‘One last thing. You will resign your commission in the Horse Guards. You will not be formally transferred into the frumentarii. You will not be issued with the identity token of a miles arcanus. The others will hand their disks in at Zeugma. If you are captured, you are not a soldier of Rome. We will deny any knowledge of you, or the mission.’

‘Sir.’

Murena smiled. ‘Welcome to the world of the secret soldiers.’

Thinking back on the conversation in that insignificant office, Valens knew that he had had no choice. Once the mission had been revealed, he could not refuse. Murena would not have let him leave. Valens had no idea why he had been chosen, but it was true that he had been stultified by the round of ceremonial duties in Rome. All the efforts of securing a commission had not been undertaken just to stand guard on the Palatine, or parade in the Circus Maximus.

Valens had wanted action. He had been crushed when it was announced that he would remain with the detachment of the Horse Guards ordered to stay in the capital, that he was not among those selected to accompany the Emperor on the campaign in Gaul. Now, here in the east, there was no doubt that he would see combat. But this furtive, and probably suicidal, expedition – the whole idea was insane – this was not at all what he had wanted. He had envisioned leading men in open battle, riding at the head of a cavalry charge under the eyes of the Emperor. Not sneaking about like some filthy merchant, intent on cheating those foolish enough to buy his wares.

And there was the problem of the frumentarii. Valens did not trust them. How could anyone trust men whose trade was deception? They would all be veterans. They would realise his inexperience. Even under an experienced commander like Severus, commanding a squad of them would not be easy.

The light breeze had dropped. It was getting hot in the orchard. Valens thought he could do with a drink.

Severus was another cause for concern. The man was from a respectable equestrian family, but he had been taciturn, his attitude far from amiable. Perhaps on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines an officer of his long service might not welcome as his second in command someone he might see as a callow fop from the imperial guard?