Gladiator: Vengeance (21 page)

‘It is the mark of Spartacus,’ Livia said as she emerged from the rear of the cave. ‘It is the mark that was placed on his son many years ago.’

She stepped forward, between Festus and Marcus, and he saw that she also carried a sword, taken from the packs at the rear of the cave. She raised it and pointed it at Festus. ‘Marcus is also my son. He is all I have in the world. I have lost the man I loved, and the man I came close to loving. I have lost my home, my dignity and almost every shred of the will to go on. I will die before I let you harm Marcus.’

As she spoke, Cerberus padded out of the cave and stood by Marcus’s side. Sensing the tension between the humans, he lowered his head and let out a low growl as the hairs on the back of his neck rose.

Festus stood still, his expression unreadable as he stared at Livia and then Marcus. ‘The son of Spartacus. The greatest threat that Rome has ever faced on our own soil. A bitter enemy of my master, Julius Caesar, and all Romans … including me.’

Marcus did not like the flat tone of his voice. He knew well enough how swiftly the bodyguard could spring into action and how lethal he could be with a weapon in his hand. So he drew his sword again and braced his muscles to react the instant Festus made a hostile move. But the man did not move as he pursed his lips and his brow creased into a puzzled frown.

‘By rights I should strike you down here and now. While you live there are bound to be fools who will take up arms against their masters the moment they hear that the standard of Spartacus has been raised once again.’

Livia raised the sword. ‘If you even think about it, I will cut you down.’

Festus glanced at her and cocked an eyebrow. ‘Really? Do you think I could not kill you before you laid a scratch on me? Lower the sword and back away. I won’t warn you again.’

Marcus kept his eyes fixed on Festus as he spoke quietly and urgently. ‘Mother, do as he says. Please.’

She hesitated, the point of the sword wavering in the air
between herself and Festus. Then she shook her head. ‘I won’t let him harm you, Marcus. I’d die before that happens.’

Festus smiled coldly. ‘You will certainly die before that happens, unless you back off.’

Marcus reached out with his left hand to take her sword arm and eased it away from the bodyguard. Then he placed himself in front of her, directly opposite Festus, no more than two sword lengths away.

‘Festus, there will be no new slave revolt. I will not raise my father’s standard. There would be no point in doing it when there is no hope of success. Brixus wanted to use me to provoke a new rebellion when I was held in his camp last winter, but I refused. You have nothing to fear from me, Festus. All I want is to live out my life in freedom, and take care of my mother. Would you really stand in the way of such a simple desire? Do you really want to hand me over to the most powerful men in Rome so that they can parade me and my mother through the streets in chains before executing us in front of a howling mob? Festus, I have fought at your side. We have faced great dangers together in the last few months. Just a few hours ago you risked your life to save my mother. Does none of that mean anything to you?’

‘That was all before I discovered who you really are,’ Festus
growled. ‘You have betrayed me, Marcus. After everything that we have been through. I risked my life for you, and, as you say, we have fought side by side. I thought of you as a friend. More than a friend. And now it seems I have never really known you at all.’ Festus took a step towards Marcus. ‘So great a secret.’ He shook his head. ‘So great the possible consequences for Rome … And for me.’

‘Festus –’ Marcus began.

‘No!’ Festus spat. ‘I will not listen. I am Caesar’s man … If I let you go then I betray my master and turn my back on all the years that I have protected him and his interests. In the end I turn my back on Rome.’

But as Marcus watched his friend, his body seemed to sag, and he sighed wearily. ‘And yet … A bond has been forged between us, Marcus. When you arrived at Caesar’s house in Rome, I thought you no more than a typical young gladiator, a violent, thoughtless thug, and I admit I resented having you placed in my charge, no matter that Caesar said you had potential. But you proved me wrong. I came to see that you have courage, quick wits and a good heart. In time I regarded you as a comrade, a friend, and in the last few months as a son. A son any man would be proud to call his own.’ He looked earnestly at Marcus and the boy felt burdened with guilt.

‘Festus, I’m sorry – I would have told you, if I could. But don’t you understand? I knew it would be putting you in a terrible position, and I was worried for my life.’

‘You could have told me before I found out for myself.’

‘Would that have made any difference?’ Marcus asked.

Festus paused and shrugged lightly. ‘I don’t know. It might … Does Lupus know?’

‘He does,’ Marcus admitted. ‘He discovered the truth from Brixus and I swore him to secrecy.’

Marcus saw a flicker of pain cross the bodyguard’s face. Marcus swallowed nervously. ‘It wasn’t my choice to tell him, Festus. But I must know – what do you intend to do, since you know the truth?’

Festus shook his head, and sighed.

‘I too swore an oath, Marcus. To serve Caesar and obey his orders. And he ordered me to accompany and protect you, and do all that I could to help you find and rescue your mother, then escort you both to safety.’

