A visible ripple of relief swept through the Nabataean officials. The chamberlain gestured to one of the guards and spoke in their tongue. The guard bowed and turned to a side door. He opened it and beckoned to someone waiting outside. A moment later, Bannus entered the hall. He glanced round and for a moment there was no expression on his face as he caught sight of Symeon and the two Romans. Then his eyes narrowed slightly, betraying his bitter hatred.The chamberlain called out to him and indicated that he should stand to one side of the dais, some distance from his enemies.

‘Bannus,’ he began, ‘these representatives of Rome demand that you are handed over to them.’

‘No!’ Bannus cried out. ‘You must not betray me. I came here to ask for asylum. Is this how Nabataea treats its guests?’

‘I do not recall extending an invitation to you,’ the chamberlain replied with another of his smiles.’Therefore you are not our guest.’

‘Nevertheless, I would ask you for shelter, for protection against a common enemy.’

‘Enemy?’

‘I speak of Rome.’

‘We are not at war with Rome. They are not our enemy.’

‘Yet they will be. Rome is not simply another kingdom. It is a contagion.They will never cease to covet the lands of others. If they would have my land, poor as it is, as a province of their empire, then how do you imagine they would look upon the wealth of Nabataea?’

The chamberlain did not reply. He spared Cato and Macro a quick glance before returning his attention to Bannus. ‘What evidence do you have that Rome has any designs on Nabataea?’

‘Evidence?’ Bannus smiled. ‘Why, all the evidence of history. There is not a land that they have conquered wherein they did not look across its frontier with a view to the next conquest. Their appetite for expansion is insatiable. Only when those peoples who are not yet under the Roman yoke realise their common danger will we be free of their tyranny. If you hand me over to them, then you betray all those who would defy Rome, and all those, in the fullness of time, who should defy Rome.’

‘You refer, of course, to the kingdom of Nabataea.’

‘I do.’

The chamberlain’s staff looked at each other uneasily. But their master simply stared at the Judaean as he reflected on their exchange. At length, he turned to Macro and Cato. He frowned. ‘Who speaks for you?’

Macro turned to Cato and spoke in an undertone. ‘I can’t keep up with this in Greek.You’ll have to speak for us. But be careful, mind. Play it straight and don’t try anything too clever. All we want is Bannus, the boy and that woman’s casket.’ He turned back to face the chamberlain. ‘My companion Centurion Cato will speak for us.’

Cato hissed, ‘Are you sure about this, Macro?’

‘Quite sure. Now get on with it.’