In the past, Crispinus and the other tribune had treated each other with courtesy and no more, but the prospect of action appeared to have created a wave of mutual affection. ‘The legate will be delighted.’

If the fools expected Marcellus to advance and then attack straight up that slope then Ferox was not about to shatter their illusions.

‘I feel that we should keep them busy,’ Crispinus announced. ‘We have a decent number of well-mounted men, so can disengage and withdraw whenever we want.’ The two tribunes had arrived with the formed supports for the scouts. There were forty legionary cavalrymen, and three turmae, all from ala Petriana.

Ferox wished that Brocchus had come up. ‘My orders are not to look for trouble, my lord.’

‘I am not asking you to do anything,’ Crispinus said with a smile. ‘Your men have been in the field longer than us and are bound to be tired. What I suggest is that the noble Flaccus and I take the others and see if we can sting some of their horsemen. We can kill a few and that will show our men and the whole army that the enemy are not to be feared.’ He turned to stare at the enemy for a while. ‘The left looks closest so that is the place to strike. What do you say, Flaccus?’

Ferox thought he saw hesitation, doubt, and then resignation as the junior tribune agreed.

‘Good,’ Crispinus said. ‘Then let us not waste any time.’

Vindex watched them ride back and give orders to the cavalry. ‘Daft buggers. What about us?’

‘Get everyone together. We might have to get away in a hurry.’

Ferox wondered about the two tribunes, and whether this reckless aggression would save him the trouble of finding out which was the traitor. As Flaccus went past at the head of the legionary horsemen Ferox could not help viewing their ranks with distaste. It was not fair, because at most a few were involved in the murders and all of these men could be innocent.

Crispinus formed two turmae in a line three deep and sent the other ahead in a loose line ready to skirmish. There were a couple of dozen men in each unit. Flaccus stayed back with the legionary horsemen as a reserve. The deployment was sensible enough, even if the plan itself was foolishness, and there was nothing to be gained by stirring up the enemy in this way.

The Roman cavalry went forward steadily, not going too fast and keeping good formations, and as they came over the crest and into sight of the Britons some of the warriors on the far side of the valley began to stir into life. Trumpets sounded, the noise thin in the gusting wind, and men waved standards in the air. The Romans pressed on, keeping to a walk, and the distance closed to less than half a mile.