The boy sobbed again, muffled as much as possible by the bolster.

‘Hey!’ Pyrax said harshly. ‘Do you mind? I’m trying to concentrate here.’

Cato stirred. ‘Sorry. I think I’ve got a cold.’

‘Yeah,’ Pyrax nodded. ‘Sure. Bound to happen in this weather.’

Cato rubbed his face on the corner of the rough military blanket, drying his tears and trying to make it look as if he was blowing his nose. ‘There.’

‘Better?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ Cato replied, grateful that someone was taking interest in him. Then he was immediately worried that his chance to talk to Pyrax alone might be stalled if anyone interrupted. ‘Where are all the others?’

‘Dice game in the mess room. I’m going to join ‘em once I’ve fixed this. Want to come with me and meet the lads?’

‘No thanks. I need some sleep.’

‘Suit yourself.’

‘Tell me,’ Cato suddenly turned and propped himself up, ‘is that Centurion Bestia as much of a bastard as he seems?’

‘How do you think he got the name Bestia? But don’t take it to heart, he treats all recruits the same way.’

‘Maybe,’ Cato said doubtfully, ‘but he seems to have it in for me in particular.’

‘What do you expect?’ Pyrax said through gritted teeth as he pulled the end of a knot tight and then cut off the spare thread. ‘You’re in the camp for one night and you’re promoted to a rank most of us have to wait years for.’

Cato watched the man closely before speaking. ‘You resent it?’

‘Of course. You’ve not proved yourself in any way. You’re just a boy.’ He shrugged. ‘It ain’t right.’

Cato flushed with guilt and embarrassment, glad that the dim light partially hid his expression. ‘I didn’t ask for it.’

‘It don’t make sense. Direct appointments are made for men with some kind of army experience but you? I’d dearly love to know the reason why.’

‘It was a reward for my father.’

‘Hah! That’s a good one!’

The light had finally died outside and Pyrax put his tunic and sewing kit to one side. ‘By the way,’ Pyrax paused at the door, ‘don’t fall asleep in your kit. It’ll need to be cleaned for the morning. Bestia hates untidy soldiers. If he has taken a dislike to you, don’t give him any opportunity to make the most if it, eh?’

‘Thanks.’

‘Sleep well, new boy.’

‘My name’s…’ Cato started to say, but the door had already closed behind Pyrax and the darkened room swallowed up the protest. He was still for a moment, and nearly fell asleep, but Pyrax’s warning jolted him back to consciousness. He sat up, groping with his tired fingers for the buckles at the side of the leather jerkin. The drill instructors had kept the new recruits on their feet since that day’s dawn had broken what seemed like an age before. He had been kicked out of bed while it was still dark and pushed outside into the street where the other recruits were being rounded up. Still half asleep, shivering in the chill of the pale dawn light and shrinking from the fine drizzle in the air, their breaths had risen in grey wisps as they were led to the quartermaster’s stores where the external trappings of civilian life were peeled away and replaced with the uniform of a legionary.