‘I’m here to rescue you. Get to the back of the cage.’

‘I know you! The one from the wagon!’

‘Yes. Now get back!’

She turned and crawled to the rear of the cage, placing herself protectively in front of her son. Cato lifted his sword and began to hack at the ropes binding the barred door to the rest of the structure. Wood splintered and severed strands flew up from each blow, and then one side of the door came free. Cato lowered his sword and wrenched the bars aside.

‘Out! Come on, let’s go!’

She crawled out, dragging her son by one hand. His other hand was heavily bandaged. Aelius’s eyes were wide with terror, and a faint keening noise came from his throat. Lady Pomponia had difficulty standing; after days of crouching in the confines of the cage, her legs were stiff and sore. Cato looked round the enclosure; it was littered with bodies. Most wore the black robes of the Druids, but half a dozen of his own men lay among them. The rest were gathering round Prasutagus, many bleeding from wounds.

‘This way,’ Cato said to Lady Pomponia, half dragging her towards his men. ‘It’s safe. They’re with me.’

‘I never thought I’d see you again,’ she said in quiet wonder.

‘I gave you my word.’

She smiled faintly. ‘So you did.’

They joined the other men, and turned back towards the gateway.

‘Now we just have to make our way over to the First Cohort,’ said Cato, heart beating wildly in his chest, partly from his efforts, partly from the sheer excitement and pride of having succeeded. ‘Come on!’

He took a step towards the gateway, and then stopped. Stepping through it was a tall figure, robed in black and carrying a shining sickle in one hand. The Chief Druid took in the scene in an instant and stepped to one side, shouting an order. The rest of his men came piling into the enclosure, eyes glinting and spears lowered towards Cato and his small band. Without waiting for an order Prasutagus roared his war cry and charged the Druids, followed at once by Cato and his men. Lady Pomponia turned her son’s face into her tunic and crouched down with him, unable to watch the fight.