The mist had lifted by the time the horsemen emerged from the wood and followed the track across open land. The sky was still overcast and the sun was no more than a faint loom amid the grey shroud that hung over the landscape. A light drizzle added to the discomfort of Cato and his companions as they rode with the Thracian auxiliaries. Once he had examined Cato’s authority to assume command, Centurion Quertus gave orders for the mules and the prisoner to be rounded up. Then he re-formed his men and led the column in the direction of the fort. As they reached open ground, he sent two riders to scout ahead while he dropped back and fell in alongside Cato and Macro.

‘Mind telling me what all that was about?’ said Macro. ‘Back there when you and your men were hunting us down.’

Quertus pursed his lips so that they disappeared behind the bristles of his beard before he replied. ‘This is Silurian territory. Or it was until we established the fort here. It’s my job to take the war to the enemy. You were spotted by one of my patrols, even before you entered the pass. They couldn’t get close enough in the mist to identify you as Romans. In any case, it’s been a while since we’ve seen any Romans from outside the garrison.’

‘So I understand,’ said Cato. ‘You’ve also failed to send any reports to Glevum for quite a while. I imagine that some of those at headquarters were on the verge of giving you and your men up for lost.’

‘Not enough to stop you being sent out here, apparently.’

Cato and Macro exchanged a quick glance.

‘Why haven’t you been in contact with headquarters for so long?’ Cato asked.

‘We’re surrounded by the enemy. If I send a man back with a report, then the chances are the Silurians would take him. In which case I lose a man, and the report fails to get through in any case. So there’s no point. If I have anything significant to tell the legate I’ll make sure he gets a report. Otherwise I’ll carry on with my orders to harrass the enemy. Which is why I led one of my squadrons out to set an ambush for you, if you turned out to be the enemy. By the way, you fell into the trap nicely. Though I was under the impression there were more than three of you, not counting the prisoner back there.’

‘Our escort turned back at the pass leading into the valley,’ Cato explained. ‘Where we found three Silurians that had been left out to die. That was your work, I take it.’