At length the optio turned to his men. 'Our cohort is right here.'

'Trust our luck,' muttered one soldier. 'Right in the middle of the damn line.'

The optio smiled thinly in acknowledgement. This is where most casualties would fall. 'You've got it easy for the moment. Be grateful,' he said. 'Spread out, two deep. Reinforce this century.'

Grumbling, they did as he said.

With four others, Romulus and Tarquinius found themselves at the front of their two small files. They did not protest at this. As the new recruits, it was to be expected. Romulus was taller than most, and could see over men's heads and past the upright horsehair crests on their bronze-bowl helmets. Here and there a century standard jutted up into the air, and over on the right flank was the silver eagle, the emotive talisman of the legion. His heart raced at the sight of it, the greatest symbol of Rome, and one which he had grown to love dearly. More than anything, the eagle had helped Romulus to remember that he was a Roman. Imperious, proud and aloof, it cared nothing for men's status, recognising only their bravery and valour in battle.

Beyond it, though, was a sea of snarling faces and glinting weapons, sweeping towards them in great rolling waves.

'They're carrying scuta,' Romulus cried in confusion. 'Are they Roman?'

'Once,' spat the legionary to his left. 'But the bastards have gone native.'

'Gabinius' men then, I would say,' said Tarquinius, receiving a gruff nod in response. There were curious stares, especially from those who could see the left side of his face. A prolonged torture session by Vahram, the primus pilus of the Forgotten Legion, had left a shiny red cicatrice on the haruspex' cheek in the shape of a knife blade.

Thanks to Tarquinius, Romulus was familiar with the story of Ptolemy XII, the father of the current rulers of Egypt, who had been deposed more than a decade before. Desperate, Ptolemy had turned to Rome, offering incredible sums in gold to restore him to the throne. Eventually, Gabinius, the proconsul of Syria, seized the opportunity. That had been at the same time that Romulus, Brennus, his Gaulish friend, and Tarquinius were travelling in Crassus' army.