Ben Kane: Spartacus: Rebellion

‘I think he’s gone.’ Carbo’s tone was wondering.

‘He was waiting for us,’ said Ariadne with utter conviction. ‘Once he’d heard my message, he let go.’ Thank you, Dionysus, for that gift. I am in your debt, Great Rider.

Carbo and Navio stared at one another, both taking comfort from the knowledge that Spartacus had died in combat. That he would soon receive word from Ariadne and Maron. That Crassus would not die as a contented old man.

It seemed justice of a kind.

‘I don’t want to see every crucifix,’ Ariadne announced. ‘We have discovered what we needed to, thank the gods.’

‘There’s no point in torturing ourselves further,’ added Carbo. ‘Or endangering you and Maron.’

‘Where shall we go?’ asked Navio.

‘They say that many hundreds of men are heading for the mountains above Thurii,’ answered Ariadne. They will honour me not just as a priestess, but as the mother of Spartacus’ son.

‘That sounds as good a place as any. It’s easy terrain to hide in if you don’t want to be found. Maybe Arnax will find us there too.’ Carbo glanced at Navio.

‘I can hardly let you go on your own. You haven’t got the first idea about how to turn men into soldiers!’ Navio indicated Maron. ‘He’ll need instruction from the best.’

Carbo was surprised to feel a smile tug its way on to his face. His grief for Spartacus was yet raw, but he still had many of the people who had become his family around him. It was a blessing that he could not ignore. ‘It will be good to have you with us.’

‘Life will be different,’ said Ariadne, kissing Maron, ‘but it will go on.’