He shrugged carelessly. ‘You heard. She’s not going.’
‘What’s your name, fool?’ hissed the lead warrior, raising his spear. ‘I like to know the name of a man before I kill him.’
He ignored the demand. Drawing his sword, he pointed it straight at the man’s face. ‘Ready to die? Because that’s what is going to happen next.’
Even in the poor light, it was possible to see the warrior turn pale. He glanced at his companions, who also looked far from happy.
‘Shall we get this over with?’ he snarled, taking a step towards them.
Ariadne couldn’t believe her eyes. The bodyguard’s confidence shrank like a bladder pricked with a knife. ‘We’ve got no quarrel with you,’ he mumbled.
‘Nor I with you, but I’m not about to see you seize a priestess without good explanation,’ he snapped, continuing to advance. ‘It was my understanding that we held such people in great veneration. That we didn’t treat them like runaway slaves.’
Lifting his spear point into the air, the warrior backed away. His companions did the same. ‘This isn’t going to end here,’ muttered the first man.
‘I’d be disappointed if it was.’ He watched as they vanished into the gloom.
‘I wish you hadn’t done that. You’ve as good as signed your own death warrant,’ Ariadne said coldly, disregarding the amazement she felt at the warriors’ about-turn.
‘A simple thank you would suffice,’ he replied in a mild voice.
‘I don’t want another’s death on my conscience!’ she said, colouring.
‘My fate is mine to decide, not yours,’ he growled. ‘What kind of a man would I be if I just let a group of thugs carry off a priestess?’ It was a rash move, all the time. Thank the Rider that none of them recognised me.
‘A wise one,’ she snapped.
‘Got quite the temper, haven’t you? Seeing as you don’t want my help, I’ll leave you to it. The gate’s still open.’ He picked up the lead rope and clicked his tongue at his horse. ‘Come on. Let’s get you stabling and some food. And better company, if we can find it.’
‘Wait,’ said Ariadne, hating her fear, which had resurged at the prospect of him leaving.
He raised an eyebrow, which made him even more attractive.
‘It was noble of you to intervene. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. Was there anything else?’ He made to move off again.
‘The king’s men won’t leave it at that, you know. They act as they please.’
‘I can tell. But they’ll have to find me first. The settlement is a big place to search for one man.’ He nodded in farewell.
‘Stay for a moment,’ asked Ariadne. Walking out into the night now seemed utterly terrifying. So too did waiting for Kotys’ warriors, alone.
‘I was going to until you decided to be rude.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she replied, her voice catching. ‘I didn’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.’
‘Your concern is endearing,’ he said in a gentler tone, ‘but let me worry about things like that.’
‘Very well.’ Ariadne felt embarrassed, but she continued regardless. ‘Please accompany me home. I have a small shed where you could stable your horse.’
‘Is it far?’ He gestured at the stallion. ‘As you’ve probably seen, he’s lame.’
‘It’s no more than a couple of hundred paces. Follow me.’ With her heart thumping in her chest, Ariadne led the way. By now, it was completely dark and the alleys had emptied of people. Only the occasional dog skittered by, giving them a wide berth. She caught him checking every shadow, and was relieved when he eventually relaxed a little.
Ariadne was also pleased to see no lurking shapes near her house. Polles and his men were still in the alleyway or, more likely, had returned with their cheated comrades to the king. Filling a bucket of water from the nearby well, she left him settling the horse in the lean-to. She hurried inside, noticing as she lit an oil lamp that her hands were shaking. Trying to regain her composure, she sat down on the three-legged stool. Had her situation improved in any way? In reality, she had just exchanged one set of dangers for another. He might be a fearsome warrior, but he couldn’t fight all of Kotys’ men and expect to win. Despite her pessimism, Ariadne could not deny the spark of pleasure that glowed in her heart. He had been under no obligation to step in. Most sane men would have turned the other way when they’d seen the king’s bodyguards. Instead, at the risk of his own life, he had saved her. Weirdly, Ariadne felt a trace of hope. He had to know the odds that they faced, yet he remained calm, even unperturbed. That meant he must have a plan.
She smiled as he entered, barring the door behind him. ‘Is your horse fed and watered?’
‘He is,’ he replied, looking satisfied.
‘You care for him greatly.’
‘I do. He’s been under me, or by my side, through more than five years of constant war.’
‘That’s a long time to be fighting.’
‘It is. That’s why I came home. To hang up my sword and settle down for a while. Instead, I’ve done the complete opposite.’ His lips twisted wryly. ‘To be honest, I’m not that surprised. The Rider has a habit of doing this to me. And he knows best.’
‘Nonetheless, I’m sorry,’ said Ariadne, feeling even worse.
‘We’ve covered this ground already,’ he said in a reproving voice. ‘It was my decision to intervene.’ My decision to enter the village, even when I was recognised.
‘It was,’ she acknowledged. Then, ‘I don’t even know your name.’
‘Nor I yours,’ he replied, smiling.
‘Ariadne.’ She couldn’t stop her cheeks from burning as she spoke.
‘It’s an honour to meet you. I am Spartacus.’
She frowned. The name rang a bell in her head, but she didn’t know why. ‘How long have you been away exactly?’
‘Eight years, give or take. You’ve not been here that long.’
‘No. Six months.’
‘When did Kotys start bothering you?’
‘Practically from the first moment I got here. I’ve managed to fend him off thus far, but today, for whatever reason, he had had enough. Ostensibly, I was to dine with him, but it was just a facade. For him to-’
‘I can imagine,’ he interjected. ‘I knew that the whoreson was a murderer, but a rapist too? The world will be a better place when he’s gone.’ And if the Rider wills it, my blade will end his stinking life.
‘So the rumours are true then?’
‘Oh yes,’ he replied bitterly. ‘When Rhesus, the last king died, Kotys had his son and heir slain. Sitalkes, my father, must have tried to intervene, because he was killed too.’
‘Your father, murdered?’ Ariadne’s heart went out to him. ‘How did you find this out?’
‘I met a boy tending stock not half a mile from the front gate. It was easy enough to persuade him to talk. I wasn’t sure whether to believe it all, but one of the guards was an old comrade of my father’s. He confirmed the story. So did the friends I spoke to briefly.’
‘I’m sorry.’ She reached out to touch his arm, but suddenly self-conscious, stopped herself.
His scowl deepened. ‘Not half as sorry as Kotys and Polles, whoever the fuck he is, will be soon.’
Ariadne’s breath caught in her chest. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m told that Kotys is very unpopular. That the majority of warriors hate his guts and only his bodyguards are truly loyal. There are what, a hundred of them or so?’
Still not believing what she was hearing, Ariadne nodded.
‘If I can persuade sixty or seventy men to follow me, we’ll take them.’
She saw the self-belief in his grey eyes, and her heart filled. Thank you, Dionysus! ‘This is what I’ve been praying for.’
His eyebrows rose. ‘You’ve also been plotting to overthrow a king?’
‘What of it?’ she retorted. ‘He’s nothing but a tyrant.’
‘Feisty, aren’t you?’ He gave her an approving look, and her stomach fluttered. ‘So you will help?’
‘In whatever way I can. I will consult the god, but I have no doubt that he would wish Kotys removed from
