‘No! I beg you, spare me!’ Quintus pleaded. ‘For Portia!’

Marcus hesitated. He had concentrated on winning the fight. Not on its aftermath. He stood still, sword arm trembling slightly with the cold.

‘What are you waiting for?’ Mandracus demanded. ‘Kill him.’

Marcus did not move and Quintus closed his eyes tightly, his head tipped to one side.

‘Kill him,’ Mandracus ordered. ‘Or I will kill you.’

The rasp of a blade sounded and Marcus saw the rebel striding towards him. He willed himself to strike, to thrust his blade into the tribune’s throat, but he could not do it. Mandracus stood to one side and hissed. ‘This is your last chance …’

When Marcus did not react, he raised his sword.

‘Wait!’ a voice cried from the crowd. Marcus turned to see a commotion near the track leading to the secret entrance to the valley. He heard a horse’s hoofs as the dark figure of a rider emerged into the rosy glow cast by the flames from the fires. Behind him came other figures on foot, some limping and others supported by their comrades. Anxious muttering filtered through the crowd. Mandracus slowly lowered his sword and turned towards the rider.

‘Brixus.’

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Brixus demanded as he rode into the open space outside his hut.

The muttering of the crowd rose into a nervous murmur as the men following their leader came into view. Many were wounded and streaked with dried blood, with crudely tied strips of cloth acting as dressings. Marcus stepped back from Quintus and lowered his sword as he turned to watch the new arrivals. The tribune opened his eyes and stared up at the sky, his chest heaving as he gasped at the cold air.

‘These are the prisoners we took after the ambush,’ Mandracus explained.

‘And what are you doing with them?’

‘Putting on some entertainment, to raise our people’s spirits. But what of you?’ Mandracus indicated the straggling column of men following Brixus into the camp. ‘What happened?’

Brixus reined in and took a weary breath. ‘My ambush did not fare so well. We caught Caesar’s column in the flank as it approached Sedunum. They were strung out along the track as I had expected, but they turned and formed into a battle-line before we could close with them. By the Gods, I’ve never seen men so well handled, not even in the days of Spartacus’s revolt. It was as bloody a battle as I have ever fought. Thousands were cut down on either side. But we had the upper hand. Then both sides pulled apart to lick their wounds and draw breath. When I gave the order to charge again … my men would not obey. They’d had enough. I had no choice but to retreat into the forest and return here.’

Mandracus heard his leader’s report in silence, then glanced past him towards the entrance to the valley. ‘Were you followed?’

‘Do you take me for a fool?’ Brixus snapped. ‘Of course not. Caesar sent his cavalry after us but we lost them in the trees. We headed south for half a day before turning back to the camp. We’re safe, Mandracus.’

‘Safe for now. How many men did you lose?’

Brixus frowned. ‘We’ll speak in my hut. For now, I want my men fed and rested and their wounds seen to. Give the orders.’

Mandracus nodded, then recalled the prisoners. ‘What do you want me to do with the Romans?’

Brixus shrugged as he dismounted. ‘They can serve the camp, like the others.’ He turned towards Marcus. ‘Disarm that one and …’ His words died away and he froze as he stared at the boy.

Marcus was not sure how to react and returned his gaze in silence.

‘By all the Gods, it can’t be … surely?’ Brixus limped closer, his eyes wide in amazement. ‘Marcus. It is you. By all the Gods …’

‘You know this boy?’ Mandracus stepped in and took the sword from Marcus’s hand.

‘Know him?’ A smile of delight and triumph spread across Brixus’s face. ‘This is Marcus. The Marcus. The one I have often told you about.’

‘Him?’ Mandracus’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘This runt? This is the son of Sp-?’

Brixus rounded on him angrily. ‘Quiet, you fool! We’ll not speak of this in front of the others. Have the other prisoners taken to one of the huts and placed under guard. No one is to speak to them, is that clear?’

Mandracus nodded and turned to carry out his orders.

‘Marcus.’ Brixus stood in front of him and clasped his shoulders, speaking in an undertone so that his words would not be overheard. ‘I cannot tell you how much good it does my heart to see you again. Come, we must talk. You have arrived at the hour of our greatest need.’

Marcus was aware that the other prisoners were looking at him in astonishment. Then Brixus placed a hand on Marcus’s shoulder and steered him towards the entrance of the leader’s hut. Behind them, the men of the newly arrived column slumped down on the ground by the fires and began to warm themselves. Marcus could see the weariness in their faces and already there came the sound of wailing as the first casualties were made known, shrill cries of grief that pierced the night sky.

Brixus swept the leather curtain aside and gestured to Marcus to enter. Despite its size and the icy temperature outside, the hut felt warm. A large fire was crackling in the centre, tended by a woman feeding split logs into the blaze. Marcus looked for Decimus and saw him sitting against the wall a short distance from the entrance. He glanced round nervously as Marcus and Brixus entered.

‘Who is that?’ Brixus demanded, following the direction of Marcus’s gaze. ‘What are you doing in here?’

‘He’s one of the prisoners,’ Marcus explained. ‘The Roman who destroyed my family and sold my mother and me into slavery.’

Brixus thought a moment before he recalled the details of his last conversations with Marcus over a year ago. ‘Decimus?’

Marcus nodded.

‘The moneylender from Greece? Then what is he doing here?’

‘He is working for Crassus. He was responsible for an attempt on Caesar’s life last year.’

Brixus raised his eyebrows and shook his head in wonder. ‘What’s the matter with these stuck-up Roman nobles? Not satisfied with punishing us slaves, they turn on each other! They’re scum. Utter scum. No better than the meanest street dogs… What do you want me to do with him, Marcus? Shall I have him crucified? Like they crucified those who surrendered at the end of your father’s revolt? Or burned alive, perhaps? The people out there would like that.’

Marcus thought for a moment. There was blood on Decimus’s hands. Not just that of Titus, but countless others he had cruelly exploited and ruined on his path to riches. The offer was tempting.

Decimus had heard every word and now shuffled forward on his knees. ‘I made a deal with Mandracus. He promised to set me free if I paid a ransom. A million sestertii. It could be yours. All yours.’

Brixus regarded him with loathing and disgust before shaking his head. ‘Any deal you made with my subordinate is not binding with me, Roman. I know about you from Marcus. It is for him to decide your fate.’

Marcus looked up in surprise. ‘Me?’

‘Yours is the grievance. You decide.’

‘The boy?’ Decimus shook his head in disbelief. ‘You can’t let a boy decide whether I die or not.’

‘I can decide what I like. Well, Marcus?’

Marcus frowned. There was still something he could get out of this if he played his part well. He curled his lips into a sneer. ‘I would like to see him die, by my own hand. His death is long overdue.’

‘No!’ Decimus protested. ‘Marcus, wait. I’ll give you the million sestertii. Enough to set you up for life. You could buy your farm back. Or buy a bigger one. Have slaves of your own.’

Marcus stabbed his finger into Decimus’s chest and shouted. ‘If you want to live, tell me exactly where my mother is! Which estate did you send her to? Where in the Peloponnese? Speak now! Or I swear I will cut your heart out!’