‘I thought you’d go running to your master. Damn coward,’ growled Crixus at Carbo. He eyeballed Spartacus. Unlike his comrades, there was no fear in his face. He had the sense not to reach for a weapon, however. ‘What business have you here?’
‘Carbo asked me to come,’ said Spartacus. ‘One of these is his woman.’
‘I doubt he’ll want her any longer,’ said Crixus, leering. ‘She’s got my seed and Lugurix’s in her already. Segomaros was giving her a good pounding too.’ The man beside him smiled, and Carbo strained furiously, uselessly, at Spartacus’ arm.
‘That’s as maybe,’ snapped Spartacus. ‘But it ends here. The girl is coming with us. So is the other one.’
‘I am one of the leaders of this whole damn rebellion,’ Crixus thundered, the veins on his neck bulging. ‘I can do what I like.’
‘Not here, you can’t. Chloris has been Carbo’s woman since Amatokos was killed. You know that.’
Crixus took a step towards Spartacus. ‘What are you going to do – kill me if I try to stop you?’
‘If I have to, yes,’ came the calm reply. Spartacus’ sica hung by his side, but Carbo knew that if Crixus so much as moved towards his sword, which lay five paces away, he’d be a dead man. The others would meet the same fate at the Scythians’ hands.
The Gauls realised the same thing.
Crixus stared at Spartacus with obvious loathing for a moment before grunting, ‘As you wish. I wouldn’t want to blunt my blade on the bitches anyway.’ He looked to his men. ‘After all that rutting, I have a raging thirst on me. Let’s find some wine, if it hasn’t all been drunk by now.’ Chuckling, he reached for his licium.
With an effort, Chloris sat up. Wanting to help her, Carbo pushed against Spartacus’ arm. ‘Wait,’ the Thracian hissed. ‘Let them leave first.’
Grudgingly, Carbo obeyed. He marked the faces of Crixus’ companions.
Gods help me, I’ll kill you both if I ever get a chance. Crixus too
.
No one could have predicted what happened next.
Swaying, Chloris got to her feet.
Carbo’s heart ached to see what had happened to her. Even with cuts to her face and with blood running down her thighs, she was still beautiful.
Chloris staggered forward a step, and her fingers grazed the plants that decorated the bed beside her. Then, suddenly, she was gripping a dagger. Segomaros, who was nearest to her, was busy shoving a leg into his undergarment. He didn’t see Chloris rush forward. Too late, he felt the blade ramming through his mail and into the flesh of his back. An unearthly scream tore free of his lips, and he staggered with the force of her blow. Snarling like a dog, Chloris stabbed him several more times, punching through his armour with ease. With a loud groan, Segomaros sank to his knees. ‘The bitch has killed me, Crixus,’ he said in surprise, before falling on to his face. He kicked once or twice and was still.
A heartbeat later, Chloris toppled on top of him in a dead faint.
‘You whore!’ roared Crixus, scooping up his sword. ‘I’ll kill you!’
‘With me, Taxacis!’ Spartacus sprang forward, sica at the ready.
The Scythian bounded to his side. So did Carbo. Together, they stood between Crixus and Chloris. Off to one side, Atheas threatened Lugurix.
‘Get out of my fucking way!’ shouted Crixus.
‘Leave now,’ ordered Spartacus. ‘You’re not having her.’
Crixus’ face went purple with fury. ‘The life of a stinking slave is worth more than one of my warriors?’
‘On this occasion, yes.’
‘Can the bitch fight, as Segomaros could?’
‘No.’
‘What damn use is she then? I demand her life! It’s no less than she deserves for stabbing a man in the back.’
‘A man who had just raped her,’ said Spartacus acidly.
‘I want her dead regardless.’
‘Carbo wishes her to live.’
‘Who cares about him? He’s a filthy Roman! This is about what I want,’ bellowed Crixus.
‘Carbo is one of my men. He’s loyal too, which is far more than I can say for you.’
‘So that’s how it is.’ Crixus’ slit eyes were like two piss holes in the snow.
‘That’s right,’ said Spartacus coldly.
It had to come out sooner or later
.
