But was Rome ready for another full-scale conflict with the Persians? The Roman forces in the east were understrength and ill-disciplined. This summer, Gallienus and the imperial field army were committed to cross the Alps to fight Postumus the usurper in the west. Volusianus must be gambling that the campaign in Gaul would be over by the autumn. It was a high-stakes bet. A previous invasion had proved indecisive.

Sardonyx and agate. Volusianus and Severus had settled on goods manufactured in the empire that were less widely available in Persia. Jewellery and carved cameo stones were small and expensive items. The former quality would account for the caravan consisting of only ten men, the latter that they would be heavily armed.

Murena wondered if Volusianus had ever served in the east. Perhaps, like many westerners, he considered the Persians no more than effete and cowardly Orientals. If so, Volusianus was wrong. They had defeated four Roman armies in pitched battle. Three of them had been led by Emperors. Gordian III they had wounded, Valerian they had captured, Alexander Severus had been fortunate to escape unscathed. Murena remembered the Persian warriors streaming over the walls of Zeugma. He had seen them cut down his own father. For all their kohl-lined eyes and perfumed silks, there was nothing weak or effeminate about them.

Murena prided himself on his loyalty. He owed it to Volusianus, but more so to Rome. A war with Persia now would be a disaster. It was vital no pretext was offered to the King of Kings: this Prince Sasan must not be rescued. Murena could not openly go against the Praetorian Prefect, but nor could he approach the Emperor directly. If he warned Gallienus of this plan, Volusianus would be informed, and Murena would find himself in the dungeons of the Palace. It need not come to that. Most likely the mission of Severus would fail, but certainty was necessary. That should not be hard to arrange. Murena was the commander of the frumentarii. If he chose carefully enough, he could make sure the party would ride into the deserts of Mesopotamia, and never be heard of again.

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

The Euphrates

OF ALL THE DUSTY EASTERN TOWNS through which Valens had passed on his long journey, Zeugma was the most depressing. Of course he was prejudiced. In the others he had spent only a night or two. He had been waiting in Zeugma for almost half a month now. Still, the wait was almost at an end.