Mandracus glanced round sharply. ‘The boy who was with you at the ambush?’

Lupus nodded.

‘Tell me about him.’

‘Why? You said earlier that Brixus would also want to know about him. What’s so special about Marcus?’

‘Just curious. It’s probably nothing,’ Mandracus replied carefully. ‘Brixus has mentioned a boy gladiator he once knew in the past. Your friend Marcus might know something about him.’

Lupus finished eating and held his hands up to the fire, then rubbed them together. ‘Not much to tell. The master ... I mean Caesar, bought him from a gladiator school near Capua over a year ago. Caesar’s niece had fallen into the school’s arena as Marcus was facing two wolves. He saved her from them and Caesar recognized that he had potential, so he bought him to join us in Rome as part of Caesar’s bodyguard.’

‘I see. And what does Marcus look like?’

‘You saw for yourself at the ambush.’

Mandracus nodded. ‘True, but it was only a fleeting glimpse, in the middle of a fight. I can’t recall any details.’

Lupus shrugged. ‘He’s tall for his age, and thin. No, not thin. Sinewy would be a better word for it. He thinks quickly and has sharp reflexes, and he’s as brave as they come.’ He smiled with pride as he recalled his friend.

The man was also smiling. ‘Sounds like someone I used to know ... Well now, young Lupus. Get some sleep, there’s a long march ahead before we reach the camp of Brixus.’

Now they had reached the camp, but Lupus could not see any sign of movement, let alone the rebel army that was growing in strength day by day according to Mandracus. The man laughed at his side, then patted him heavily on the shoulder.

‘Follow me.’

Mandracus led the way along a narrow path running beside the stream and they entered the trees at the foot of the crags. A short distance further on the trees gave way to a narrow strip of rocky open ground. Walls of dark rock, dotted with moss, rose up ahead. A waterfall tumbled down into a small pool where the water churned white and wild before it fed the stream running between the trees. Mandracus paused and cupped a hand to his mouth to call up towards the top of the crags.

‘Approaching the camp!’

Lupus followed the direction of the man’s gaze and saw a figure emerge at the top of the crag, dark against the sky as he looked down at them.

‘Who goes there?’ a voice shouted.

‘Mandracus! Returning from patrol!’

‘Mandracus? Then pass, friend!’

The brigand made his way towards the foot of the waterfall, followed by Lupus and the others. It was then that Lupus saw the spur of rock and realized there was a narrow gap in the cliff, a defile, that stretched away at an angle to the waterfall. It remained quite invisible until you were almost at the foot of the waterfall. Two men stood just inside the defile, armed with spears, shields, armour and helmets of the same design used by the Roman legions. They looked relieved as they caught sight of Mandracus and approached to exchange a clasp of hands at their safe return. Then one of them saw Lupus and paused.