"What insanity springs forth now from fevered mind?" Gannicus questioned laughingly in between gulps of wine. "Crixus will not be swayed by cunning word."
Spartacus sighed deeply and glanced down at the table top between them. "I do not seek to do so. I merely wish to protect Crixus from himself."
"An impossible thing for a fucking Gaul," Agron replied in greeting as he entered with more news of the rebels' dwindling supplies. Though far from their plight on Vesuvius, their army was rapidly consuming the remaining food that had been spirited from Sinuessa before escape.
The three men gathered around the maps and exchanged hushed whispers of the future of their war. In the beginning, it was a conflict of vengeance and payment exacted from the Romans in blood. With thousands flocking to Spartacus' cause, however, it had changed into a simple fight for freedom for all who had followed them for so long. The weight of it crushed upon the rebellion's leaders day and night. Even Gannicus, who insisted he only fought to honor Oenomaus, felt the burden for the sake of Sybil.
"Spartacus," Agron called over his shoulder as he returned to Nasir for sleep. "If ever there was question, I am now sure that you have lost fucking mind. I will stick to plan and hope of victory."
xxx
Naevia had changed in ways that Crixus could never have fathomed. When she was first freed from the mines, he feared every night that he would wake to see her dead by her own hand. As she stood beside him at the start of their journey to attack Rome, he was proud and honored to see what she had become. He no longer felt the need to stay so close to her on the fields of battle. Instead, he trusted that she could wield her sword well enough to protect herself.
"Let's go kill some fucking Romans!" she howled as they began. Cheers erupted from the crowd behind them. She had grown so fierce and she was his.
Agron pushed his way to the front and offered his hand to Crixus. "I am at your side, brother."
Crixus tightened his grip around Agron's forearm and grinned. "Let us show Spartacus that we turn and run no longer. Rome will tremble and fall at our feet."
Agron's heart was pounding as though Crixus would be able to see Spartacus' plan hiding behind his eyes. He scanned the horde quickly to make sure Nasir had not hidden himself among them. If he must be sent on a suicide mission, he would not drag Nasir to his death as well. He cursed Spartacus inwardly for forcing him to leave the arms of the man he loved and wished for the thousandth time that Duro had lived to see freedom again.
"A terrible thing," Agron replied, "for even a Roman's last breath to be had in front of stinking feet long mired in piss and shit."
"A smell I am sure but reminds you of home, brother."
Within a day's time, they would reach the first cluster of villas in a small valley. Agron intended to caution Crixus that attacking in darkness after a long day of marching would not be advantageous for the exhausted warriors behind them, but he bit his tongue and pressed onward. The time for attempting to reason with Crixus was long past. He could only pray to the Gods that they again favored the Bringer of Rain with a miracle.
As the sun dipped below the hills, scouts returned with news that the villas were relatively unprotected with low walls and few guards. Crixus gave the order to rouse his fighters from sleep.
"Open fucking eyes," Agron growled as he shook the last of them from slumber. "We move tonight upon villas in the valley."
Their collective weariness from the march was evident to Agron in small ways. All were loathe to be snatched from sleep and mumbled curses as they shuffled forward with bent knees and arms stretching toward the sky. A few rested on a knee while awaiting further direction from Crixus or sharpening their weapons.
Crixus beckoned Agron to the front where Naevia already stood by his side clutching her sword. The rebels craned forward to hear his words. Even under the cover of night, it looked as though an ocean of people was spread out before them.
"Tonight," Crixus called out as he gestured to the villas, "we shall spill Roman blood and show them that we are not so easily conquered! Free all of our brothers who are yet beneath the heel of Rome!"
Without further command, he grabbed Naevia and Agron and the three led the descent into the valley. The walls barely held them for a moment. Soon the familiar sounds of war rang out to break the silence. The guards were clumsy and Agron wondered if they were heavy with wine. A few barely raised their swords to defend themselves before being cut down. Others lunged like crazed animals or sought to flee from the villa when pressed.
It didn't take Agron long to sweep the remaining halls. He kicked in a small door and found the dominus huddled against sacks of grain and other provisions. Agron pulled him from his hiding place and threw him towards the main entrance. He wanted the man to see the carnage that had befallen his house before he sent him to the afterlife.
"It confounds that you are only brave while you yet have guard and lash," Agron muttered to the older man who cowered at his feet and mumbled incoherently that there had been a mistake. Agron silenced him with a sword through his mouth. He whirled as he felt a hand connect with his shoulder and stopped his blow barely short of its mark.
"Apologies," the slave gasped. "I mean to only offer gratitude."
Agron snorted. He didn't need gratitude. He wanted water, food, and Nasir returned to his side. Other slaves appeared suddenly to set eyes upon the man who had killed their master. "And you think it wise to do so with such stealth? I almost had your life as well."
Through the open doorway, Agron turned to see Crixus running toward him shouting his name. He furrowed his brow attempting to understand the Gaul's words when he felt the knife slip between his ribs. His eyes darted to see his attacker's face and was shocked to see it was the same slave that had just approached him to offer thanks. He heard the sharp clang of his sword falling to the ground before his eyes closed and nothingness swallowed him whole.