‘Still,’ the legate went on, ‘it’s only a brief setback. We’ll take the place with the next attack. I’m certain of it.’

Macro regarded his superior thoughtfully. Aurelius was in a dangerously cheerful mood. Macro had served in the legions long enough to know the symptoms. Having survived an injury, even one as slight as being grazed by an arrow, Aurelius felt invulnerable. He had nothing to prove to his men. He had bled on the battlefield and had earned his right to order them to continue the fight, whatever the cost. The effect would wear off in a few hours, Macro knew. That was the usual experience of having survived a near miss. Cold rationality would soon moderate the legate’s sudden zeal for battle. The trick of it would be restraining the man’s urge to fight until the proper measures could be taken for the next assault on the temple.

‘We’ll take it all right, sir,’ Macro agreed. ‘The moment we’ve made our preparations.’

‘Preparations?’

‘Of course, sir. We need to bring forward the bolt throwers to cover the assault at close range. If we knock some loopholes through the curtain wall, the bolt throwers can easily pick off the enemy archers without exposing our crews. Also, we should make sure that any escape routes from the temple are covered.’ Macro nodded towards Hamedes. ‘The lad here used to be a priest. He knows the layout of the temple. He visited it only recently. Isn’t that right?’

Hamedes nodded nervously in front of the legion’s senior officers. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘So tell us what you know,’ Macro continued. ‘How many exits does the place have?’

Hamedes collected his thoughts as best he could before he replied. ‘There’s the main entrance between the largest pair of pylons. The doors there are huge, sir. Several inches thick. Even then, there’s a small courtyard in front of that with another gate. Besides the main entrance, there are two entrances on either side of the main temple. The one we attacked earlier, and another on the opposite side. They are bound to have fortified that as well, sir.’

‘Well, there is only one way to be certain,’ Aurelius responded testily. ‘I want you to go and see. Report back to Centurion Macro the moment you return.’

Hamedes glanced at Macro who nodded subtly. Hamedes swallowed and bowed his head. ‘As you command, sir.’

He walked hesitantly towards the temple and was soon swallowed up in the darkness. Aurelius turned back to Macro. ‘While Cato is out of action you are my second-in-command. You’re an experienced soldier, so we’ll do as you suggest. Get the bolt throwers forward. Do whatever else you have to to make sure the next attack succeeds. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Macro nodded.