Mandracus’s shoulders slumped and he bowed his head in utter dejection. Brixus turned to Marcus. ‘Go back to your... master. Tell him we will surrender on condition that no one is to be harmed. I’ll send out the men first, then the rest.’

‘Thank you,’ Marcus said quietly. He wanted to say more, to offer his gratitude for all the lives that had been spared. To explain that he shared the man’s dream, and that of Spartacus, and had things been different then he would have counted it an honour to fight against Rome at the side of Brixus. But he saw the pain and despair etched into the veteran gladiator’s face and knew that such words would only add to his grief. Instead he simply offered his hand. Brixus looked down and did not move for a while. Then he slowly extended his hand and they gently clasped each other by the forearm.

‘Farewell, Marcus. I doubt that I will see you again.’

There was a painful lump in Marcus’s throat as he replied. ‘Farewell.’

Brixus looked deep into his eyes and spoke softly. ‘Never forget who you are. There may come a day …’

‘If it comes, I shall be ready.’

Brixus nodded, then released his grip and looked at the Roman lines. ‘You’d better go.’

Marcus slowly turned and paced across the snow towards Festus and the others, his heart tom by the pain of their parting. He felt a tear at the comer of his eye and blinked it away. Overhead the sky was a sullen, heavy grey and he felt the full weight of the world on his young shoulders.

‘Well?’ Festus asked as Marcus stopped in front of him.

‘He accepts. It’s all over.’

Marcus sat in his saddle beside Festus as they watched the long, silent procession pass between the lines of legionaries either side of the entrance to the gorge. A short distance in front Caesar watched them with a haughty expression. A great pile of swords, spears and other weapons and armour lay to one side of the route where the rebels had dropped them before being marched away under the watchful eyes of the legionaries. The small number of hostages held by the rebels had been released earlier and taken away in a wagon to recover in the nearest town.

There was little conversation among the Romans, and the rebels were silent. Caesar had given orders that Brixus and his closest comrades should be the last to surrender. As the end of the column emerged from the gorge, the Roman commander clicked his tongue and led his entourage forward.

Marcus could see Mandracus and several others waiting there, still carrying their weapons as they eyed the approaching Romans.

‘It is time for you to join the others, gentlemen,’ Caesar said in a tone laced with contempt. ‘Throw down your weapons.’