‘Then I suggest you release him as soon as possible, before he reconsiders his view of Rome. Given the sensitivity of the situation I don’t think we should risk any unnecessary offence.’

‘Sir, if we could just question him first-’

‘No! You’ve caused enough trouble already, Centurion. I’m ordering you to release him immediately. Now see to it. I’ve got training to get back to.’ Quintillus strode to the doorway, and paused in the wooden frame, almost filling it with his well-honed physique. He looked at Macro and Cato as he spoke. ‘If I hear that you’ve delayed acting on my order I’ll break you both and send you back to the ranks. Understand me?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I want to see this Artax in the king’s party when we leave on the hunt tomorrow. If there’s so much as a scratch on him, I’ll have your balls for paperweights.’

As the tribune’s footsteps faded down the corridor Macro clenched his fist and pounded the palm of his other hand.

‘Bastard! Utter bastard! Coming in here and telling us how to bloody proceed. Who the fuck does he think he is? Bloody Julius Caesar? Cato? I said who does he think he is? . . . What the hell’s up with you? Cato!’

Cato started. ‘Sorry. Just thinking.’

Macro rolled his eyes. ‘Thinking are we? Tribune’s ordered the release of our only likely suspect, and you sit there daydreaming. Pull yourself together, lad. We need to act, not think.’

Cato nodded absently. ‘Didn’t you think it was a bit odd?’

‘Odd? No, not really. Typical twat behaviour for a tribune, sticking his oar in when it’s not needed.’

‘No. Not that.’ Cato frowned.

‘What then?’

‘The fact that he knew Artax was involved before we even mentioned his name . . .’

04 The Eagle and the Wolves

Chapter Twenty-Two

Only a few hundred of the people of Calleva turned out to watch the royal hunting party set off for the forest. And even these failed to lend the event the customary festival atmosphere. As Cato and Macro rode out of the gate they saw the pinched faces of the starving on both sides of the track leading away from the town. But hungry as they were, the children still capered alongside the procession of carts, horses and the small column of servants from the royal household. Cato turned his gaze away from the people of Calleva. It was not as if he hadn’t seen starvation before. Even Rome, for all its exotic food markets and the corn dole, had a multitude of beggars and drifters starving on its streets.