Lupus saw Mandracus nod and felt a new wave of anxiety ripple through his guts. What other matter could there be? Then he remembered the earlier comment by Brixus, the one that had caused the rebel leader to send the lanista’s wife out of the hut.

‘You mentioned a sign. You said there would be a sign that would unite the rebel bands and cause them to rise up against Rome.’

‘That’s right.’ Brixus smiled thinly. ‘Clever boy. If we are to stand any chance against Rome we will need a figurehead. Someone to inspire the hearts of every slave in Italia. Someone they would follow to the ends of the earth.’

Lupus swallowed nervously. ‘You?’

Brixus shook his head. ‘No. Not a lame old gladiator like me. I might command those who live in this valley, and a handful of the other bands of rebels and brigands hiding in the mountains. But my name and my reputation are not enough on their own. We need a more famous name. More than a name, we need a legend. Someone like Achilles, or Heracles, who would inspire people.’

‘I see.’ Lupus pursed his lips. ‘You mean Spartacus?’

Brixus nodded.

‘Then it’s a shame he was killed.’

‘More than a shame, Lupus. It was a tragedy. If you had known the man, then you would understand. He was a great fighter, it’s true. But he was more than that. Far more than that. He was a friend to all who met him. He understood their suffering, their desires, and he shared their hatred of slavery.’

‘You met him?’ Lupus edged forward. ‘You knew Spartacus?’

Brixus smiled and nodded towards the other man. ‘We both did. We fought at his side. We were part of the small band of companions who acted as his bodyguard from the early days of the rebellion. We stayed with him almost to the end.’

‘You were at the final battle?’

‘I was there, but I had been wounded and could not fight. I watched from the baggage train. That’s where I was captured. Mandracus had been sent to scout for provisions and missed the battle. When he heard that we had been beaten he took his men into the mountains to hide, and found this valley.’

‘I remained in charge until Brixus arrived,’ Mandracus added. ‘Brixus had been my leader in the old days and I was happy for him to take command again. Together we have been building a new army of runaway slaves, arming and training them so we could renew the rebellion when the time was right. The time has come, even though Caesar has forced it on us sooner than we would like. That is why we need to find the figurehead we were talking about. He would be the sign. The one who would cause the slaves of Italia to flock to his standard.’