When she started awake, she realised from the lengthening shadow of a nearby tree that she had been asleep for some time.

‘I’ve been watching you.’ Claudia whirled round. A shadowy figure emerged, half concealed by a tree trunk.

‘Who are you?’ Claudia tried to rise but tripped on her robe.

‘Here, let me help.’

She felt a hand grasp her arm and stared up at Athanasius, his eyes not so harsh now. She thanked him, a little embarrassed about her suspicions, as Athanasius brushed the blades of grass from her tunic.

‘I’m sorry if I startled you.’ Athanasius smiled. ‘I can see the debate had, at least, one good effect: you were fast asleep. After I deliver a speech, I always like to soothe my mind, cool the blood, so I go for a walk.’

‘Did you win?’ Claudia sat down on the grass, and Athanasius joined her.

‘Well, there wasn’t a vote.’ Athanasius chewed on his lip and stared at a point behind Claudia. He squinted. ‘No, there wasn’t a vote,’ he repeated, ‘but I think we made our point. Justin was unable to answer my authorities, the quotations from the scriptures. He became confused and rather garbled. I think we carried the day.’

‘Why did Dionysius offer to come over to your party?’

Athanasius shrugged. ‘Promotions, honours, wealth. He recognised the way the wind was blowing.’

‘So he could have been murdered by one of his own party?’

‘Or one of ours?’ Athanasius sniffed. ‘Religion is like politics, Claudia. We may all sing the same hymn but that doesn’t mean we like to be part of the choir. Dionysius might have provided us with information about possible traitors in our own ranks.’

‘Could he have been connected with the Lapsi?’

‘Ah!’ Athanasius smiled. ‘So you know all about that — I saw you whispering with the Augusta. I wondered where the information came from. No surprise that the Emperor issued his decree.’ He leaned forward, joining his hands as if in prayer. ‘You see, Claudia, the oratory school in Capua is quite famous. Many Christian families fled there eager to escape the persecution in Rome. When Diocletian launched his attack, Capua was especially singled out. The authorities moved spies and informants into the town. We suddenly received a new influx of would-be scholars, some of them genuine, others looking for mischief. By the way, I’m not saying you’re a spy.’

‘Oh, but you’re wrong, Magister.’ Claudia smiled. ‘I am a spy but not a traitor. There is a distinction.’

‘I don’t know what really happened,’ Athanasius continued. ‘We hid our sacred vessels away, and met at night in underground caverns or out in the countryside. We were safe, or thought we were, until all the demons of Hell were let loose. The raids grew more intense, more people were roped in. A troop of torturers arrived from Rome and the questioning began.’

‘Were you arrested?’

‘Yes, yes, I was. I was much younger then but I had powerful patrons and I had been taught my lesson well. If you are ever questioned, Claudia, do not remain silent but tell them a story, any story, as long as it holds together. I was released and fled before the real persecution began. Others were not so lucky. Some broke, some died under the torture, quite a number were dispatched to Rome to face a hideous death.’

‘And Dionysius?’ Claudia asked softly.

‘Dionysius was barely out of his teens, a recent convert; something like you, Claudia, a messenger, a man who travelled between the various groups. He would know the places and times. He too was released around the same time I was.’ Athanasius paused, clicking his tongue, and Claudia could see he was fighting back the tears. ‘Shortly afterwards the Roman authorities became, how can I put it, more fortunate in their searches. And the prisons overflowed with their Christian prisoners.’

‘Was Dionysius suspected of being an Iscariot, a traitor?’

‘We were all suspected, myself included. The nightmare of the situation is that dozens of people died gruesome deaths.’

‘So,’ Claudia replied slowly, ‘Dionysius could have been killed by his own party because they knew he was about to betray them. He could have been killed by one of your party because he was bringing information that might pose a threat. Or the killer could be someone else, settling scores for a relative or friend caught up in a savage persecution which began a decade ago.’

‘And what do you think?’

