‘What this means is Princess Azátē’s visit to our city may put us all in danger. And if I know these things, then so must others. A man has been following us today, have you seen him? A bald man, big around the shoulders and wearing a drab cloak even on a hot day like this? No?’

‘I have felt that someone was following me for a day or two.’

‘Your senses are good, but not good enough. I think there may be more than one. The bald one I have never seen before. Still, even I do not know everyone in the city. You are a Roman, claim to be an army deserter, but turn up at a time when war clouds gather. You can see how that might arouse suspicion.’

‘Will the people here want to fight Rome?’ The city felt so peaceful that Domitius could not really imagine its men marching off to war.

‘Life is not what you want, but what you must do. If the whole kingdom submits then so shall we, as long as the Romans do not demand too much of us. If the kingdom fights then I expect so shall we. And if these people are attacked then they will fight, even if they fight alone. This is our home.

‘At times likes that strangers are hard to trust.’

‘Do you think the magistrates are watching me?’ Domitius searched the street and could not see anyone paying them particular attention. Nor could he see any bald men. ‘What should I do?’

‘Yes, you are being watched, unless the strategoi are fools – and they are, but not in that way. As to what you should do, it depends a lot on whether or not you are a spy. And whether the other one watching you is from the city or from outside.’

‘And what do you think, for you are wise?’

‘I trust you, Domitius, former optio ad spem. You strike me as an honest man and a good one. Of course, my head tells me that any spy who did not strike others as an honest and good man probably would not last very long, so what do I know? It would be wise of you to think hard about what you will do. If it comes to it, will you fight against your old comrades to help this city? Or should you leave before you have to make that choice and go far away, beyond even the reach of Rome. From what I hear the legions are none too kind when they catch deserters, and cruel indeed if they believe that such men had helped their enemies… Ah well, I do not think that she is coming today.’ Often when they had sat in this spot they had seen a young mother arrive, with three little children trailing behind. She was pretty and smiled and talked to John, which the old man liked, but more than that the children chuckled, played with him and made him laugh. ‘We should go, and you should think. Huh, I remember telling you that before. To tell a Roman and a soldier to think and make wise choices! Now that is the wisdom of a fool!’