Chapter 11 Pillaging the Farmstead
In fact, without Maximus needing to remind them, everyone had already spotted the conical peak rising abruptly from the plains to the south, towering into the clouds. Its upper half was dark and obscure, while the lower half was lush and verdant. Faint wisps of smoke hovered around the summit...
The group stood dumbstruck, staring at the renowned and peculiar peak of Italy. Even the bold Cross couldn't help but swallow nervously, saying with slight unease, "Is this Vesuvius?"
"Yes," Spartacus responded in a hushed tone, as if he feared disturbing something. "That's our destination—Hevistos's forge."
Although they could see Vesuvius, there was still quite some distance to cover. By now, it was dusk, and the gladiators were unwilling to travel through the night. Spotting a farmhouse nearby, they rushed over.
The farm had a courtyard that wasn't particularly large, surrounded by a fence made of densely arranged wooden slats interwoven with short shrubs. It was merely a marker of territory to keep strangers out, yet it proved no obstacle for the fearsome gladiators. They crashed through the fence, kicked open the wooden door, and found seven or eight individuals trembling in terror in the courtyard. They hadn't scattered but instead stood protectively around a young man in their midst.
One elderly man, summoning his courage, shouted, "Who... who are you?! How dare you... trespass on Master Dionysius's land!" His voice barely faded before an earthen dog nearby began barking even louder.
Without hesitation, Cross stepped forward and delivered a kick. The dog yelped in agony, flew into the wall, and collapsed to the ground with its legs twitching. The people in the courtyard turned pale as ashes.
Spartacus looked at them thoughtfully and asked, "Who's Dionysius? Judging by the name, sounds like a Greek?"
The young man, as if humiliated, trembled as he spoke, "My... my father is a Roman citizen, an important councilman in Napolet. He has enough wealth to pay for my ransom. But if... if you dare to harm me, he will surely send Napolet's army after you—"
"Think Napolet's army is stronger than Capua's?" Cross sneered dismissively, triggering a burst of laughter among the gladiators.
Spartacus, however, responded earnestly, "We are not bandits. We are warriors waging war against Rome, fighting for freedom!"