Close up they could see that he was dirty and his face – or what little could be seen behind his beard – looked thin and drawn.

‘I am true to my oath,’ he told them, eyes earnest as they stared at each man in turn, but especially at the centurion.

‘Then tell me what happened.’

Gannallius hesitated.

‘You were not there when the attack came, were you?’ Ferox was guessing, for the tracks he had found were muddied and unclear, but the more he had thought about it the more likely it seemed.

The auxiliary started in surprise, but then his shoulder sagged and he shook his head. ‘There is a girl at one of the farms a couple of miles away.’

‘Big lass,’ Vindex put in. ‘Lot of tawny hair. I know her.’

‘We were friendly,’ Gannallius said.

Ferox ignored the Brigantian’s dirty laugh. If the soldier had left his post without permission then he had broken regulations and earned punishment.

‘I never went when I was on duty,’ Gannullius said quickly, as if reading his thoughts. ‘Never missed a watch or a fatigue. The others did not mind.’ He stared into the fire, and Ferox guessed he was thinking of his dead comrades. ‘I came back that morning in plenty of time to take my watch.’

‘Bet you were yawning, though, and hadn’t had a lot of sleep,’ Vindex said.

Ferox waved a hand for the Brigantian to keep quiet. ‘Go on, lad.’

‘I saw the patrol come,’ Gannullius continued. ‘They didn’t see me and I ducked down because I didn’t want to be seen off the post. Didn’t want to answer questions.’

‘Was it the usual patrol?’

‘No. They were early, and not anyone we had seen before. Strangest of all there was an officer with them. Just seven troopers and at their head this fellow with a great plumed helmet. You don’t expect that.’

‘Had you seen him before?’

‘No, never, but I’ve been at the garrison or at an outpost for the last few years. Haven’t really seen anyone high up. Another odd thing – they were legionaries. Not what you’d expect to see at all, and the fancy buggers were riding along with their shields uncovered.’

‘Did you see the symbol?’