‘They’re just barbarians, and we are at peace,’ he said, and was unimpressed when Ferox spoke of the ambush of his patrol and of the suspicions that he and Hadrian shared. Piso’s lip curled at the mention of his commander, but his scepticism was obvious. ‘The war here was won three years ago and there won’t be another. They may be barbarians, but they know the might of Rome. Behind every man who rides with us today, they will see the hundred or a thousand who would follow if there is trouble.’ He grinned, and was the most affable he had been all day. ‘If you wish to rise in the army, centurion, you must see the bigger picture. We represent the full empire and majesty of Rome, even when we have a rabble of our own barbarians and not legionaries with us today.’ His voice was loud and he obviously did not care who heard his opinion.

‘What does an attack on a small patrol mean?’ he went on. ‘Only that there are bandits here as there are in so many lands, especially in the mountains. Your men were unlucky to be caught, and poorly trained to be caught so easily, but there is no more to it than that. Bandits are desperate men, living without gods or laws, and they murder and steal because that is all they know and trust to their very unimportance for safety. Why should we send men to hunt a few scum like that when there are so many things for us to do? Decebalus is different and his people are barbarians but live under laws of their own. They know that the empire can crush them any time it wishes – and you need to show that you know it too by your bearing and every act. So you must be audacious, centurion, always audacious for in your small way you are Rome.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Ferox said, doing his best to sound sycophantic. ‘I had not perceived that truth.’

Piso gave him an odd look, and soon they stretched the horses’ legs with a gallop which ended any need for conversation.

Ferox led them to within sight of the high pass. They had set out before dawn and gone at a steady pace, so that there were almost three hours of daylight left. He suggested that they camp, and that the tribune set out first thing the next morning.

‘Nonsense – a pure waste of time. I’m going now, and will see whether we can get across before we camp.’

‘Sir.’ If the tribune wished to be audacious then that was his business. They had seen no enemies or anything suspicious during the day, but nor had they seen as many herdsmen and travellers as he would expect at this season.

Ferox made the most of the remaining light to take his men a few miles back so that they could camp on a low hillock, out of bowshot of the forests on either side of the valley. Still he had not seen anyone, and if a hundred or so men was enough to make the enemy wary then that was a good sign. Their caution was unlikely to be so great in the darkness.