‘Me?’ Tullius looked frightened by the idea. He shook his head. ‘No. I’d better stay with the cohort. If it’s a trap I’ll be needed here. You go, Cato. You’d better double up there right away.’

Cato didn’t wait to show an expression of distaste, but turned towards the fort and began to run up the slope. Almost at once a figure emerged from the gate and Maximius came striding down the track. He saw the gathering of centurions at once and started towards them angrily. The three centurions steeled themselves for his wrath.

‘What the hell is this? Who told you to leave your units?’

‘Sir,’ Cato protested, ‘we were concerned for your safety.’

‘And we’re running behind schedule,’ added Macro. ‘We should be heading for the ford by now, sir.’

Maximius instantly rounded on him and stabbed a finger at his chest. ‘Don’t you dare presume to tell me my duty, Centurion!’

‘Sir, I only meant to remind-’

‘Shut up!’ Maximius screamed down into Macro’s face. For a moment the two officers glared at each other, as the men surrounding them looked on in astonishment.

Cato coughed. ‘Sir?’

‘What?’

‘Were there any survivors?’

‘None.’

‘Any sign of Centurion Porcinus?’

Maximius winced at the mention of his friend’s name.’Oh, I found him all right. In fact I kept finding him.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Want me to draw you a fucking picture? If I ever catch the bastards who did this, I swear on my family name they’ll spend all day dying.’

The distant pounding of hoofs drew the men’s attention to the slope below the fort; one of the scouts was galloping towards them. He reined in a short distance from the officers and his mount sprayed them with clods of earth. The scout dropped to the ground at once and breathlessly saluted Maximius.

‘Make your report!’

‘Sir, we’ve found them!’ The scout jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, north towards the Tamesis. ‘Infantry. Heading west along the river, two miles away.’

‘How many?’ Cato asked.

‘Three, maybe four hundred, sir.’

Maximius shot Cato a withering glance before he addressed the scout. ‘You’re reporting to me, boy.’

‘Yes, sir.’ The scout was flustered. ‘Of course. Sorry, sir.’

The cohort commander nodded sternly. ‘Right. Let’s have them. Get back to your decurion. I want them followed. Any change of direction, he’s to let me know at once. Understand?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then go.’ Maximius waved him away and turned back to the other officers. As the scout threw himself back over the saddlecloth of his mount and spurred it away, Maximius briefly collected his thoughts. ‘It’s most likely to be a raiding party.’

‘Raiding party?’ Cato wondered.

‘What else?’

Cato was surprised. ‘Well, it’s obvious.’

Macro winced at his friend’s unusually blunt response.

‘Is it? Well, Centurion, do please share your tactical insight with us mere mortals.’