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‘What of the prince?’

‘I do not think he’ll be a problem for much longer.’

Claudia grew cold with the realization. Marcellus might kill Darius. Her only powerful, if tentative, ally.

‘Good luck, Empress,’ said Damocles.

None of the soldiers saluted her entrance. They seemed to be deferential to Marcellus, looking to him for guidance.

Her cousin stood with one foot on the stairs that led to the seated gold chair, as if he was merely biding his time before taking it from her. He was mid-sentence, holding forth to Cassius and Darius.

‘They’d been spirited away by those painted barbarians.’

‘The natives, you mean,’ said Cassius.

‘Horrible people,’ said cold-eyed Aquinas. ‘Vulgar and filthy, with the minds of rabid beasts.’

Cassius looked at him with undisguised disgust.

‘By the glory of the gods, we will triumph. We must continue to bring civilization to the savages.’

‘We had every soldier in the area looking for the soldiers,’ said Marcellus, trying to return to his monologue. ‘The Legate had given up all hope, until I stepped in to—’

He caught sight of Claudia.

‘Claudia,’ he said.

Not empress, or even princess, but her cold, naked name.

‘Marcellus.’

Meeting eyes with Darius, she gracefully took her seat on the throne, while Gia positioned herself next to her.

‘Have you heard the good news? I have personally delivered the missing legion to safety,’ said Marcellus.

‘I have.’

He waited for an acknowledgement that didn’t come.

‘Aren’t you going to thank me?’

Claudia smiled without teeth, suppressing the murderous impulses that tore through her.

‘Congratulations, cousin. I did not know doing your duty warranted a prize,’ she said.

‘Is that all you have to say?’

‘I shall have a wreath made especially for you,’ she said, in a voice as sweet as syrup and as poisonous as henbane. ‘Perhaps you could tell us exactly how you performed this astonishing feat?’

‘You don’t just have to take my word for it,’ said Marcellus. ‘The soldiers of the Eighth Legion are all telling the same story. There is no denying what happened.’

‘Which is?’

‘I prayed to Jupiter for guidance. I made an offering and asked him to find and return the men and prove his might. The next morning, they were back in their camp.’

Gia and Claudia exchanged a sceptical look.

‘Just like that?’