‘I am no hero, sir,’ Ferox said. ‘I did my bit, but so did plenty of others.’

‘Perhaps this reticence is more Spartan than Roman – or does the tribe of your ancestors value modesty? No matter. I have not yet polished my report on what happened after you had slipped away into the night, for words sometimes fall short. Your wife is remarkable, if a little terrifying. Do you know that at the last she went forth to fight a duel with the Dacian leader?’

Ferox gripped the arms of his chair. ‘They should not have let her.’

‘From what I heard, they tried to stop her, but the only men up to the job were limping or otherwise wounded and she does have a forceful personality.’

‘She won, I take it.’ Ferox had received word that the queen was alive, if no more.

‘Not quite, but she survived, although with a broken arm. At least there is not a scratch on her exquisite body.’ That was an odd expression to use to a woman’s husband, but the legatus showed no awareness of this. After all, Ferox was a mere centurion and his wife only of equestrian rank. A senator could say what he liked about or to such folk. ‘All in all, it is worthy of Homer, although I doubt that I shall quote the blind poet in my report as the army and the emperor does not care for such flamboyance. She lives and her opponent is dead by his own hand, so there is no shame only glory.

‘And yet,’ he paused.

Here it comes, thought Ferox.

‘And yet,’ Hadrian repeated, ‘some of what occurred is unfortunate to say the least, and one would wish that it had not occurred. You have been told that Piso is dead, but none of the details.’

‘No, sir.’

‘Your wife killed him.’ Hadrian stared at Ferox. ‘The news does not seem to surprise you?’

‘I imagine she had good reason.’

‘He tried to rape a freedwoman of yours. She stopped him and he tried to rape her, so she stabbed him to death.’

‘The law is on her side, then,’ Ferox said, ‘and none would call that murder.’

‘So the garrison thought – what was left of them at least – for the deed was immediately made public and approved. But do not be obtuse. None of this is heroic.

‘The tribune came from a once illustrious family – indeed from several illustrious families for the reluctance of the old aristocracy to procreate with their wives has meant many adoptions to preserve each family’s name. His father is a mildly dangerous fool, but the son had never been accused of disloyalty, at least not in public. Ostensibly he was here because the emperor is a kind, forgiving man and wishes old families and senators in general to prosper and win fame under his leadership.

‘Piso’s role in the shambles at Sarmizegethusa is ambiguous at best, but no one will ever remember that. Only the story of Longinus will survive, because that is the one the emperor will have everyone tell and that is what good Romans will want to believe. An old soldier who was captured, but took his own life rather than be used as a hostage by a hostile king. No matter if the truth is a little different.’