‘It’s fine,’ he called back.

Vindex appeared unconvinced, and lifted the wheel of Taranis slung around his neck and kissed it before he almost ran across, making the ladder shake. The rest of the Brigantes followed, and then Ferox was surprised to see Caecilius scrambling up, followed by a legionary.

‘Why are you hanging around?’ the primus pilus snarled, before breaking into a broad smile.

Ferox went back to the archway. He drew his sword, wished he still had the shield, but none of the Brigantes had managed to keep one during the climb, so they would have to make do. He glanced back, and still the defenders were clinging to the wall, killing or hurling back every legionary who climbed up. Taking a deep breath, he jumped into the doorway, just as a bolt shooter cracked like a whip to send a dart out into the darkness. A man was standing at the end of a long hallway, framed in an arch just like this one, with light behind him, and he must have been lazy or stupid, because it took a moment for him to react. Ferox sprinted towards him, gladius held low and trusting that the others would follow. The defender gaped at him, tried to shout, and then turned and fled.

Ferox screamed a challenge, the sound echoing along the corridor, and then burst into the light. A man slashed at him with the heavy bolt from a ballista, but he caught him by the wrist and stabbed once, twisting the blade to free it. Bran was behind him, and a burly man went for him, until Bran danced aside and severed his opponent’s arm, before jumping the other way and spitting another of the crewmen. Vindex followed, shouting like a fury, and killed a fourth man. The rest fled, through another archway.

‘After them!’ Ferox shouted. Surprise and panic would only last so long, so they needed to keep going.

‘Out the way!’ Sentius had appeared, and the man held a scutum. Ferox stopped and let the centurion take the lead. Legionaries were spilling into the room, some with shields, some without, and Caecilius was among them.

‘We need a way out!’ he shouted.

There was no one in the next chamber, although the lamp was still lit and a machine much like a scorpio was cocked and ready to shoot. This time there was no arch in the far wall, but a door on what must be the inner wall. Sentius bellowed at a legionary to try it. It would not budge.

‘Axes!’ Caecilius shouted. He tossed a dolabra to one of the men. Ferox had not even noticed that the senior centurion had been holding one instead of a sword. The legionary began to attack the wood. Vindex grabbed a tool much like a crowbar and went to the door. The soldier understood, reversed his blade and slid the tip into the gap on the other side to the hinges. Vindex did the same with the end of the crowbar and they both strained, faces taut, grunting with the effort until the door sprang open. There were steps leading down from the wall.