Spartacus: The Gladiator Read Online Free PDF Page B

hands. Feeling very weary, Ariadne sagged against the house’s cold wattle and daub. Kotys was being true to his word. The bodyguards were there to abduct her. Curse him! Creeping around them to reach her hut by another route would merely delay the inevitable. In that instant, the helplessness that Ariadne had felt when her father was about to assault her sexually returned. It sat in her belly as if it had never been absent, an acid pool of nausea and self-loathing.
    Her indecision seemed to last an eternity, but in reality was no more than a few heartbeats. Unsure of where to go, Ariadne stumbled across the central space. It was then that she saw a second party of warriors heading towards her from the temple. Ducking her head in a pathetic attempt not to be seen, she changed direction. There was only one way to go. To the main gate. It didn’t matter that it was bitterly cold, snowing, or that it was dangerous beyond the village walls. She had to get away from Kotys, and it didn’t matter how.
    ‘Priestess!’ a voice called behind her.
    A sob escaped Ariadne’s lips, and she quickened her pace. All she had to do was reach the entrance. The guards outside wouldn’t dare to stop her and the impending snowstorm would swallow her up as surely as the underworld. What she was doing was madness, but in that exact moment, Ariadne didn’t care. Death was better than experiencing again what she’d endured as a child. She glanced over her shoulder and was pleased to see that the warriors were too far away to prevent her from escaping. With few other people about, this one tiny victory would not be denied her.
    Totally absorbed, Ariadne wasn’t looking where she was going. With a thump, she collided with someone. It was only the other’s strong arm that prevented her from falling flat on her back. She looked up to find a pair of amused grey eyes regarding her. It was the man who’d just arrived with the lame stallion. Ariadne blinked. This close, he was quite handsome.
    ‘My apologies. I don’t usually make it my business to knock over attractive women.’
    ‘N-no, it was my fault,’ she faltered.
    Noticing the tattoos and red cloak which marked her station, he released his grip. ‘I’m sorry, priestess, I meant no disrespect. Why the hurry?’
    ‘I—’ Ariadne glanced back. The warriors were less than twenty paces away. ‘I have to go. Leave the village.’
    ‘In this weather, priestess?’ He looked alarmed. ‘You’ll catch your death. If not, the wolves will have you.’
    ‘That’s as maybe,’ muttered Ariadne, ‘but I’m going nonetheless.’ She made to move past.
    He threw out his arm, stopping her. ‘What have you done?’ he asked, nodding his head at the approaching group.
    ‘Done? Nothing!’ She laughed bitterly and tried again to walk on, but his arm was immovable, like a bar of iron. Ariadne didn’t have the strength – or will – to push against it.
    ‘Something tells me that lot aren’t coming to discuss the weather. Who are they?’
    ‘Kotys’ men,’ she replied flatly.
    ‘Kotys?’ I haven’t thought of the prick for years, but now his name is falling from everyone’s lips .
    ‘The king.’
    His lip curled. ‘The king . You’ve crossed him, I take it?’
    ‘Does refusing to go to his bed count as crossing him?’ she spat back. ‘If it does, then yes, that’s what I’ve done. Now let me go.’
    He lowered his arm. ‘So they’re coming to take you to Kotys, but you won’t have it?’
    ‘Yes. I’ll die before I let that bastard rape me.’ Ariadne stared into his eyes, and was surprised by what she saw. As well as anger, there was admiration. And hate – but not for her.
    ‘Don’t move.’ Dropping the horse’s lead rope, he stepped in front of her.
    ‘What are you doing?’ she stammered.
    ‘Men might act like that in war, but not in peacetime, in my fucking village,’ he barked. ‘I thought I’d left all that behind me.’ I thought I could come home without