‘Some information is too sensitive to commit to written reports,’ Plautius said smugly. ‘You never know into whose hands it might fall. May I continue?’

‘Please.’

‘What Caratacus doesn’t know is that the Second Legion has been moved up from Calleva to cover the crossing. Caratacus will be caught between my army and the river. There will be nowhere to run this time. He’ll have to turn and fight, and when he does he’ll be crushed. Then, Narcissus, you and the Emperor will have your victory in Britain. All that will remain are a few malcontents in the mountainous country to the west and those savages up in Caledonia. It may not be worth bringing them under our control, in which case some kind of barrier defence will be needed to keep them out of the province.’

‘Barrier? What kind of barrier?’

‘A ditch, a wall, maybe a canal.’

‘Sounds horribly expensive.’

‘Rebellion is more expensive. Anyway, that’s work for the future. For now, we must concentrate our efforts on defeating Caratacus and breaking the tribes’ will to resist. I trust you will want to be there to witness the battle?’

‘Very much so. I’ll look forward to it. Almost as much as I look forward to relating the event to the Emperor himself. You’ll do well out of this, Plautius. We all will.’

‘Then may I propose a toast?’ Plautius refilled both their glasses and raised his own. ‘To the frustration of the Emperor’s enemies, and a . . . crushing victory over the barbarians!’

‘To victory!’ Narcissus smiled, and emptied his glass.

05 The Eagles Prey

CHAPTER FOUR

The centurions of the Second Legion were seated on several rows of stools in the headquarters tent waiting for their legate to give his briefing. They had spent a long day preparing the legion for the rapid advance scheduled for the following morning. Quite where the unit was headed no one knew, except Vespasian, the legate, and he had not divulged any information to his headquarters staff. The sun had only just set and the air was alive with midges. They swarmed around the flickering yellow flares of the oil lamps and every so often there was a pop and crackle as an insect foolishly ventured into a flame. At the head of the tent a large hide map, depicting a section of the Tamesis, was suspended on a wooden frame.