He gestured towards the board carrying the offer of a reward for Marcus. ‘Now it seems that my job is not complete. You are in danger, and I will not have carried out Caesar’s orders until I am certain that both you and your mother are out of danger.’

It was all Marcus could do not to collapse with gratitude and relief. He realized he had been holding his breath, his whole body rigid with tension. He had feared that he would have to fight for his life against the man who had trained him. A fight he would almost certainly have lost. Now, that peril seemed to have passed.

He felt a spark of hope as he cleared his throat. ‘So?’

‘So we must get away from here, as soon as possible.’

‘I know. I wanted to return to my home.’

‘No, Marcus. You cannot return there. You cannot return to that life. It is closed to you, and has been from the moment you were torn from it.’

‘Then where shall we go?’ Livia asked helplessly.

‘As far from here as possible. Far from Greece and far from Rome. Somewhere no one will know you and you can both be safe. Only then will my orders be satisfied and I will have been true to my honour.’

Marcus glanced at his mother and they shared a look of relief before he turned back to the bodyguard, sheathed his sword and extended his hand. ‘Thank you.’

Festus sighed and stepped forward to grasp Marcus’s hand. ‘You are making me pay a heavy price, Marcus. Forcing me to choose between Caesar and you. Before we met I’d never have questioned the bond between a master and his servant. Now?
Now I have learned that the bond between comrades is stronger. Caesar will never forgive me when he discovers the truth.’

Marcus detected the sadness in the man’s tone and felt a stab of guilt that he was placing someone he respected and regarded with affection in danger.

Festus stared at Marcus. ‘One thing. Never hide the truth from me again, Marcus. I have earned that right.’

‘Very well.’

They stood quietly, each staring at the other, almost as if they had only just met and were sizing each other up for the first time.

‘What’s going on then?’ a voice interrupted, and Lupus walked stiffly out of the cave, scratching his head. He saw the bag of bread and cheese on the ground and his face lit up. ‘Oh, good! I’m starving. Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s tuck in!’

Festus decided that they must leave the cave as soon as they had finished eating. There had been little said and Lupus glanced curiously at his companions as they ate, clearly confused by what had happened while he was asleep. Then he caught sight of the placard resting against the side of the cave and he sat, a chunk of bread halfway to his mouth as his jaw sagged open. He glanced at Festus, the blood draining from his face. The
effect was so comical that Marcus could not help laughing. He choked on the mouthful that he had been eating and Festus slapped him hard on the back to help clear his throat. Cerberus growled at the bodyguard before anxiously nuzzling his master’s face. The tension disappeared as Festus and Lupus chuckled at Marcus and his dog, while Livia looked on with a smile.

‘It’s all right,’ Marcus gasped, eyes watering. ‘Festus knows the truth.’

‘What? How?’

‘He guessed some of it, and I told him the rest. No more secrets now.’

Festus nodded. ‘And that’s the way it will stay. If you and I are to get Marcus and his mother to safety, then we must look out for each other. All of us. I won’t lie to any of you. The gravest dangers still lie ahead of us. Now the Roman authorities have discovered that Spartacus had a son, they will not rest until Marcus is captured or killed. The only advantage we have is that they can’t afford to release the information.’

‘Why not?’ asked Lupus.

Marcus intervened. ‘Because if word of it got out, they would fear that every slave in the empire was waiting for the chance to rise against their masters.’

‘Precisely,’ said Festus. ‘Better to deal with the problem
quietly. That means they will have to be careful as they hunt for you. It’ll be a game of cat and mouse.’

Marcus nodded grimly.

His mother sighed. ‘Then it’s going to be a long journey. Wherever it takes us.’ She looked down at the ground between her sandals. ‘Our troubles are far from over.’

Marcus gently took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. ‘The worst is behind us, Mother. And whatever dangers we may have to face in the days to come, at least we shall face them together. I’ll be there to protect you.’

She looked up with a sad expression. ‘That’s what I always wanted to do for you. And I have been tormented by the thought that when you most needed protecting I was helpless to do anything.’

‘It wasn’t your fault. It was Decimus. And now he’s paid the price.’

‘Yes … Yes, at least that’s true.’

Festus brushed the crumbs from his tunic and stood up. ‘Time we were moving. I want to be as far from Tegea as possible before the end of the day.’

‘Where will we go?’ Marcus asked.

‘West, to the coast. And then we take a ship far from Greece and Italy.’

The others stood up and Cerberus wagged his tail, looking at each of them in turn. Once their packs were fastened and slung from their shoulders Festus gestured towards the path and set off. Lupus followed him, and then Marcus and his mother, with the dog trotting at their heels. Away to their left the smoke still trailed up into the sky above the estate of Decimus. It was like the smoke from an offering to the Gods, Marcus reflected. The kind of offering that sailors and other travellers made before a long journey to keep them safe and ensure that they reached their destination safely.

He smiled at the thought, and glanced at his mother.

His heart filled with a warmth he had not known for years.