Crixus hawked and spat at Spartacus’ feet. ‘We’re not wanted here, Lugurix,’ he growled. ‘Let’s go.’
Silence reigned as Crixus and Lugurix withdrew to the doors of the tablinum.
‘This isn’t over by a long shot, Spartacus! I won’t forget whom you favour over me,’ the huge Gaul shouted. ‘That whore should watch her back from now on. Your catamite better be on his guard too.’
It was only when Crixus was gone that Carbo realised he’d been holding his breath. Dropping his sword, he ran to where Chloris lay. He rolled her over gently. ‘Chloris? You’re safe now. Can you hear me? It’s me, Carbo.’
She moaned, and her eyelids fluttered. ‘You came back. Thank you.’
‘Of course I did.’
‘I’m very tired. I think I’ll sleep now.’ Her eyes closed.
‘I’ll find you a bed,’ said Carbo with new determination. His gaze scanned the rooms that surrounded the courtyard. Then he remembered Spartacus. Red-faced with embarrassment, he spun around. ‘I cannot thank you enough. You saved her life.’
‘I’m glad we came in time. Do you understand why I wouldn’t let you kill Crixus?’
‘Because he leads too many men. You need him still.’
‘That’s right. For the moment, I need him, the same way I need Castus and Gannicus and their men.’ A wry smile crooked his lips. ‘Those two are a trifle easier to keep in line, however.’
‘They are.’ Curse Crixus to Hades and beyond, thought Carbo.
‘Fortunately, the big bastard needs me too. It suits him to stay.’ Spartacus glanced around the courtyard. ‘You can manage now? I’ll leave Atheas to help.’ And to protect you, was the unspoken meaning. ‘Ariadne will come as soon as I can find her.’
‘Yes. Thank you.’ It was a dangerous game that Spartacus had played, Carbo realised, watching him leave. Gratitude filled him that the Thracian should go so far for him. While Atheas made the house secure, Carbo went in search of the girl. She could show him where the best bedroom and the baths were. He hoped too that Ariadne would arrive quickly. Chloris needed all the care that he could get for her.
Spartacus’ mood as he walked away from the house was a good deal darker than Carbo’s. For all his menaces, Crixus had not threatened to leave. Yet.
But the cocksucker will. I’d wager my life on it
.
What he somehow had to do, thought Spartacus grimly, was bind Castus and Gannicus to him. So that when the split came, they would stay with him.
Carbo was careful to cover up the dead bodies of the girl’s father and brother before she saw them. He was relieved that giving her things to do seemed to take her mind off what had happened. She hurried to and fro, fetching water from the well, tearing strips of cloth into bandages and helping the second woman to a bedroom. The same could not be said of Chloris. She smiled vacantly at Carbo as he carried her into another room but the moment he laid her down on the bed, she began to sob again. ‘It hurts. It hurts so much.’
Carbo glanced down and had to bite back a curse. There were fresh scarlet stains below the waist of her dress. She was still bleeding. Feeling totally helpless, he sat on the edge of the bed, stroking back the strands of hair that had fallen over her face. ‘Hold on. Ariadne will be here soon. She’ll give you something for the pain.’
She’ll know what to do
.
Her lips twitched, but instead of a smile, she grimaced.
Aesculapius, please help her, Carbo begged silently. He didn’t normally pray to the god of health, but this was no ordinary occasion.
He tried to get Chloris to drink some wine, but she wouldn’t. Even persuading her to swallow a mouthful of water was an effort. Much of the time, she seemed unaware of his presence. He was grateful, therefore, that when he stopped caressing her head, her eyelids opened. ‘That’s nice. Please continue.’
‘Of course.’ His throat closed with emotion as he obeyed her request. ‘What were you doing here, Chloris?’
Shame crept across her face.
He waited.
‘I was looking for money. We both were.’
‘Why? I’d give you money if you wanted it.’
Silence.
The realisation hit Carbo a moment later, making him feel numb. ‘It was so you could run away, wasn’t it? Chloris?’
Without opening her eyes, she nodded.
‘You could have said,’ he muttered. ‘I’d have just given it to you.’
‘Really? I wanted to return to Greece.’
‘I wouldn’t have stopped you.’
