‘“Filled with the strength of the gods,”’ Crispinus read aloud, ‘“no blade will pierce the pure and brave.” Sounds a good trick. Presumably the ones we killed when they attacked the camp were not sufficiently pure. What does this mean? “When the dead walk among the living and the two worlds join for a night, and when new life begins, these are the times appointed. Blood of king, blood of queen, all shall burn as offerings to please the gods and feed the cleansing fire.”’

‘The souls of the dead walk the land at Samhain, as do creatures from the Otherworld,’ Ferox said, and he believed it, for that was a strange night. Yet somehow to say such a thing here, in a room off the courtyard of the principia, made it seem unreal. ‘It is the night before the Kalends of November. My guess is that new life beginning means Imbolc, the feast around the time lambing begins. It is a guess, and hard to tell when they have plucked ideas from all over the place. To me it seems to promise a sacrifice of important captives at one of the festivals, working a great magic that will give power and victory to this Stallion and his bands.’

‘I still find it hard to believe that this nonsense will be taken seriously.’ It was Aelius Brocchus who voiced the opinion, but Rufinus nodded in support and Ferox sensed that none of the Romans – perhaps not even Crispinus – suspected the real danger. Fortunately Claudius Super was sick, and unable to attend the consilium, which at least removed the most sceptical of them all.

‘If you will forgive my frankness, my lords, whether or not we believe it is not the point. Enough people out there will believe – or feel afraid and so go along with it just in case it is true. If enough leaders decide to back them then that will give them armies big enough to pose a real problem. We have already heard that there is a high king among the Vacomagi who shelters and aids this Stallion and his allies, and has the support of the great druid. Other leaders might decide to do the same.’

They took him seriously, and at least that was something. All were only too aware that the garrison of the province was not big enough to fight a major war with confidence of victory.

‘The centurion raises many important matters,’ Crispinus said after a long pause. ‘And one is most relevant to our purpose today. An ambassador has come from Tincommius, High King of the Venicones and Vacomagi, seeking the friendship of Rome. Anyone ever heard of the man before?’ The question was general, but the tribune was looking at Ferox.

‘No, sir. Never heard of the two tribes under one ruler either.’