Karim looked down at the thick walls of the temple, and the tall outer walls of mud brick. He had a good eye for a defensive position, nurtured during the years he had served his Parthian lord long before he had been captured, sold into slavery and encountered the gladiator. The temple was compact enough to be held by Ajax’s men and the small column of Arab warriors that Prince Talmis had placed under his command. It was also unusual by the standards of most other temples in that there was only one entrance in the outer wall, and that was protected by a strong gatehouse. It was almost as if the place had been designed with a military purpose in mind, he thought. Just as well then that only a handful of priests had been inhabiting the temple when the column had arrived at dusk. Their bodies had been thrown into one of the offering rooms.

‘Indeed, my General. The site was well chosen by our spy, Canthus. The Roman dogs will have a hard time taking it from us. Or driving us out.’

Ajax noted the wary tone in his companion’s voice and smiled. ‘Rest easy, Karim. We are here to act as a diversion for the Prince. It is not my intention to make a last stand. When the time comes, we will make good our escape. In the meantime, our orders are to tie the Romans down for as long as possible.’

Karim was quiet for a moment before he asked, ‘Do you trust him?’

‘Prince Talmis? About as far as I could spit him. However, it serves our purpose to aid him for now.’

‘And his purpose to sacrifice us, perhaps?’

Ajax turned and smiled at his companion. ‘Do you have so little faith in me? Do you think that I am blind to the possible dangers of serving the Nubians?’

Karim bowed his head. ‘My apologies, General. I did not doubt you. Only the word of the Prince.’

‘What is there to doubt? He has promised us nothing but the chance to wage war on Rome, and what spoils of war we may choose to take. I care little for the latter, though I am sure most of the men will be pleased to help themselves to gold and any trinkets they take a fancy to. No doubt Talmis considers that we were cheaply bought, but the chance to strike a heavy blow against Rome is all the treasure I seek. Before, we were twenty fugitives. Now the Prince has given me these five hundred men.’ Ajax gestured down into the outer court of the temple where the black-robed warriors were tethering their camels in the twilight. The nasal groans of the beasts carried up to the top of the pylon, almost drowning out the shouts of a couple of men fighting over the ornate robes of a priest looted from the temple.