Spartacus (The White Stone Version), Sabinus/Castus and others
(I’ve adopted the canon in aldiara’s glorious epic The White Stone, which you should definitely read if you haven’t yet. It’s true to Spartacus with a few exceptions, namely that Sabinus survives decimation while Tiberius is killed, and now he is with Castus, who’s finally gotten over Nasir.)
******
As the last glimpse of the sun drops behind dappled maroon clouds, Sabinus calls for them to stop. He knows that Castus wants to ride on, that he can already smell the sea, but the others are weary. They set up camp in the hollow of a ridge. It seems unlikely that the hand of Rome would stretch here, they’ve seen no one during their ride, but Sabinus is wary, and surely the others are as well. Belesa offers to take the first watch. “I would sit with you a while,” he offers, but her shaded look turns him away.
*
The others sit around the campfire. It is an awkward time of introductions, for despite spending the day together, they have broken few words. The atmosphere is lightened by the boy, Marco, who delights in flinging brush onto the flames. His mother, called Guilia, watches with a close eye. She says they had been slaves of the Roman governor in Sicilia. Sabinus shudders to think how Marco’s life was so different from his own. At five, he and Tiberius were already best of friends, dressed in the Legion’s maroon robes and recreating the heroic battles they hoped to someday join.
*
The old man stretches – Leandros, Sabinus remembers. “Hard was the ride today. Will it be so tomorrow?”
“There is short road left to travel,” Castus answers. “We will reach the sea before sun climbs high. Tomorrow, we sleep on the waves.”
“You will sleep soundly, then,” Sabinus laughed, “while the rest of us loosen our bellies over the side.”
The twins already look a bit green at the prospect. “Apologies,” Sabinus says, handing the boy a cup of wine. “I know not your names.”
“Abibaal,” the boy answered, “and my sister Ummastarte.”
“Phoenician,” Castus notes. “You are far from home.”
*
A shout from afar interrupts their introductions, answered by a whoop from Belesa. Sabinus peers into the last dim light reflecting on the plains but sees nothing. Then, gradually, an image moves from the shadows. A single rider approaches them at breakneck speed, pushing his mount recklessly fast without sight. He closes in quickly and Sabinus feels Castus tense beside him. But Belesa is jumping into the air and waving her arms. “Saxa comes!” she shouts, and Sabinus sees it is true. The shadowed image becomes the woman he knows, her golden hair flying and her faced drawn with determination.