He was also leaving Hadrian behind, and after the inspections at Zeugma, his orders were to return to Antioch. Last year the governor of Syria had eaten some bad fish and died. At the time Hadrian was at Athens, after a relaxing year as archon of the city, making and listening to speeches of immense grace and no importance whatsoever. He was fairly near, otherwise unemployed, so Trajan sent him as temporary legatus until a proper replacement could be found. That was typical of the man, for he recognised Hadrian’s talents, but just could not bring himself to like him. A new legatus was on the way, although delayed because he was assisting with the troop concentration and preparations for war in the north. Hadrian had three or four months left as acting governor of Syria and after that he was not sure. Trajan had not said whether he wanted Hadrian to join him on campaign at this stage or go off to Athens again or to Hades or wherever he liked. Quietus and the others in high favour at present certainly showed no enthusiasm for his company.

With a final ride past, the parade was dismissed and the imperial entourage rode to the pavilion built for them in a temporary camp constructed by one of the legions. Trajan preferred this to staying in proper houses in the garrison at Zeugma, and the dinner that night was like all the others so far, exclusively male, military in tone, with good if fairly plain food, at least by Rome’s standards, and very good and very plentiful wine. The emperor enjoyed talking, and enjoyed listening to manly stories and jests. Hadrian wondered whether he got drunk quicker than even a few years ago, but could not be sure. He was doing his best to glean every useful bit of information from the talk and the unspoken signs of precedence in the way men behaved. With just a few months left in command, he wanted to know all that he could so that he could make best use of the opportunity. A plan was already in his mind, so he took care to cultivate the prince from Osrhoene, even though the boy was not invited to the main dinner. Before that began, Hadrian had taken him back to the training area and watched as the youngster galloped and shot arrows at the target. He was lavish in his praise, and had the boy not been bearded might have gone further, even though that was not his purpose. Arbandes was both likeable and rather gullible, clearly flattered by the attention. Trajan had been too angered by the letter from the boy’s father to take a good look at the son, who was just the sort of eager young puppy the emperor liked to have around. That too might prove useful, but not for the moment.

Hadrian drank with the others, dutifully laughed as several times someone barked out, ‘Who gave you permission to dismount!’ He watched Quietus and the others and listened, knowing so much that they did not. A month ago at Baalbek he had seen the future. It was just a question of whether he was skilled enough and fast enough to make sure that it turned out as he wanted.