‘Shit.’ Cato stared at him, then his eyes turned to the hatch beneath the mattress and he looked at it in horror. Any moment now one of the brigands might spot the sword, and know that a Roman had been there. Or worse, they would fling back the mattress to reveal the hatch.There was nothing he could do about it, so he and Symeon sat as still as they could and waited. He felt his heart pounding, and the splitting headache and sickness returned so he had to concentrate his will on fighting off the pain and the urge to groan or cry out.

‘Put him on the bedroll,’ Miriam said. ‘Get me some water.’

This was it, Cato thought. Any moment now, the injured man would feel the hardness of the sword handle through the bedding.

Footsteps thudded overhead, and they heard Bannus speak.’Don’t talk in Greek, Miriam. Some of my men are simple peasants.They only know the dialect of the valley.’

They continued speaking a form of Aramaic and Cato glanced at Symeon. ‘What?’

Symeon raised his hand to quiet the Roman and cocked an ear towards the ceiling as he strained to hear what was being said. There were many voices talking now, and feet moving overhead as the men’s wounds were treated.Time seemed to slow to a crawl, so that Cato was aware of every instant that passed as his ears filled with the sounds from the room above his head. He willed Miriam to treat the men as swiftly as she could, to get them out of her house, and out of the village.

As the light outside began to grow dim there was a shout from the street and immediately a commotion in Miriam’s house as the men piled outside and Bannus bellowed a series of orders. Symeon nudged Cato. ‘They’ve spotted a column of Roman cavalry heading for the village.’

‘Macro. It has to be.’

Symeon shrugged. ‘I sincerely hope so.’

Bannus’ men began to carry the wounded out towards the horses. Then, as they helped them into the saddles, there was a cry from the man on the bedroll. His wounds had made him weak and he paused for breath before he gasped a few more words.

‘He’s found your sword!’ Symeon hissed. ‘When they come back for him they’ll see it.’