at the door to the Inn in astonishment.

Limned in gloom and rain, the backlit figure of the General suddenly became a picture of flailing arms, buckled legs, and twisting torso, all falling to the floor with a remarkably loud thud.

A blur of grey shot out of the doorway at high speed, and Lucius Decius watched as it disappeared into the midst of the soldiers who were hunkered down against the rain in the Inn's forecourt.

Turning his eyes back to the doorway, he saw that Corvinus had regained his feet and was having a tense, perhaps even angry conversation with his Aide.

The General moved back out of sight into the common room and the Praefectus clambered outside over the doorsill, his eyes reluctantly seeking the Decurion.

By Mithras, there's mischief afoot here, the Centurion thought. Lucius Sulla looks like he's just swallowed castor beans.

"Decurion," the Praefectus spoke in overly loud tones as he reached the wet soldiers, "did you see that dog that just knocked over the General and ran out the door?"

In an undertone, meant only for the Decurion's ears, the Praefectus continued. "By the Gods, Corvinus has gone too far this time. I won't be a party to it."

The Praefectus' eyes slid sideways, catching the Decurion's puzzled look. "His mightiness has had his dignity hurt," he went on. "He's ordered me to find the dog and kill it."

The Decurion's eyes widened in shock. "He's ordered you to kill the dog?" he asked in disbelief. "Whatever for?"

The Praefectus shrugged disgustedly. "Evidently I'm supposed to kill it for acting like a dog."