‘She likes to weigh up the talent,’ Boudica explained light-heartedly. ‘In some tribes, a young man is picked each year for his looks and becomes her groom.’

‘How does that happen?’

‘The Druids cut his heart out and let the blood fertilise the plants around her altar.’ Boudica smiled at his horrified expression. ‘Relax, I said some tribes, some of the wilder ones. Just try not to be too good-looking.’

‘There are wilder tribes than the Durotriges?’

‘Oh yes. That lot on the hill are nothing compared to some of the tribes of the north-west. I expect you Romans will discover that in due course. Now then, your loincloth please.’

Cato untied it, and with an embarrassed glance at Boudica, let it fall away. Her eyes could not help flickering down and she smiled. At her side Prasutagus chuckled and whispered something in Boudica’s ear.

‘What did he say?’ Cato asked angrily.

‘He wonders if Roman women ever notice they’re having it off.’

‘Oh, he does, does he?’

‘Now then, boys, that’s enough. You’ve got work to do. Here’s my cloak, Cato.’

He took it, and handed her the loincloth. ‘Look after it.’ He fastened the shoulder clasp and was given a last inspection by Prasutagus.

He nodded and punched the optio on the shoulder. ‘Come! We go!’

When The Eagle Hunts

Chapter Thirty-Two

A crescent moon had risen when Prasutagus and Cato left the forest and started out for the Great Fortress. A brisk wind carried thin strands of moon-silvered cloud across the star-sprinkled darkness. Prasutagus and Cato ran across the meadows surrounding the ramparts, going to ground and crawling as soon as the clouds cleared the moon again. The imminent arrival of the first elements of the Second Legion had meant that all surrounding flocks of sheep had been driven up into the hill fort, and Cato was grateful that the nervous animals were not around to give them away; the pale light cast by the moon was bad enough.

About two hours later, as near as Cato could estimate it, they reached the far side of the Great Fortress. Prasutagus led him directly towards the black mass of the first rampart. The faint sound of singing and cheering drifted down from the plateau on top of the hill fort. Ahead of Cato, Prasutagus crept forwards, constantly looking right and left as the ground began to slope up onto the first rampart.