ Macro barked.

Pavo muttered curses under his breath as he lurched back to the line, sweat streaking down his back. As Pavo made to release the yoke, Macro dropped his left shoulder and thrust his sword at the recruit’s midriff. Pavo instinctively jerked his shield up to block the attack. The force of the blow took Pavo by surprise. He stumbled backwards, his toes digging into the sand as he scrambled for purchase, feeling a shuddering up his left forearm that reverberated through his bicep and shoulder muscles.

‘Again!’ Macro shouted. ‘And sprint both ways this time. I want to see you sweat.’

‘But—’

‘Don’t answer me back, boy!’

Pavo shuttled off.

‘Now!’ Macro roared. He hefted the pigskin and began jogging around the perimeter.

By the eighth lap Pavo felt blisters forming on the soles of his feet. As he completed the twelfth lap his steady run had become staggered and frantic and his legs pleaded with him to stop. Nausea tickled the back of his throat. Still he ran. His feet ached. On the sixteenth lap his blisters burst and hot, gritty sand rubbed into the exposed sores, causing him great discomfort every time he planted his foot on the ground. He gritted his teeth and practically stumbled the final lap. At last he hit the portico steps with a thirsty sigh of relief and a painful stitch spearing his right side. He lifted his head up and vomited on the sand with a weak groan.