The centurion was nearly at the top and he flicked his head around and saw a pair of eyes gleaming, and then there was a yowl and something leaped past him, soft fur brushing his face. It shot off down the stairs and was followed by a second cat. He breathed out for otherwise the corridor was empty. There was light from around the corner ahead of him and so he went that way, beckoning Vindex to follow. The drums kept throbbing and every now and again the trumpets blared and men cheered and yelled. He edged towards the corner, the plank floor squeaking only a little less than the stairs.

Ferox swung with his left arm as he turned the corner and saw the glint of the blade. He pushed the thrust aside, felt his cloak being sliced, and the man was roaring at him in anger, a tall man, with a lined face and grey beard and flecks of blood on his cheek. Ferox managed to get his balance back and was about to stab at the man’s face when he saw it break into a smile. ‘You,’ he said.

‘Centurion.’ Longinus raised his left hand in salute and then winced, clapping it back against his side. Ferox saw that there was a long rent in his mail shirt and that the fingers were covered in blood. ‘I’m getting too old,’ the one-eyed veteran said and leaned against the wall, the plaster brightly painted because this was the area where the family lived.

‘Them two won’t get any older.’ Vindex had come around and gestured at the two corpses stretched out on the floor. They were both in army uniform, one in scale and the other in mail armour, although their heads were bare.

‘Reckon they’re legionaries,’ Longinus said, ‘or at least dressed up to look that way. That one’s got the Capricorn on his brooch.’

‘Where are the Lady Sulpicia and the family?’

Longinus grinned and obviously regretted it because it brought a spasm of pain. ‘Safe,’ he said. ‘Leastways as far as I know. I’ve got the rest of the household in there, all locked up from the inside. The youngsters are in the principia playing hide and seek with a couple of good lads to keep ’em safe. The prefect is outside somewhere, that’s his job tonight, and there’s a few more men that I trust with him all the time. Hard to do much in the open with so many people about. The lads may be drunk, but they can still fight.’

‘The lady?’

Longinus gave him a strange look. ‘Safe. Safest place I could think of.’

‘Any more of them around?’ Vindex asked.