Cato and Macro stood up and bowed their heads as Petronius strode to the centre of the room and stopped, hands on hips, a dark expression on his face. He snapped his fingers and pointed at the corner. The scribe hurried over, sat cross-legged, and took a waxed tablet and stylus from his satchel.

Petronius rounded on Cato. ‘I let you take my forces to Crete to quash rebellion, not to spread it about even more widely. You two have a lot to answer for.’ Petronius glared at them. ‘You’ve got the entire delta region up in arms and not just them. The merchants’ and traders’ guilds of the city want your heads. I’m tempted to give due legal process a miss and let the mob tear you to pieces, before their mood boils over into open revolt.’ He folded his arms. ‘So please, in the name of all the gods, tell me just what the hell you two think you are up to?’

‘Up to, sir?’ Cato shook his head. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘Bollocks! I’ve been getting reports for the best part of a month that you have been terrorising the coastal villages. Landing, demanding supplies and killing those who refuse to cooperate. I’ve even heard that you have been stopping ships, torturing their crews for information and then killing almost everyone on board before you move on.’

Macro and Cato exchanged a quick look.

‘Oh, don’t deny it!’ the governor raged. ‘I have reports naming you. And a handful of witnesses that you have been kind enough to spare. More than enough evidence to have you nailed to a cross before the day is out. So,’ he forced himself to control his temper before he continued, ‘I ask you again, what do you think you have been playing at? According to the last despatch I had from Crete, you had been sent to track down a renegade slave. Not to foment yet another rebellion here in Egypt. I’m not sure who poses the greatest threat to peace in the Empire, a renegade gladiator, or the two moronic thugs sent to track him down. To add insult to injury you are using my men, and my ships, to carry out your dirty work. Don’t think that has escaped the notice of the mob either. One of my patrols was stoned as it passed through the streets yesterday. I lost an optio and one of the men. All thanks to you two and the heavy-handed way you have gone about hunting down this character, Ajax.’

‘But we’ve done nothing, sir,’ Macro protested. ‘None of it’s true.’

‘Tell that to the witnesses.’

‘Then they’re lying. Someone’s put them up to it.’