Prasutagus regarded the Romans with a faint look of contempt, then turned back towards the low doorway. Macro quickly propped himself up.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’

Prasutagus made a quick gesture towards his mouth. ‘Find food.’

Macro stared at the Briton, wondering how far he could be relied on.

Prasutagus held his gaze for a moment then turned and ducked out of the lodge. A flash of pearly daylight filled the interior before the leather curtain fell back across the doorway and all was still and silent in the lodge. With his veteran’s instinct to snatch whatever rest he could, Macro fell asleep almost at once.

He awoke with a start, eyes snapping open, perplexed by the tangle of pine branches above his head. Then a sense of location returned and Macro remembered he was in the lodge. From the pale quality of the light filtering in from a narrow slit in the wall it was clear that dusk was approaching. He had been asleep for almost the entire day then. A snapping crackle of twigs sounded from the end of the lodge and Macro twisted his head round. Boudica was squatting down next to the hearth with a pile of kindling at her side. She reached for another handful as he watched. There was no sign of Prasutagus, and no sound from outside. Cato was still deeply asleep and lay with his mouth open, his breathing accompanied by an occasional clicking at the back of his throat.

‘It’s time we talked,’ said Macro quietly.

Boudica appeared not to have heard him, and continued snapping twigs, arranging them in a nest around the clump of dry bracken she had pulled from one of the cots.

‘Boudica, I said it’s time we talked.’

‘I heard you,’ she replied without turning round. ‘But what’s the point? It’s over between us.’

‘Since when?’

‘Since I was betrothed to Prasutagus. We’re to be wed as soon as we return to Camulodunum.’

Macro sat up and swung his legs over the side of the cot. ‘Married? To him? When was all this decided? It’s been less than a month since we last saw each other. You couldn’t stand the sight of him then. At least, that’s how you behaved. So what are you playing at, woman?’

‘Playing?’ Boudica repeated the word with a faint smile. Then she turned and faced him. ‘There are no more games for me, Macro. I am a woman now, and I’m expected to behave like one. That’s what they told me.’

‘Who told you?’