“When it happens to one, it happens to all. Why do you think we remember Masada, Vix? Because they were our brothers. You should know that better than anyone!”

“All I know is that I spent weeks and weeks digging graves.” I hurled my cup against the wall and it shattered. “And now I’ve got orders to go join Quietus in Mesopotamia and probably dig a few more.”

“Graves for Jews this time. If there are any left in Mesopotamia.” Mirah bit her lip.

“See for yourself. You’ll come with me this time, you and the children.”

“No. I won’t go.”

“I’m not leaving you in Antioch if Jews are being killed! With me you’ll be safe.”

“You think I’ll trail after that butcher Quietus?” she shouted. “Have your supper ready every night after you come home from a day of rounding up Jewish rebels? I’m not going. I’m staying here, and so are my daughters.”

“Your daughters? They’re mine too, and you’re my wife, and you’ll go where I tell you—”

“I wouldn’t go with you on this campaign if you held a sword to my throat.”

I nearly hit her. She saw it and she put her chin up, daring me. I stalked back to the wine and didn’t bother with a cup this time, just lifted the jug in both hands and swigged directly. From behind me I heard a stifled sob and Mirah’s light footsteps retreating into the bedroom. I didn’t turn, just took another long draught. I drank all the wine in the house that night, but it wasn’t enough. I still saw the graves in that sunny little island. Such a pretty place to hold such horrors.

I woke the next day in bright afternoon, still huddled on the floor. My tongue had grown a coat of fur and a blacksmith was pounding sheet iron inside my skull, but someone had unlaced my sandals and dropped a blanket over me. I unpeeled one eye and saw my wife looking at me, perched neat and tidy on my chair, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her wide mouth had no smiles.

“Urgh.” I closed the eye again.

A pause, and I felt her narrow little fingers tangling with mine. She said nothing. I said nothing.

I went back to my legion alone.

Nothing went right after that.

No sooner did I get back to the Tenth than the bad news started to hit. More revolts—Armenia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, all going up in flames. Every new-conquered territory that had seemed so quiet.