‘That is the truth, girl,’ Spartacus added. ‘But you, at least, are now free. Whatever else happens, you are free.’ He handed her one of the butcher’s knives. ‘If we fail, if we are defeated, they will crucify every one of you household slaves to make an example for any other slaves who may think of rebelling. With that in mind, take this knife; its blade is sharp and true. If we lose and are defeated and they come for you, place the point of the blade right here between your ribs and push hard.’ He tapped a point on his left side, between his ribs, before continuing. ‘The pain will be sharp and intense, but short. You will die quickly, and in a far more dignified and painless manner than being gang-raped and then crucified. But if we win, you will walk out of these gates as a free woman, and you can cast that blade aside and never need fear violence from anyone again.’
Arishat took the blade with trembling hands, and nodded, biting her quivering lower lip.
‘Brothers! Gather around me!’ the General cried. ‘Listen carefully. This is the plan, and these are the steps we must follow if we are to succeed. Now that we are armed and have defeated the first wave of guards, our next objective is to get to the armoury and get ourselves properly armoured in our arena gear, with our arena weapons. These are kept locked up in a warehouse at the other end of the ludus, and it is to there that will we now proceed. When we are suitably armed and armoured, we can enact phase two of the plan. Before we go, place your hands on mine, brothers.’ The General extended his hand, and all of the gladiators placed theirs on his. ‘For love, for honour, for brotherhood, and for freedom!’ he cried.
‘For love, for honour, for brotherhood, and for freedom!’ they all echoed in unison, and with that they stood up, and on bare feet they crept out into the dark passage, with sharp weapons in their hands and the diamond-bright glint of vengeance and liberty in their eyes.
62
LUCIUS
The moment the guards started to advance on him, Lucius’s many years of gladiatorial experience and combat training kicked in. Now that he was outed, betrayed and trapped, there was nothing left to do but fight for his life.
I would rather die by the blade than inside that monstrous brazen bull. Come for me then! I will not go quietly!
Three guards rushed him at once, brandishing heavy clubs with which they intended to stun and subdue him.
‘Take him alive! Don’t kill him!’ Octavian shouted. ‘We want him to burn in the bull!’
Lucius was not about to allow that to happen. With speed that verged on the superhuman, he jabbed his spear out in a single-handed lunge, in which he extended his entire body to its maximum stretch, and so fast was his attack that the point of his spear zipped over the surprised lead guard’s shield before he even had time to think of attempting a parry or dodge. The sharp steel slammed through his eye socket into his brain, killing him instantly. The spear-point was not even in the man’s cranium for half a second before Lucius had yanked it out, and with the force of an over-taut steel cable snapping he sprang into the air in a whirling leap, whipping the long spear around him in a whistling arc. Using the spear-point as a blade, he slashed open the throat of the next guard. The arcing momentum of the spear was blindingly fast, and the guard’s throat was yawning wide and spraying blood before he could react.
As the dying guard fell to the floor, amid screams of horror from the banquet guests, Lucius landed on bent, springy knees and spun the spear about with dexterous skill in his hands. He jumped forward in yet another darting lunge, although this time he did not extend himself fully. The guard he stabbed the spear at was faster than his companions had been, and he ducked under the quick strike and batted the spear away with a swipe of his club.
Lucius pressed forward with neither relent nor mercy, and jabbed with frightful speed three more times at the guard’s face. His opponent was only just able to deflect the blows as he stumbled back, losing his footing in his haste to distance himself from the cobra-strikes of the spear.
This was exactly what Lucius had been aiming for, and with a cunning feint he made as if to lunge for the guard’s face one more time – and then abruptly dropped his leading knee to the ground and slashed the spear downward, striking the guard’s vulnerably exposed knee with brutal force. Once again he wasted no time in dispatching his adversary; after spearing the man in the leg, in one flowing movement he withdrew the blade and redirected it upwards, stabbing the point all the way up through the underside of the guard’s chin with brutal precision. Lucius jerked the blade out of the abruptly crumpling body and whirled it in a flamboyant flourish above his head; his spirit was now aflame with the fire of combat and victory.
Gasps of horror, shock and fear resounded through the hall, and people near the main doorway scrambled up from their tables and started to make for the exits, even as a fresh wave of guards began to advance on Lucius. These guards, however, were much more cautious in their approach, after having seen their comrades slaughtered in mere seconds by this elite warrior before them.
‘Just five of them?’ Lucius roared at Batiatus, his voice hoarse with the rage of his deeply felt injury and the bitterness of betrayal. ‘Tell me, traitor, is that how foolish you are? That you think five of these poorly trained thugs can defeat me? After I slay them, I’ll slaughter every one of you vermin!
