‘Do as I do,’ Ferox said and put his helmet back on. This one had been made in the workshop at the fort and had crosspieces over the bowl and the crest holder above that. He dismounted, so Vindex copied. A servant, clad in simple tunic and trousers and barefoot, appeared and led the animals away. A lot of people stood in their path, mainly warriors, but women and children as well, all with the same rigid stare.

Ferox walked straight towards the canopy. Men, and one or two young women, barred his path, sometimes sticking out their tongues, but he did not check or slow. At the last moment they moved out of the way, apart from one fair-haired youth, and the centurion barged him out of the way with his shoulder, and pressed on.

Two men and a woman sat under the canopy. All three were in armour, the men a shirt of bronze scales and the woman in mail, there were swords at their sides and conical helmets resting on their laps. The woman looked about forty, black hair streaked grey, skin lined, jaw firm and grey blue eyes clear and cold as the sea. The man on her right was older, bald apart from a fringe of grey hair, but with a thick beard dyed red, and the one on the left was younger, with fair hair and beard. None of them smiled.

‘It is true then,’ the older man said, again using Greek. ‘I did not believe it when I was told.’

‘I did.’ The woman had a deep voice. ‘I saw it in the stars.’ She changed to Latin. ‘The Bad Flavius has returned.’ Like the young woman, her face was dotted with little markings, as were the backs of her hands.

Ferox could almost feel Vindex stifling a laugh.

‘I do not come in vengeance or anger,’ Ferox said, using Greek since it was more likely that they understood enough. Since arriving here he had started to use the language more than for many years, but his speech was slow and careful, matching his hosts. ‘I leave to you whether there is anger or vengeance in your hearts. If there is, then I will face it, but this man is my friend,’ he indicated Vindex, who understood not a word, ‘and I ask that he be allowed to do what is necessary afterwards.’

‘That is for the dawn after next,’ the older man said and the other two nodded. ‘Now you are our guest.’

The feast was already in preparation, the smell of roast meat growing as carcases were roasted over the fire – sheep, goats and cattle. There were blankets on the ground around the long fire, and guests came and went, sitting for a while, talking, eating and drinking. Few spoke to Vindex in any language he could understand, but laughter and gesture made him welcome. Ferox was with the leaders, sitting on a stool only a little lower than theirs and whenever Vindex glanced in that direction they were deep in talk.