The prefect glanced through the notes on the waxed slate in front of him and went on. ‘We’ve had word that two caravans bound for the Decapolis are due to pass through our area in the next few days. The first belongs to Silas of Antioch. We’ll be sending out our usual welcoming committee and should have no trouble getting their agreement to escort the caravan as far as Gerasa. The second belongs to one of the Arab cartels that’s just started up in Aelana. Since they’re new to the game, Centurion Postumus will lead a strong force out to greet them and explain the procedure. Then escort them safely up the trail as far as Philadelphia before returning to the fort . . . On to more onerous tasks. There’s been a band raiding the borders of the Decapolis from somewhere out in the desert. Decurion Proximus will take a patrol to Azrakh, and offer their headman a bounty for tracking down and eliminating these raiders.’ Scrofa paused and glanced round the room before he spotted Proximus. ‘Make sure you agree a good deal. No point in cutting too deeply into our profit margins.’

The decurion grinned and nodded.

‘Good man. That’s the last of our commerce excursions. Any questions?’

One of the older centurions raised his arm and Scrofa regarded the man with a weary expression as he responded. ‘Yes, Parmenion?’

‘What about that business yesterday, sir? Are we going after Bannus and his gang? It’s time we settled the score with them.’

Scrofa glanced at his adjutant and Postumus leaned closer. The two men conferred quietly for a moment before Scrofa turned back to the questioner. ‘You are right, of course. We cannot tolerate such attacks on Roman forces. The Judaeans need to be taught a lesson. To that end I’m sending you out with a squadron of horse and an infantry century to make a circuit of the local settlements. If you find any evidence that their people have been offering any assistance to the brigands then you are to burn a few houses to the ground. If there’s no evidence then I want you to flog a few of the locals to give them a taste of what’s to come if they ever feel tempted to aid men like Bannus. Make sure they get the message.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Parmenion replied. ‘But wouldn’t it make more sense to try to track down the brigands themselves? Rather than mount another punitive expedition?’

‘There’s no point in exposing our men to the danger of an armed clash with these brigands,’ Scrofa responded uneasily. His adjutant stepped forward and interceded.

‘The brigands can only survive by drawing on support from the villagers. If we can persuade the locals to stop supporting Bannus, then his men will starve and disband and the problem is over.’ Postumus smiled. ‘Satisfied?’