‘Sufficient for courtesy,’ Ferox said. ‘And please understand that I mean to pay. Your escort was a duty, not a favour.’

‘I would not insult you by suggesting otherwise, noble Flavius Ferox. But I can give my personal attention to this matter, so tell me what precisely you want.’

IX

Among the Marcomanni

Eighth day before the Ides of April

THEIR LITTLE CAMP was a shambles when they returned, the blankets scattered, bits of food everywhere and the horses wandered off to crop the grass. In the centre the girl sat by the dying fire, staring out blankly. She had a thick woollen blanket pulled around her and was clutching it tight just as she clutched her own knees. She shivered even though the sun was now very warm.

One man lay with his hand in the fire, the skin long since blackened and the smell of cooked meat heavy in the air, mingling with the reek of blood. Another corpse had its trousers down around its ankles and a great gash across the chest. The third was barely recognisable for once having been a man for it had been hacked into pieces where it lay.

The captive tried to raise his hands to touch the amulet around his neck before remembering that they were tied to the horn on the saddle. He whistled in amazement. ‘That Chrauttius? And his brothers? They were a tough bunch of lads.’

Three spears had been driven into the ground and on top of each one was a severed head.

‘You said that you trusted these men,’ Bran said bitterly.

Sosius shrugged. ‘I was wrong. I thought that they would want what I had promised them enough not to do anything stupid. And I thought that she could handle them.’

Bran leapt down from his horse.

‘We got the man we wanted, and she’s alive,’ Sosius said. ‘That is enough. It was a gamble, but no real harm done, is there? Without them we’d never have got what we wanted.’

Bran paid no heed to the freedman and walked slowly towards Minura as she sat. She gave not the slightest sign that she saw him or the others, so he sat down beside her.

Minura stopped shivering and became still, and that was almost more unnerving, as she stared out at something no one else could see. Bran could see that she had bitten her lip and the blood had dried on her chin.

‘I am here, sister,’ he spoke each word softly, as if to a child, although the woman was a fearsome warrior and older than he was by several years.

‘Reckon he might kill you,’ the captive said, watching them. ‘The lad’s good with a sword.’

‘She’s better,’ Sosius said, knowing that it was best to keep back for the moment.

Bran reached over and touched Minura’s hand softly.

‘I am here, sister, you are not alone anymore.’

Her hand moved and her fingers closed tightly around his.

‘And you are avenged on them,’ he said.