Claudia studied Athanasius’s clever, cynical face. Although she hadn’t liked him at first, she felt she could trust this man, who had, in his own way, an integrity, a passion for what he believed in.

‘Claudia?’ Athanasius waved a hand in front of her eyes.

‘I was thinking of passion.’ She laughed apologetically. ‘The person who killed Dionysius didn’t creep up behind him with a dagger or an axe or beat his brains out with a club. Dionysius was first stunned, then dragged into the trees, gagged, bound and tortured.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘Tell me, Athanasius,’ she continued hurriedly, ‘isn’t there a torture where the prisoner is hung in chains and death is inflicted by a thousand cuts?’

‘I’ve heard of such cruelty,’ Athanasius conceded. ‘I see the path you are following. You’ve answered your own question: was Dionysius murdered to satisfy a grudge which the killer had nursed since the great persecution?’

‘It’s possible.’ Claudia got to her feet and walked away. ‘If you ever learn anything new. .’ she called out over her shoulder.

‘You’ll be the first to know,’ Athanasius sang back.

Claudia felt refreshed after her sleep and decided to walk to the villa, hoping to meet the people she had secretly listed. She found Justin resting in a colonnaded walk, his disciple beside him. They were sharing a jug of wine, drowning their sorrows. They glanced up and welcomed her.

‘I understand you did very well.’ Claudia tried to put a smile on it.

‘In which case,’ Justin slurred, ‘you are the only person here who thinks that. Athanasius confused me. I thought his speech would be about the Divine substance.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Claudia intervened, ‘though I haven’t come to discuss your opponent but Dionysius. Did you know he was going to betray you?’

Justin glanced quickly at his companion. He was going to lie, then his shoulders drooped and he nodded. Claudia thought he was upset, but when he lifted his tired face, it was hatred that blazed in his eyes. You’ve been trapped and humiliated, Claudia reflected. You are a very dangerous man.

‘Dionysius,’ Justin spat the word out, ‘was a reed bending in the wind. We had our suspicions about him. He had become silent, withdrawn.’

‘And?’ Claudia asked.

‘We’d received reports that he had been seen visiting Athanasius’s house and frequenting his lectures. So he’s not going to be missed, is he? I have nothing more to say about his death.’ Justin turned away, picking up the wine jug to refill his goblet. The disciple sniffed and looked Claudia over from head to toe.

Claudia bit back her angry retort. As she turned away, Burrus and his cohort of mercenaries turned the corner and came swaggering along the colonnade. They always reminded her of a pack of shambling bears, with their thick beards and the furred cloaks they insisted on wearing whatever the heat. Despite the Empress’s instructions, they had all been drinking. Claudia walked towards them and held her ground, blocking their path. Burrus stopped so suddenly his followers pushed and shoved into each other. They immediately ringed her. Claudia stared around; light blue eyes in scarred weathered faces gazed back. She could smell the grease and oil they rubbed on their bodies, as well as the perfume they sprinkled in a fruitless attempt to disguise it; they always reeked of the bear pit and the stable.

The Germans smiled benevolently down at her, either tapping the hilts of their swords or combing their beards and moustaches with their fingers, a common gesture whenever they were assessing the worth of a woman. Claudia smiled sweetly at them. They grunted and bowed back. They liked this little one, the Empress’s mouse. They had seen the Augusta stroke her hair, and that was good enough for them. They also knew about Murranus, and concluded that such a man must have a shield-maiden with a warrior’s heart. For her part, Claudia was not fooled by their bluster and comical ways; these men were killers, noted for their savagery and cunning. They had proved time and again how their coarse, rough appearance masked minds as sharp and keen as any sword. They also liked to help themselves to whatever was available, and this included women. They shuffled and moved around her. Claudia could see one or two trying to shelter behind the others; a rare event, because usually each warrior liked to be seen. She walked towards the two who were hiding, gesturing with her hand for the others to move aside. At first they stood their ground.