‘Bugger me, it works.’ That was Vindex, but anything else was lost in a great gasp from the crowd that turned into a cheer. He pushed his way back to the front. There was a faint puff of dust where the stone had landed and broken apart. It was still well short of the bridge by a good hundred paces, but about the longest range for any of their other engines.

The second shot bounced thirty paces nearer, the stone cracking into two big pieces, one of which kept going straight. They were using soft limestone for the trials. Partly that was to avoid smashing the bridge or – if it went wild, a building – and partly because Ephippus had suggested that the fall of each missile would be that much more obvious and easier to measure afterwards. The third was closer still, the thump as it was loosed the loudest by far. After that Ephippus began to adjust the tension on the main washers, lobbing the missile higher if slower. Within a few shots, a stone splashed into the river beside the bridge.

‘Tell him if he breaks it, then he’ll have to pay for it,’ Sabinus said cheerfully.

‘Riders!’ Vindex interrupted, pointing to the south, where three horsemen were coming up the track.

Claudia Enica pulled the brim of her hat down as she stared for a long moment. ‘They’re mine. We must warn them.’

‘I am sure they will work out the danger for themselves, dear lady,’ Sabinus suggested.

‘Depends how daft they are,’ Vindex muttered.

Claudia turned to Ferox. ‘Either send someone to ride out and warn them or I will do it.’

He glanced down, taking in her long dress.

‘I can ride in this,’ she said, and he hoped there was more amusement than anger in her eyes, ‘or take it off.’

Ferox went to the rear of the tower and shouted down to Naso. Before the cornu sounded there was another dull thump. He heard the murmur of the crowd, softer now than at the start, but still excited and then it turned into shouting.

‘Oh bugger,’ Vindex said. By the time Ferox could see there was a plume of dust beyond the bridge and the three horses were bolting in all directions. Two of the riders stayed on, while the third was down and not moving.

‘I hope that is not Bran,’ Claudia Enica said quietly.

‘Bran?’ Ferox had almost forgotten the boy he had not seen for six years, and struggled to accept that the lad – a man now presumably – was over there.

Claudia nodded.

‘Oh shit,’ Vindex muttered.

XVI

The valley to the north west of Piroboridava

One day after the Kalends of May

‘IT REALLY IS good to see you,’ Ferox said and meant it.

‘Oh yes,’ Vindex added, but he was not looking at Bran. He winked at Bran’s companion, who continued to ignore him.

‘I took an oath,’ Bran said.

‘Yes, and I am all the more glad that you gave it,’ Ferox told him.