The Arab waved his hand in acknowledgement and turned back to keep watch on the track. Ajax made his way over to the men waiting with the horses. There was a muted exchange before the gladiator turned away and returned the way he had come. As he departed, the two rebels approached the horses. The first man took the reins and patted the horse’s flank soothingly while his companion went round to the other side, drew his sword and cut the animal’s throat. It jerked back with a high-pitched whinny that was cut short by a strangled gurgle as the blood coursed from the wound and splattered the dust and gravel between its hoofs. It stood still for an instant and then its legs trembled and gave way and the animal collapsed. The pair moved on to the next horse, which stamped its hoofs but could not move far thanks to the length of rope hobbling it. The smell of blood and the terrified whinny of the first horse made the others afraid and skittish, and the rebels’ bloody task proceeded with difficulty.

‘Why do that?’ Hamedes asked.

‘It’s obvious. Ajax has no need of the horses any more. He doesn’t want them to fall back into Roman hands. Hello? Where’s he got to?’

Ajax had disappeared round a huge boulder dividing the main course of the small valley and the spur. They waited a moment but there was no further sign of him. The tribune drummed his fingers on the rock in front of him and then turned to Hamedes.

‘Wait here. I’m going forward for a closer look. We have to know where he’s gone.’

Hamedes nodded.

‘Make sure you stay out of sight,’ Junius continued softly, though there was an anxious edge to his voice. ‘Give me until the sun reaches the top of those rocks, then if I haven’t returned, get back to the column and report to the legate. Understood?’

‘Yes, sir.’

Junius edged forward, creeping through the jumbled rock on hands and knees, until he was lost from sight. Hamedes stared after him for a while, but saw no more sign of the tribune. Below, the two men killed the last of the horses and then retreated back to the shade, leaving the bodies amid dark stains and pools of blood where the flies and other small insects soon found them and began to feed. Hamedes glanced once more in the direction that Junius had taken and then cautiously made his way further down the slope towards the men.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

‘Are you quite certain?’ the legate asked Hamedes directly.

‘Yes, sir.’ The priest nodded. ‘I saw them enter the tomb. Ajax and some of his men.’

‘What about you?’ Aurelius turned towards Tribune Junius. ‘Can you confirm this?’