‘And I would not have gone, nor trusted to those Dacian bastards – oh, my apologies, lady – if I had known what they were like. Decebalus took me prisoner during a truce, so I wanted to repay the compliment. Oh, and as I have said, that noble fellow, your husband, was quite well when last I saw him. A hostage it is true, but that means that he and the others will be treated well.’ He shook his head. ‘Poor Longinus, but then I suppose you have not heard that he is dead by poison. Did not want the emperor to worry on his behalf, so they say.’

‘We have heard, my lord.’

‘Then perhaps you had better tell me about your situation. Be a few days before this leg heals and I am fit for dancing, so you must command until then, but it is good if I know what has happened.’

Ferox told him, and sensed the tribune’s disappointment as he spoke of their meagre supplies, growing losses, and rapid depletion of missiles.

‘But help will be on its way, no doubt,’ Piso said, as if trying to convince himself.

‘It is to be hoped, my lord, but as long as we hold on here, we protect the route down to the Ister and the great bridge. We are doing our duty.’

‘Yes,’ Piso sounded unsure. ‘Yes, that is good. I saw them working on a couple of siege towers, so that is what you can expect next. Struck me as rickety affairs, so more than likely fall down on their own, but I would judge that they will be finished in a day or two.

‘By the way, I’ll not take up space here that might be needed by those in a worse state. I will take a room or two in the praetorium. Won’t need much, but I’d be obliged if you could spare a boy and maybe a girl or two to see to my needs.’

‘I will see what I can do.’ Sulpicia Lepidina was behind Piso and gave Ferox a look that made clear that no female slave or anyone other than the oldest of the men would be let anywhere near the tribune on their own. ‘Of course we can oblige.’

Enica as queen had already spoken to Ivonercus, but Ferox wanted to see the man before the medicus tried to cut out the head of the arrow lodged in the bone.

‘I want to be with my own folk,’ the Brigantian said. ‘And if they are fighting, then I want to be at their side not against them. I have sworn to the queen and I will not break my word. My quarrel with you is over – for the moment.’

Ivonercus appeared sincere, which did not mean that he was not lying. Ferox put a couple of guards outside the hospital and doubled the sentries at the gates and protecting the monâkon just in case he had been sent into the fort for a reason, or still had friends among the Brigantians who might help him. That meant an extra burden on his ever-diminishing garrison, although a score of men with lighter wounds had asked to return to duty.