Hadrian came behind Ferox and took him by the shoulders.

‘Hercules’ balls, man, all we want is for you to hold your tongue about a man who is dead and gone. I really doubt that your wife wants people to whisper about the attack, and wonder just how far things went before she managed to kill him. “Oh poor girl,” they will say, “isn’t it terrible”, while they imagine all sorts of lurid things. Spare her that at least.’

‘What do you want from me, sir?’

‘That’s better. Your part in all this will be allowed to fade away, even more than it does in your own self-effacing version. Piso will gain posthumous glory which will warm the hearts of every senator, especially as they’ll never have to meet the little cuss. Let your wife be praised by the emperor and I will help in every way I can to secure her recognition.

‘You will be forgotten, apart from a minor reprimand, and we certainly do not want you going back to Britannia, let alone to the north. She may rule, but for the moment she will rule alone. Instead, I will find some uses for you in the years to come. Serve me well – and the army and emperor of course – and one day you may be allowed to go to her. Refuse to do what I ask now, or fail me and the best you can hope for is dishonourable discharge. The worst is exile to an island for adultery, along with the lady.’

Ferox must have flinched and Hadrian felt it.

‘So, it is true.’ Hadrian could not hide his satisfaction. ‘Crispinus thought so, and a glance at the boy made me wonder.’ He pulled his hands away and walked around so that he could face Ferox. ‘You really have no choice if you want to protect the ones you love. Do you?’

‘No, my lord.’

‘Good. And if you continue to serve Rome so well then all you do will help her cause and that of your children – quietly at least. Doubt that there will be much recognition for you, not for a long while at least, but I will do my utmost to help Claudia Enica.’

‘I should like to see my wife, sir.’

‘Not yet. Perhaps one day, when you have shown that I can rely upon you for your service and absolute discretion, then perhaps I shall arrange for you to see her. But today, you must leave this camp, although if you wish to write a letter I shall ensure that it is delivered. Its contents will be the first test of your discretion.’

Ferox stood, his leg throbbing. ‘Where am I going?’

‘South, at first. Word has arrived that the emperor will get here soon and I do not want you complicating matters.

‘Once you are healed I will want you to see whether we can persuade the Roxolani’s main clans to abandon Decebalus.’

‘In place of Piso, my lord?’