‘Watch this, Optio!’ Figulus leaned his javelin against the rampart and fumbled inside his cloak for a moment, before pulling out a walnut. ‘I’ve been practising this one all week.’

Cato stifled a groan. Ever since the century had been entertained by an itinerent Phoenician conjurer several weeks earlier, young Figulus had attempted to copy the conjuror’s repertoire of tricks — with little success. The would-be magician was holding out the walnut for his inspection.

‘What’s this?’

Cato stared at him a moment, and then rolled his eyes to the heavens with a faint shake of his head.

‘It’s an ordinary walnut, right, Optio?’

‘If you say so,’ replied Cato through gritted teeth.

‘Now as we know, walnuts are not in the habit of just up and disappearing. Am I right?’

Cato nodded, once.

‘Now watch!’ Figulus closed his hands and flourished them about each other as he chanted the sound that best approximated the spells of the Phoenician. ‘Ogwarz farevah!’ With a final sweep he flicked his empty hands open in front of his optio’s face. Out of the corner of one eye Cato saw the walnut sailing up in an arc before it dropped over the side of the rampart.

‘Where do you suppose that walnut has gone?’ Figulus winked. ‘Well, let me show you!’

He reached behind Cato’s ear, and frowned. Cato sighed in exasperation. The legionary tilted his head to examine the space behind Cato’s ear.

‘Half a mo, the bloody thing’s supposed to be there.’

Cato slapped his hand aside. ‘Get on duty, Figulus. You’ve wasted enough time.’

With a last confused glance at Cato’s ear, the legionary took up his javelin and faced out across the white wilderness of Atrebate territory. Although frost had gilded the world with its sparkling lace, the snow underneath was slowly melting away and clear ground showed on the south-facing slopes of the surrounding hills. The recruit’s face showed a mixture of embarrassment and confusion and Cato was moved to take pity on him.

‘Nice try, Figulus. Just needs a little more practice.’

‘Yes, Optio.’ Figulus grinned, and Cato instantly wished he hadn’t — purely on aesthetic grounds. ‘More practice, I’ll see to it.’

‘Right, fine. But that’s for later. Keep an eye out for the enemy meanwhile.’

‘Yes, sir!’