Scrofa glared back at him for a moment and then eased himself back into his chair and forced a smile. ‘I don’t think it is really necessary, Centurion Macro. I merely wanted you to be aware of the disciplinary charges that could be brought against you. Rightly or wrongly, you have committed a serious breach of the military code and it is within my powers to bring you before a military tribunal. I could, if I wanted, carry that out in a summary manner, here in this fort.’

‘You could,’ Macro conceded. ‘But I could equally insist on my right to appeal to the Emperor for a hearing back in Rome. And I think we both know how that might turn out, given the way you are running things here.’

It was an impasse, and all the men in the office knew it. For a while no one spoke, until Scrofa continued in the same placating manner.

‘There is no need for that, Centurion. Let’s just agree that you have acted unacceptably, and that you will give me your word not to commit any further such breaches of the military code. After all, we would not wish you to assume command of this cohort with such an unpleasant disagreement hanging in the air, would we?’ He smiled. ‘Now then, I can understand that you might see things a little differently from us. You and Centurion Cato have only just arrived in the province and haven’t yet acclimatised to the way things are done here. I think Centurion Postumus might accept that he was a trifle brusque in the manner in which he introduced you to the little arrangement we have concerning the caravans that pass through the territory policed by the Second Illyrian.’

‘That’s putting it mildly, sir.’

Scrofa laughed lightly, and then licked his lips. ‘I can assure you that there is nothing unusual about the situation. It’s common practice amongst units stationed on this frontier.’

‘That’s not my understanding, sir,’ Cato intervened. ‘We were told that this, er, arrangement of yours has only been running since Centurion Postumus arrived at the fort.’

‘It must have lapsed,’ Postumus explained. ‘I merely resurrected it, for the benefit of the officers of the cohort.’

‘Naturally.’ Macro smiled. ‘Very altruistic of you, Centurion Postumus.’

‘If I can serve our interests as well as the Emperor’s, then I can see no harm in the situation.’

‘I doubt the Nabataean caravan cartels see it like that.’

Postumus shrugged. ‘They go along with it.’

‘They have no choice in the matter,’ Macro pointed out. ‘They pay up, or you leave them to the mercy of the desert raiders. Somehow, I doubt that is helping cement good relations between the Nabataean kingdom and Rome. If I were a suspicious man I might well think that you were deliberately undermining our relationship with Nabataea, as you are undermining the stability of the territory around this fort.’