Maximus’s mood grew heavy, especially when he encountered the bodies of women and children.
As they continued marching south, the vibrant greenery started to vanish. Trees had been felled, wild grass uprooted, replaced by makeshift hovels and tents scattered across the fields without fences or walls. People dressed in bizarre garments were everywhere; some cooking, others laughing, training, fighting, or abusing captives. The scene was chaotic and noisy, with the occasional harrowing screams of women coming from certain tents.
Maximus’s furrowed brow tightened even further.
When these people noticed travelers on the now-deserted road, their eyes fell upon Maximus’s troops. Yet, the Free Italy banner held high and the imposing soldiers dissuaded most from thoughts of robbery, though some still dared to block the path, demanding supplies.
At this moment, Okmar galloped forward, declared his identity, and fiercely reprimanded them for their insolence.
Most of these newcomers to Free Italy had seen this cavalry Great Captain beside Spartacus before in Uriya. Intimidated by Spartacus’s reputation, they swiftly admitted their wrongdoing and stepped aside.
Maximus encountered no major obstacles, and the troops entered the Calabria region smoothly.
The terrain of Calabria, unlike Apulia’s flat expanses, consists of rolling hills. Rivers are few, yet the soil is rich, renowned in Italy for livestock and orchard cultivation.
Maximus’s forces continued their journey along the Appian Way. The further south they traveled, the more rebel camps they encountered, growing ever more organized and disciplined.
Passing through a stretch of hills and descending into lowlands, Maximus saw the great city of Tarentum, standing proudly within its azure, figure-eight-shaped bay.
Not far from Tarentum, a sprawling rebel camp stood in the fields, heavily guarded. According to Okmar, this camp was established by a rebel leader from Tarentum named Phitodorus, whose soldiers were mostly impoverished locals.
Maximus didn’t have time to observe the famed city, revered in Sparta as the birthplace of "children of maidens" (children born in Sparta during the warriors’ campaign in Masia). His troops continued southeast along the Appian Way, skirting Tarentum.
Near dusk, they finally arrived at Spartacus’s encampment—Uriya.
On open, expansive fields, alongside a sturdy, straight highway, stood a small city surrounded by adjacent campgrounds. The place bustled like an enormous marketplace, vibrant and lively.
Having received news of their arrival, Spartacus, accompanied by several others, came out of the city to welcome them.
Maximus promptly dismounted, strode forward briskly, and called out loudly, "Leader Spartacus, I sincerely apologize for my delay!"
"Maximus, you’re not late at all. They’ve just arrived not long ago as well," Spartacus replied with a warm tone.
Maximus’s gaze turned to Hamilcar beside Spartacus, and with concern, he said, "Teacher, you look thinner than when we last parted at Benevento!"
"There’s simply too much to worry about lately—how could I not lose weight?" Hamilcar grumbled briefly, then turned to look at the troops behind Maximus, saying, "Your camp site has already been prepared next to ours. You just need to set up your tents."
Maximus caught the implication in Hamilcar’s words—staying close to Spartacus’s army meant they had protection nearby, avoiding unnecessary conflicts. With gratitude, he said, "Teacher, truly thank you for the trouble!"
Hamilcar quickly instructed his men to guide Maximus’s troops to their camp, while Spartacus invited Maximus to enter the city to discuss urgent matters.
The rebel soldiers watching from the sidelines immediately grew louder in their chatter as the arriving troops disappeared into the distance.
"Which unit is this? Their leader looks so young!"
"That’s Leader Maximus’s army. Don’t underestimate him—he was one of the original gladiators who ignited the uprising."
"So that’s Maximus?! The man who, to protect those treacherous wealthy elites, once sent troops to attack our own comrades—the traitor!"
"Hey, you’re new here! Don’t speak recklessly when you’re uninformed! Maximus is an excellent leader. He established the Medical Team to ensure the injured among us receive proper treatment. He has repeatedly rescued us during critical moments of peril and provided aid when we faced food shortages. He is tremendously crucial to Free Italy! What qualifications do you have to slander him here?"
"Maximus is undeniably remarkable, but he is also selfish. He hoards spoils, refusing to share them with other units. Back in Pompeii..."
On the highway outside Uriya City, disagreements erupted among rebel soldiers due to Maximus. Meanwhile, in a large house within Uriya City, Spartacus, Hamilcar, Antonix, and other rebel leaders were seated around a broad wooden table. However, rather than starting their discussions, they were first having dinner, as Maximus’s arrival coincided with mealtime—also a way to save time.
A bowl of barley porridge, a piece of bread, and two apples—that constituted the entirety of the dinner. For leaders meeting for the first time since the division of forces in Campania, wasn’t this meal a little overly modest? It seemed that the army’s food supplies were indeed as Okmar had suggested—not particularly ample... Maximus thought to himself.
He reached out for the bread, took a big bite, and began observing the others in the room:
Spartacus ate his meal unhurriedly, his manner always exuding calm and confidence;
Hamilcar ate quickly—he was the type to exhaust himself perpetually;
Antonix ate while whispering softly to Hamilcar, his expression slightly worn, evidently strained from recent efforts;
Cross, instead of eating, stared disdainfully at the food, his plumper figure suggesting he had fared better during recent days in the Turi Plain;
When Maximus’s gaze fell on Attutmus, their eyes met simultaneously. Smiling, Attutmus nodded his greeting. Whether during their march southward or after taking Canosa, the two maintained a cooperative rapport. Attutmus had even adopted some practices from Maximus’s army—avoiding total exploitation of captured territories—thus showing great goodwill towards Maximus;
An empty seat beside Attutmus was meant for Enomai, clearly Spartacus’s way of reminding everyone;
Atmidonos, once a shepherd among the Samnites, had led countless poor mountain dwellers through the Samnium Mountain Area to join the rebel army in Campania. Thanks to his efforts, the army managed to traverse the Samnium Mountain Area successfully, though Maximus hadn’t had much interaction with him;
Tormas had a similar background to Atmidonos, but he hailed from the Lucania Mountain Area.
The other three individuals were unfamiliar to Maximus, though Spartacus had provided introductions earlier: Phitodorus, formerly a drifter from Tarentum, had proactively joined Spartacus’s forces when they emerged from the Lucania Mountain Area, rallying impoverished people from Calabria to enlist. His contributions greatly facilitated Spartacus’s forces in securing a foothold here;