Spartacus: Rebellion by Ben Kane

and benches were carved from hardwood, and the sawdust on the concrete and tiled floor was clean. The customers were mostly soldiers, a number of whom were officers.
    Navio’s smile faded before Carbo’s scowl. ‘What?’
    ‘You know how damn rare aurei are! Those doormen will be talking about us all night.’
    ‘Relax,’ said Navio in a confident tone. ‘What do they care how we came by our money? I’ll be sure to tip them on the way out, tell them to forget they ever saw us. We don’t want our wives to find out we’ve been here. You know the type of line.’ He winked.
    Carbo still wasn’t happy, but then he saw the quartet of women standing on a plinth behind the bar and all reason, all thought of their mission, left him. The four were more beautiful than his wildest dreams. His groin tightened as he realised that under their diaphanous robes, they were naked.
    ‘I thought you’d change your mind.’ Navio thumped him on the chest, bringing him back to reality. He handed over a gold coin. ‘Here. Spend it wisely. I’ll see you later for a drink. We can compare notes.’
    Carbo clutched the aureus tightly. ‘Where are you going?’
    ‘Where do you think?’ Navio replied, nodding at the prostitutes. ‘We’ve got all night to find out what we need.’
    With a pounding heart, Carbo watched his friend work his way to the bar, catch the eye of a stunning brunette and gesture to her. When she approached, their heads bent together for a moment. Long enough for the beauty to see the aureus, thought Carbo. The next time he looked, Navio was heading up the stairs with his arm around her. He didn’t look back.
    A man carrying two jugs of wine collided with Carbo, taking his attention away from the whores. For some reason, he thought of his parents. The letter! If there was ever a good time to have it written, it was now. He’d be back within the blink of an eye. Navio wouldn’t even know that he had gone. Once it was done, he could have a drink and listen in to the loud chatter around him. With so many soldiers in the inn, it would be impossible not to hear some useful information. Then he could decide which one of the women he wanted. Excited by the prospect of completing Spartacus’ mission as well as his own, Carbo slipped outside again. In the failing light, the doormen were talking to a block-headed soldier.
    Sensing Carbo’s presence, the colossus turned with an obsequious smile. ‘Leaving so soon, sir?’
    ‘I have a quick errand to run. Before I drink too much and forget, you see. Where’s the forum?’
    ‘That way.’ The colossus pointed northwards. ‘All the streets heading in that direction reach it.’
    ‘How far is it?’
    ‘No more than a quarter of a mile.’
    Nodding his thanks, Carbo walked off.
    The legionary waited until he had gone some distance up the alley before sidling after him.
    The doorman proved to be correct. Carbo found the forum with ease. Although he’d never visited the town before, the large rectangular space felt familiar. Like most Roman centres of population, the forum was the beating heart of Mutina. Stalls packed the area, selling everything from tools, clothing, pots and pans to bread, meat, vegetables and love charms. It was bordered by a large number of temples – to Jupiter, Minerva, Juno and the Dioscuri, the twins Castor and Pollux – in addition to government buildings such as the court and the tax office. There were also basilicae , covered markets where lawyers, scribes, surgeons and pharmacists plied their trades.
    Carbo headed straight for these. His eagerness waned as he crossed the threshold, however. What he was about to do was even more risky than entering Vulcan’s Anvil. If the scribe got even the slightest inkling that Carbo was one of Spartacus’ men, he would be arrested on the spot. He sauntered up and down the stalls, ignoring offers of a bargain price to read his fortune, to have his teeth examined and to write his will that very