Ferox had rarely heard the prefect sound so bitter or so weary.

‘The acting governor is a deep man and methodical in his actions.’ Cerialis held up the tablet to show that it remained sealed. ‘This is the one to be handed to you in case of victory – you will see that even I have no idea of its contents. Perhaps Crispinus knew, perhaps not. The other set has been burned in accordance with the acting governor’s instructions. All this was detailed in a covering instruction. It also says that the senior officer present – which must have seemed ominous to poor Crispinus – was to give them to you and watch as you read them, although you are not obliged to reveal the contents. So here we are.’ Cerialis held out the little tablet.

Ferox hesitated.

‘Neither of us have much of a choice,’ Cerialis said.

Ferox nodded and took the orders. He did not think that his face betrayed any emotion as he read the three short sentences.

‘Bad news?’ Cerialis was genuinely sympathetic.

‘No,’ Ferox said. ‘And that is what worries me.’

*

Two cohorts of legionaries and several hundred auxiliaries remained at Nicopolis, living in the unscathed buildings of the citadel. The rest of the army went back across the Euphrates, apart from when they needed to escort a supply convoy to the garrison. There was almost no food left in the ruined city, and with the population of the villages swollen by refugees, stripping the land bare would simply have caused a famine.

‘We are supposed to be allies,’ Arrian told the tribune left in command, repeating it over and over again. ‘Never forget that.’

Hadrian never again saw Nicopolis, and was replaced by the properly appointed legatus at the start of June. Trajan did go to the city, just once, when he led his armies south at the start of the next year. By then King Abgarus of Osrhoene had realised that the Romans were coming and done everything to prove his loyalty and support, which as all could see had been demonstrated when his children aided the Romans against the rebels of Nicopolis. Arbandes went with him to meet with Trajan, and the youth’s good looks and enthusiasm helped smooth the diplomatic path, since it was so convenient for everyone. By this time Azátē had married the king of Adiabene, an arrangement encouraged by Rome. She bore him a son, and in spite of a number of older boys, from his other wives, it was her child who succeeded him.

Hadrian did not join the emperor on his campaigns. Trajan approved his actions with regards to Nicopolis, at least in public. Privately he thought the decisions were reckless, presumptuous in a governor, let alone one merely acting as a replacement. More than anything else, he simply did not like Hadrian. ‘Send the little shit to Antioch with the women,’ he told his close advisors, and they found some diplomatic tasks for him to perform there – not least amusing the imperial women. Hadrian did as he was told and waited.