Plautius shut his eyes and rubbed his creased brow, as if that might somehow ease his inner suffering. Vespasian watched him closely, searching for any sign that his arguments had hit home. If the general did not change his mind, Vespasian knew he would have to refuse to lead the Second out tomorrow. That would utterly damn his career. But he would have no part in the general’s reckless and futile plan. He would challenge Plautius to find another man to appoint as legate. As soon as Vespasian considered this he realised that his replacement would be chosen for his willingness to do the general’s bidding, not for his leadership qualities. Such an appointment would only make the inevitable disaster far worse. Vespasian realised he was trapped. To quit his command would be to increase the already terrible risk to his men. To stay in command would at least present him with a chance to limit the damage. Silently he cursed his fortune.

The general opened his eyes and looked up. ‘Very well then, Vespasian. How soon can the Second Legion be ready to attack the Durotriges?’

‘With supply wagons and artillery?’

Plautius nodded reluctantly, and Vespasian’s despair receded. He had won the crucial concession. Foolish though the rest of the plan might be, at least the Second Legion would have a fighting chance. Looking at Plautius, he judged that the general had given as much ground as he was prepared to give.

‘I need twenty days.’

‘Twenty! That’s cutting it too fine.’

‘I grant you it gives us twenty days less to find them, but weigh that against the loss of a legion. Besides…’ Vespasian’s mind raced ahead for a moment.

‘Besides what?’

The legate rushed to fit the pieces together in his mind before he continued. ‘Well, sir, it might take the legion twenty days to be ready to move, but why wait to start looking for your family until then?’

‘I’m not in the mood for cryptic clues. Speak your mind, Legate, and make it good.’

‘Why not send a few men out to scout the villages and hill forts while the legion prepares to advance? That man you brought with you — the Druid initiate. You said he knows the Durotriges. He can lead them, and try to discover where your family is being held. Who knows? They might even manage a rescue on their own. It’s got to be better than having the Second Legion bludgeoning its way through the countryside; the Druids would have plenty of advance warning and just keep moving your family.’ Vespasian paused. ‘We’d probably never get them back if we relied on such a blunt strategy. If they’re being held in a hill fort and we laid siege to it, the Druids would more than likely kill them before they allowed us a chance to succeed.’