Junius shook his head. ‘I went in a different direction, sir. Beyond the place where the priest says he saw this tomb. I went to the end of the track that led off from the main valley. I must have missed it,’ he confessed with a hint of shame in his voice. ‘Just as well that the priest picked up on it, sir, or we’d never have located them.’

‘All the same, good work. Both of you!’ The legate smiled at Hamedes. ‘I shall see that you are rewarded when the campaign is over.’

Hamedes shook his head and responded with quiet intensity, ‘Revenge is its own reward, sir.’

Cato intervened. ‘Can you describe the location of this tomb?’

‘Of course, sir.’ Hamedes squatted down beside the track where a small mound of gritty sand had collected in a hollow. Smoothing it out, he drew a basic map of the terrain with his finger as he explained. ‘Here is the final bend in the track. Beyond that is the valley. There are many tombs dotted about the cliffs, but I saw no one enter or leave any of them. Just here are several large boulders. The track mentioned by the tribune branches off from the main valley and climbs up into the cliffs. About a quarter of a mile along it there is a steep path leading up to the base of the cliff. There is an opening cut into the rock there and steps leading down to a tomb entrance. It is easily missed, sir. I am not surprised the tribune passed by it without seeing anything. It was only because I saw Ajax and two of his men emerge from the steps that I discovered its location.’

‘And you are certain you can find it again?’ asked Cato.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘How many of his men did you see?’

Hamedes thought for a moment. ‘Six Arabs, all told, and four big men, like Ajax, gladiators probably. There may have been more that I missed.’

The legate snorted with derision. ‘Ten men, or thereabouts. It seems I have brought a mallet to crack a walnut. Very well, now that we know where they are we can move up and take them.’ He glanced up at the sky. The valley was already in shadow. ‘We have an hour or so before nightfall. I’ll lead the attack. We’ll take torches into the tomb and hunt them down. Two cavalry squadrons should suffice, and a half century of archers to pick off their lookouts. Tribune Junius will lead the rest of the men back to camp.’

Junius bowed his head. ‘Yes, sir.’

Aurelius clapped his hands together. ‘Let’s be about our business then, gentlemen!’