for most of the day into Mungo's yard, at the back of the store. He had made sure they had taken the most visible route to his store, and even at this late hour people had still been stood trying to find out what was in them.

This made him smile, for unbeknownst to those watching, most of the carts had been empty! It appeared the little ruse of his was working perfectly.

Mungo tried to cover most of the markets in Camulodunum, selling foodstuffs to the most intricate jewellery and even weapons. It gave him a great deal of bartering power and even fellow traders used his services.

He pulled the door aside and stepped in, his co-owner, Desdemona, was inventorying the latest stock and stacking it presentably on the polished wooden shelves. Mungo liked Desdemona, she had a natural ability for business and could smell a good bargain a mile away. Fortunately, she didn't have Mungo's personality, he was treacherous in nature. So she did most of the customer dealing in the store itself.

"Desdemona?" A head popped up from behind a shelf.

"Mungo! Good to see you back, and not with a woman in tow? You must be getting old." Desdemona chided, with a mock serious face.

"I may be getting older Desdemona, but you'll always look worse in the morning!" He replied, laughing.

Desdemona smiled. "As always Mungo, you've done an excellent job, but I don't think we're going to get those Roman daggers in time for tomorrow." Mungo screwed his face up, they would sell like hot cakes.

"I wouldn't worry, Mungo, there have been plenty of 'victims' looking in, in the last few days, we should make a killing tomorrow." A conspiratorial sparkle in her eye.

"Bring them on, Desdemona, bring them on! Lock up and clean up, my friend. I have some 'specials' to check on upstairs."

"Will do, Mungo."

And as Desdemona headed off to bolt the heavy, wooden door, Mungo happily went upstairs, chuckling and rubbing his hands together, "They'll never know what hit them..."