‘It wasn’t suicide then?’

‘Do not ask foolish and inappropriate questions, Flavius Ferox, and take thought instead for those dear to you.

‘Piso escaped, and if the manner was questionable, everyone approves success. Even by your account he played a brave role in the later days of the siege. Remember this was a young nobleman who had never before served in the army or fought for his life.’

‘He did well, sir. Better than I had expected.’

‘So that is a good story, which means that we cannot have the dashing young hero stabbed to death as he tried to ravish a respectable – if admittedly unorthodox – lady of decent enough family. While we may have to play down her amazonian exploits in case they make our good citizens nervous for the natural order, I am sure we can talk a lot about her courage and how she inspired her own tribesmen and the other soldiers. Better leave out the flag with the tits as well.’ Hadrian shook his head in mock distaste. ‘Yes, I saw it, you Britons are strange folk.

‘Now where was I? Ah yes. Privately Piso is better dead, for it will prevent his idiot parent from thinking that he can lead a rebellion and start his own dynasty. And no one really knows whether the son would have been as troublesome as his father or have stayed loyal. It was important that the lad get a chance to serve the res publica, better if he showed bravery and best of all if he did not return from his exploits. A captive in the hands of the Dacians might have been embarrassing in the long run, so it was good that he escaped, a slight pity that he was not killed in the attempt, and acceptable that he came to join you. If he had survived, I had in mind sending him to negotiate with the Roxolani.’

Ferox may have blinked, but did not think so. Hadrian paused and was watching him expectantly. ‘The tribune did not strike me as a diplomatic man,’ Ferox said after a while. ‘Dealing with the clans can be delicate and dangerous.’

‘Quite so. I was relying on him to upset them and pay the price. That would have been a brave enough death for him. However, there is no need for such an expedient. He joined you at Piroboridava. To everyone’s delight – at least everyone who matters – he fought bravely and did not survive. No need for scandal, no need at all. When the story is written, Piso will not make it back to your “acropolis”.’ Hadrian shook his head at the word. ‘He will die letting others reach shelter – with piles of his foes slain around him, if you like.’

‘It did not happen that way.’

‘That is neither here nor there. Sulpicia Lepidina is a shrewd enough woman to keep silent, especially if the emperor is willing to foster her husband’s career. Ambitious man, that, for himself and his sons.’