She advanced on her cousin, eyes blazing and mouth clenched in outrage. Prasutagus continued shouting and waving his great arms about. Boudica drew up in front of him and slapped him across the face, again and again, until his tongue stilled and his arms hung limp.

‘Na, Boudica!’ he protested. ‘Na!’

She slapped him once more, and pointed a finger in his face, daring him to say another word. His eyes burned and he clenched his teeth, but he uttered not a sound. The other drinkers watched in fascinated silence for the next development in the confrontation between the hulking great warrior and the tall haughty woman who defied him so openly. At length Boudica lowered her finger. Prasutagus nodded, and spoke quietly to her, with the barest nod towards the doorway. Boudica called to Nessa and then led the way out into the street. Pausing a moment, Prasutagus glowered round at the customers, daring anyone to laugh at him. Then, kicking the prostrate optio to one side, he stormed out of the alehouse, hurrying after his charges before they could run off again.

Every drinker in the establishment watched the open doorway for any sign of the warrior’s return. As conversation quietly resumed, the old Gaul nodded to his hired muscle and the man wandered over to the door and closed it. Then he casually worked his way over to Macro.

‘You all right, mate?’

‘Been better.’ Macro rubbed his head and winced. ‘Shit! That hurts.’

‘Not surprised. That’s quite a woman.’

‘Oh yes!’

‘Saved your bacon though. You and the lad there.’

‘Cato!’ Macro hurried over to his optio, who was propped on an elbow and shaking his head. ‘You still with us?’

‘I’m not sure, sir. Feels like a house fell on me.’

‘Not far off!’ chuckled the hired muscle. ‘That Prasutagus can get pretty heavy-handed.’

Cato looked up. ‘Oh really?’

The Gaul dragged Cato to his feet and brushed the straw from his tunic. ‘Now if you two gentlemen wouldn’t mind, I’d like you both to leave the premises right away.’

‘Why?’ asked Macro.

‘Because I fucking say so,’ replied the hired muscle, with a smile. Then he relented a little. ‘You just don’t mess with a high-ranking Iceni warrior. Especially a drunk one. I’d hate to think what will happen to my master’s business if Prasutagus comes back with a few friends and finds you two still here.’

‘Do you think he will?’ asked Cato, eyeing the door nervously.

‘Just as soon as he works out some kind of connection between his lady friends and you two. So best be off, eh?’

‘Fair enough. Come on, Cato. Let’s find somewhere else to drink.’