‘I’m sorry. I misjudged you.’ Her lips twisted. ‘Tell me some stories, please. It will help me to forget the pain.’
Swallowing his grief, and his shock at her revelation, Carbo began. Wanting to lift Chloris’ spirits, he related every humorous episode he could think of. How he’d once fallen into a dungheap on the family farm. The time he had raided a beehive for honey and been pursued by the angry bees for a quarter of a mile, to the river. To save himself from being repeatedly, he’d had to drop his stolen prize and jump into the water. He even told her about when he’d been caught by Paccius spying on the female slaves as they dressed in the morning.
She smiled at that. ‘Boys will be boys. It’s not much to be ashamed of, especially after you’ve saved my life.’
‘I didn’t save you,’ he said bitterly. ‘Spartacus did.’
‘What were you going to do – take on three warriors? They’d have chopped you into little pieces. Where would I be if that had happened?’
Carbo didn’t answer. His heart swelled with a mixture of emotions as he stared down at her. Impulsively, he bent forward and planted a soft kiss on her waxen forehead. There was another little smile. He resumed stroking her hair, and studying her face. The face that he’d learned to treasure. He cared for her still, even if she’d wanted to leave him.
Carbo was in the same position when Ariadne arrived. Startled out of his reverie, Carbo stood up. ‘You came.’
‘Of course. As soon as Spartacus found me.’ Ariadne’s gaze moved down, taking in the huge red stain on Chloris’ dress. There was a sharp intake of breath. ‘Gods above. She was raped, I presume?’
‘Yes. By Crixus and two of his men,’ he hissed.
‘The filthy dogs. How long since?’
‘I-I don’t know.’
‘Did she lose much blood at the time?’ Ariadne placed the fingers of one hand on Chloris’ left wrist. Her lips moved silently as she counted the thready pulse.
Catching Ariadne’s tone of urgency, Carbo threw his mind back to the courtyard. ‘No, I don’t think so.’
Frowning, Ariadne began peeling the sodden fabric of Chloris’ dress upwards.
Carbo averted his gaze. His eyes shot back, however, when Ariadne gave a tiny gasp. ‘What is it?’
‘This.’ Ariadne pointed.
Carbo forced himself to look. Between Chloris’ thighs, there was a black-red gelatinous clot. It was as big as his two fists placed together. The bedding underneath her was also saturated in blood. Dread filled him. ‘What does it mean?’
Ariadne’s face was full of sorrow. ‘She’s lost too much blood,’ she murmured. ‘There’s nothing I can do.’
‘She’s going to die?’
‘She is very near death already,’ said Ariadne quietly, pulling down Chloris’ clothing.
Carbo regarded Chloris’ features, which were even paler than before. ‘No,’ he whispered, placing a finger under her nostril. It was several moments before he felt the faintest movement of air. A sick feeling filled his belly and he knew that Ariadne was right. Who could lose that much blood and survive? Waves of bitterness bathed his heart. ‘How can the gods be so cruel?’
‘It is very hard, I know.’
Carbo’s shoulders hunched. ‘How long does she have?’
Ariadne placed her lips against his ear. ‘She’ll probably have slipped away by sunset. I’m sorry.’
Carbo thanked Ariadne, who nodded and withdrew. The instant that he was alone again with Chloris, he was seized by a savage, black despair. During the previous few months, she had become increasingly important to him. In the blink of an eye, all his happiness had been turned to ash. An image of Crixus and his grinning cronies filled Carbo’s mind. He shoved it away.
Fuck them. What time I have left with Chloris is too precious
.
He began stroking her hair again. Not knowing what else to do, he spoke of their time together, and of the magic that he’d felt being with her. How he would treasure the memories forever. Then he began to speak of Athens, mentioning every little detail that she’d ever told him. The rich, tree-lined quarter, within view of the magnificent Parthenon, where she’d grown up. The noise each dawn of the priests at their prayers. Chloris playing with Alexander, her younger brother. The regular trips she’d made into the city, to help the kitchen slaves buy provisions, and with her mother to visit their relations. Watching the oiled athletes in the nearby gymnasium wrestling, sprinting and throwing the discus.