He found the troublesome pair marshalling their troops outside the camp. It was difficult to tell how many there were, but Spartacus guessed that it was somewhere in the region of ten thousand. Five eagles and nearly thirty Roman standards provided the proud focal point for the men, the badges of their achievements thus far. Spartacus wasn’t worried about losing the Roman emblems; he was grateful instead that there were few horsemen among them.
‘Come to make sure we’re leaving?’ shouted Castus.
‘I thought you’d decided to stay,’ retorted Spartacus. ‘It’s been a while since my men broke through the blockade.’
Castus’ lips twisted. ‘Our soldiers would have done it as easily as yours. Seeing as you wanted to take the glory — again — we didn’t see any point in arguing over it.’ He winked at Gannicus, who smirked.
Spartacus felt his anger swell. It had been a shrewd move by the Gauls. His troops had taken all the casualties while theirs had remained unscathed. He let out a slow breath. Just let them leave. ‘ Where will you go?’
‘Who knows?’ answered Gannicus with a shrug. ‘Wherever the pickings are richest.’
‘Wherever the best-looking women are to be found,’ added Castus.
A cheer from their men.
Animals. Spartacus didn’t probe further. Even if they knew, the Gauls wouldn’t tell him. ‘Watch your step. As the weaker group, Crassus will target you first.’
‘Screw you,’ roared Castus. ‘We have nearly thirteen thousand men here!’
It was a larger number than Spartacus had expected, but he was careful not to show his displeasure. ‘You’ve got about the same number of troops as in two and a half legions, but almost no horse. Sadly, Crassus has four times that number of men, and plenty of cavalry. In my mind, that’s not wonderful odds.’ He was gratified by the unhappy expressions that appeared on some of the faces opposite.
Castus’ mouth worked furiously, but Gannicus got in first. ‘We’re no fools, Spartacus. Crassus won’t find us easy to find, or to defeat.’
They glared at one another for a moment.
‘If you hadn’t proved to be so treacherous, I’d wish you well. As it is, I’ll be glad to see the back of you.’
‘The feeling is mutual,’ jeered Castus. ‘I’ll see you in Hades sometime.’
Before Spartacus could answer, Ariadne had swept forward, her snake prominent in her right hand. Castus paled. Although he was nowhere near, he moved back a pace.
‘Thus far, you have escaped paying for your crimes, Castus,’ said Ariadne loudly. ‘The gods deemed that it should be so. Do not think that you will enjoy their protection for ever.’
‘Crimes? Piss off, woman! Peddle your lies elsewhere!’ cried Castus, but his voice was a tone higher than normal.
‘I predict that you will have a violent end.’
‘Ha! Nothing wrong with that!’ roared Castus.
Some of his men shouted in agreement. Gannicus even laughed. ‘That’s what every warrior wants.’
‘It will be soon, however,’ intoned Ariadne. ‘In a matter of days. And it will come at the hands of the Romans.’
Gannicus scowled, but Castus’ confidence oozed out of him like piss out of a pricked bladder. ‘You’re lying!’
Ariadne raised her snake high. The gesture was met by a hushed, reverential Ahhhhh. ‘This is Dionysus’ sacred creature, and I am one of his priestesses! I do not lie about such things. Best hope that someone is left to bury your body, Castus! Otherwise your tormented soul will be cursed to wander the earth for ever.’
‘That kind of superstitious claptrap doesn’t scare me, you stupid bitch!’
Ariadne was delighted. Castus’ bluster couldn’t conceal the fact that he was severely rattled. Most of the men within earshot looked unhappy, including Gannicus.
‘Unless you want to head for Hades right now, watch your mouth, cocksucker,’ roared Spartacus. Sure that Castus wouldn’t take up his challenge, he took a few steps forwards.
‘Shit for brains! You’re outnumbered a hundred to one!’ snapped Castus.
‘That wouldn’t stop me killing you, and taking great pleasure as I did so,’ hissed Spartacus. Ariadne touched his arm, but he shook it off. ‘Just say the word and we can get down to it.’
Castus held Spartacus’ eye for a moment before his gaze dropped away. ‘Time to move,’ he growled.
Coward! thought Spartacus. You know I’d kill you. His risk-taking side wished that the Gaul had taken his challenge, but the rest of him knew it would have led to pointless bloodshed, and possibly his own death. A stupid way to die.
‘If you’ve stopped quarrelling,’ said Gannicus sourly, ‘are you ready?’
‘Yes, yes!’ Castus shouted a command to his officers and stalked off.
Gannicus didn’t immediately follow. He glanced at Spartacus and gave him a respectful nod, as if to say, ‘In other circumstances, things might have been different.’ Then he too walked away.
Spartacus’ shoulders relaxed a fraction. ‘May they kill thousands of legionaries, wherever they go. And may Crassus never catch them,’ he said quietly. He looked at Ariadne. ‘How many days will it be before he dies?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘But you said-’
‘I know what I said,’ she retorted. ‘That doesn’t mean I saw it. It’s true that he’ll die in a matter of days anyway. One day. A hundred days, a thousand, what does it matter? I didn’t state the number.’
‘Did the god really send you a message?’
She glared at him. Her anger at Castus had overflowed at last. Spartacus happened to be in the way. ‘Sometimes it’s useful to make men think that the gods have decided their path. As when you told the soldiers that you were marching to the Alps, and I said it was Dionysus’ will.’
‘You made that up?’
‘Of course I did. Don’t tell me that you didn’t have some inkling that I might have. Most likely you didn’t ask because it suited you to think that your mission had divine backing.’
He looked taken aback, and then angry. ‘And your interpretation of my dream with the snake? Did you invent that too?’
‘No,’ she said, sorry now that her temper had got the better of her. ‘I would never lie about something so serious.’
His eyes probed hers. Spartacus was relieved to see no sign of deceit. He probably would have acted in the same way, but thinking that his mission had divine approval had helped to fuel his convictions. He hoped that her falsehood hadn’t angered the gods. That possibility was one more thing he didn’t need weighing down on his shoulders.
A doubt nagged at him. ‘Have you seen ought about my future lately?’
An image of Egbeo on the cross flashed before Ariadne’s eyes. She’d had the nightmare enough times — thankfully, though, not in recent weeks — to place some store in it. Spartacus hadn’t been in it, but that didn’t mean he would be safe if the horror came to pass. Should she tell him? Her gut answered at once. No. It took all of Ariadne’s self-control to meet his gaze. ‘Sadly, not a thing,’ she lied.
His trusting grin relieved her. ‘Good. I’m not sure I want to know what the gods hold in store for me. Better to make my own way in life rather than always be looking over my shoulder to see what might happen.’
‘You do that anyway!’
A lopsided grin twisted his face. ‘I suppose I do. And you love me for it, don’t you?’ He pulled her to him, and she did not resist. He was right, she thought, relishing the feel of his body against hers. Despite his faults, she loved him. It was why she would stand by him, come what might.