Cato’s eye was suddenly caught by a movement at the far side of the village. Three figures, carrying shields and spears, were running away towards the distant treeline. A greasy smudge of smoke eddied up from where Cato had first seen them as a small camp fire smouldered.

‘Sir!’ he called out to Macro. ‘Over there!’

‘What is it?’

‘There, sir.’ Cato pointed with his javelin. ‘Those men running. D’you see ‘em?’

‘Yes, boy. I see them.’

‘What should we do, sir?’ Cato asked.

‘Do?’ Macro frowned. ‘Nothing. They’re too far away to do anything. Anyway, there’s only three of them.’

‘Should we tell the tribune?’ Cato persisted.

‘No point.’

They watched silently as the three armed men disappeared across the farmland towards the trees while Vitellius led his men across the open ground towards the gate and halted the century by the ditch in front of the towers. The tribune waved his arm determinedly and, after a short pause, the gate swung inwards to admit the soldiers. The century passed inside the village and, for a few anxious moments, disappeared from view amongst the huts before emerging into the village square. Vitellius halted the column and sent two men forward to the main door of the largest building facing on to the square. Before they could reach it, the door opened and a tall woman with long flaxen hair emerged. Although those remaining on the hill crest could hear nothing and see precious little from half a mile away, it was clear that some argument was taking place between Vitellius and the woman.

‘I thought we were sent to arrest the chief, sir?’ Cato commented.

‘So we were, boy,’ Macro said irritably. ‘He shouldn’t waste time. There isn’t much daylight to waste in winter.’ He stared up at the sky where the sun looked longingly towards the horizon. ‘Don’t much fancy marching home in the darkness.’

Cato involuntarily looked back towards the forest in the distance. The place had been unnerving enough in daylight, Jupiter knows what it would be like in pitch darkness. ‘If it gets dark wouldn’t it be better to go round the forest, sir?’

Macro shook his head. ‘Too far. Besides we can make torches if we need to. You aren’t scared, are you, boy?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Good. Stay that way,’ Macro said with relief, hoping that his five sestertii were still safe.

Down in the village the argument was being forced to a conclusion as Vitellius waved his hand at the woman and two soldiers abruptly pinned her arms back. A squad forced their way into the large building, only to emerge a moment later with a large chest. Having deposited it by Vitellius they proceeded to the next building and forced an entry.

‘Seems like our man has got away,’ Macro remarked, and yawned elaborately. ‘The tribune shouldn’t have wasted time on the woman.’

‘Unless she’s the kind of woman the tribune takes a shine to,’ the standard bearer muttered. ‘You know what Vitellius is like with women, can’t resist the impulse to chat ‘em up.’