Macro considered the request for a moment, then shook his head. ‘Sorry. I need every measure of the men’s loyalty and obedience. If they see you walking around the fort it’ll only confuse the issue.You have to stay here, out of sight and out of mind. For a while at least. It’s for the best.’

He closed the door behind him and slipped the bolt back into place as Scrofa started screaming abuse after him. Macro turned to the guards. ‘If he keeps that up for long, you have my permission to go in there and belt him.’

‘Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.’

‘Cato, let’s go.’

As they climbed the steps back up to the ground floor of the headquarters building Cato spoke. ‘What now? Longinus has been alerted that Narcissus is on to him. He’ll be on his guard, and even now I’d bet he’s already covering his tracks. We won’t have much evidence to offer against him. Only what little Scrofa can offer, that he was ordered to go in hard. The worst that Narcissus can accuse Longinus of will be wilful incompetence.’

‘That’s enough to justify removing him from office.’

‘Maybe.’

‘So what do we do now?’

‘I’d suggest we concentrate our efforts on Bannus. If we can destroy him, we can restore peace to the area. If we do that, then we can scupper any attempt by Longinus to request reinforcements.’

Macro nodded. ‘Bannus it is, then. We’ll talk about it in the morning. I’m so bloody tired I can hardly think straight. You’d better get a good night’s sleep too, Cato. Somehow I think there’s going to be no chance of a decent rest for some time. Better make the most of it now.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Macro smiled faintly. ‘It’s all right. You can drop the formalities when there’s no one else around.’

Cato nodded over Macro’s shoulder, and the latter turned and saw the dim shape of one of the standard bearers guarding the entrance to the headquarters shrine where the cohort’s standards were kept. Macro cleared his throat and spoke formally. ‘Very well, Centurion. I’m turning in. See you in the morning.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Cato saluted and Macro turned away and walked wearily out of the building, and headed back to his quarters. When he reached the prefect’s house he slumped on his bed and closed his eyes for a moment. Then he was asleep. So deeply asleep that he did not notice Scrofa’s manservant remove his boots, lift his legs on to the bed and cover him over with a thick blanket. As the manservant closed the door behind him, the first deep rumbling notes of Macro’s snoring echoed round the room.