Chapter 14
Desert CityThe Roman Prefect in Aquae Sulis at this time was one Cornelius Sartorus, a man Decius did not much like or respect, and he avoided contact with him as much as possible. But as the growing opposition to the statue of Claudius came to his attention, he forced himself to request a meeting with him.
Although a time had been arranged, Sartorus kept him waiting more than an hour, and even when he was ushered into his presence, the man continued examining papers on his desk as though he was not aware of the centurion’s presence.
At last he looked up, raising an enquiring eyebrow.
Decius stated his case briefly.
“It may not have come to your attention, sir,” he said politely, curbing his desire to hit the man, “that the statue of Claudius as god that you propose to erec
