‘You will.’ Brixus’s expression hardened. ‘There are only two sides in this conflict, Marcus. Those who fight for liberty and those who don’t.’ He let his hand fall away, then rose to his feet and looked down. ‘For the sake of our friendship, I hope you choose the right side.’

Chapter 21

21

Lying curled up on the animal skins beside the fireplace, Marcus could not sleep despite his exhaustion. He could not shake from his thoughts the last words that Brixus had spoken. There was no mistaking the threat. He must either agree to be the figurehead for the new rebellion, or he would become the enemy of Brixus. That would put Marcus’s life in danger, and consequently that of his mother. Yet if he agreed to do as Brixus demanded, he would be little more than a puppet to dangle in front of his supporters and lure them towards almost certain death.

Marcus was sure the new rebellion was doomed to fail. Even if Brixus did manage to inspire a mass uprising, the vast majority of fighters would be field hands or household slaves who stood little chance of survival against the Roman legions. It would be a bloodbath. Tens of thousands would die, and after the rebellion was crushed the Romans would rule their slaves with even greater cruelty and suspicion than they did now.

The time was not right for rebellion. Rome was too strong and the slaves were too weak. It would be wiser to wait for a better opportunity, Marcus reasoned. Those who opposed slavery needed to bide their time. But what if that time never comes, a voice wondered at the back of his mind. How long should slaves endure before they seize the chance to throw off their chains? Ten years? Twenty? A lifetime? The voice mocked him. In that case, it would be better not to even think of rebellion.

Marcus felt torn in two by the desire to fight the evil of slavery and the knowledge that Brixus’s struggle could only lead to defeat and death. In the end, he knew what he must do, even though it left a leaden sense of despair weighing down his heart.