‘There is something else.’ Quertus tore off a corner of his bread and chewed steadily until his mouth was empty enough to speak. ‘Your name is Decimus, isn’t it?’

Decimus nodded, not happy that the Thracian officer knew even that much about him.

‘Cat got your tongue?’

‘N-no, sir.’

‘That’s better. Well then, Decimus, perhaps you can help me.’

‘Of course, sir.’

‘Are you happy serving the prefect?’

Decimus chewed his lip. ‘Happy, sir? I hadn’t given it any thought.’

‘Oh, I’m sure that you have. I would find it hard to believe that you would be happy in a place as far flung and wild as Bruccium. You have the look of a former soldier about you. The limp suggests you were discharged unfit. Am I right?’

Decimus nodded, then as the Thracian officer’s brow knitted he quickly spoke up. ‘Yes, sir. I served in the Second Legion. Before I met the prefect I was in Londinium working the wharves.’

‘And you gave up the comforts of Londinium to come here?’

‘The prefect offered to pay me well to serve him, sir. It seemed like a good idea at the time.’

‘But not so good now, I’ll bet.’ Quertus smiled thinly. ‘I imagine that you are thinking that no amount of silver is worth being in a place like this.’

Decimus decided that it might be best to make light of the situation and get away from the Thracian officer as soon as possible. ‘I’m sure I could imagine enough silver to make anything worth while, sir.’

Quertus responded quietly, ‘I’m sure you could.’

Decimus coughed. ‘If that’s all, sir, I’d better be off. Can’t afford to keep the prefect and Centurion Macro waiting.’

‘Before you go, Decimus, there’s something I’d like you to think about.’ Quertus leaned forward and fixed his dark eyes on the veteran. Decimus felt his blood go cold.

‘You like silver, so you’re a man after my own heart. What if I was to offer you twice what the prefect is paying you to work for me instead?’

‘Sir?’

‘Come now, Decimus. You don’t think that bread and beer are the only things that the Blood Crows take from the villages we raid. There are plenty of silver lodes in these mountains, that is one of the reasons why the Emperor is so keen to get his hands on the land of the Silures. We’ve collected quite a small hoard of silver. I’ve promised fair shares for all the officers and men in the know. Why shouldn’t you be able to dip your beak in as well? As long as you serve my needs. I see you are tempted . . . Why don’t I make it easier for you? What if I paid you three times what the prefect has promised you?’

‘A thousand sestertii, that’s what Cato said.’