‘Chloe . . . Are you all right?’
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Chloe finally nodded. She straightened and took hold of herself as Amos called out to some of his men, sending them up the cliff.
‘What happened?’ he asked. ‘How did the sun king die?’
Seeing a familiar figure, Amos beckoned, and Chloe saw her father rushing forward.
‘Daughter!’ Aristocles cried, alarmed when he saw Chloe’s blood-drenched chiton. ‘Are you well? You’re unharmed?’ He looked at her quizzically.
‘Where is the sun king?’ a rough voice called as a man who must be Nikolas approached. He scowled, his eyes dark under his bushy black brows, the expression fierce on his broad face.
‘He is dead. He tried to open the ark. Something . . . was in there.’ She drew a slow, shaky breath. ‘An . . . eldran saved me. It’s over.’
‘We must thank him,’ Aristocles said, looking around. ‘All of them.’
‘They’ve all long gone,’ said Amos. ‘But we’ll find a way.’
‘They don’t need thanks,’ Chloe murmured. ‘They just want peace between our races.’
Speaking these last words, her thoughts turned to Dion. She tried instead to focus on her father and her home.
‘Nikolas—’ Aristocles began.
‘King Nikolas,’ Amos admonished.
‘Of course,’ said Aristocles, bowing smoothly. ‘King Nikolas of Xanthos. We thank you.’
Nikolas nodded, but his eyes were turned to the sea, where the enemy warships were scattered across the waters of the harbor as they drew away. Chloe saw several captured vessels on the shore.
Noting his gaze, Aristocles spoke. ‘Kargan still lives. We should consider sending out a boat under a white flag to conduct talks . . . give them a chance to retrieve their dead.’
‘No,’ Nikolas countermanded. He glared at Aristocles. ‘My men will burn their dead. We’ll burn the sun king with them.’
Aristocles hesitated, but the army of Xanthos was in his city, greatly outnumbering the Phalesian soldiers, and he nodded.
There was silence for a time as they all watched the departing ships.
‘Do you think they’ll be back?’ Chloe’s father asked.
‘They’ll be back,’ Nikolas said. ‘The war for the Maltherean Sea has only just begun.’
Chloe shivered.
‘Sire! This prisoner wants to speak with the king of Xanthos.’
Turning, she saw two crimson-cloaked hoplites escorting a stocky woman with short sun-bleached hair. The woman wasn’t in armor, instead wearing a loose tunic that was almost manly on her muscular frame. Her skin was weathered to a dark tan.
Nikolas turned and impatiently waited for the prisoner to approach.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘If you want to say something, speak quickly.’
‘I . . .’ she hesitated and then spoke again, more firmly this time, meeting his stare with a steady expression of her own. ‘My name is Roxana. I am . . . was . . . captain of the bireme Anoraxis. I am also a shipbuilder. I have no wish to die or be taken as a slave. In fact, he said you would give me a villa if I built ships for you.’
‘Who said?’ Nikolas frowned.
‘Dion.’ Chloe realized who she was. ‘Roxana. He spoke of you. He said you’re a good person.’
‘Right,’ Roxana said wryly. ‘Dion of No-land, the man from a small village on a tiny island with no name.’ Perplexed expressions met her words.
‘Xanthos,’ Chloe said softly, looking away. ‘Dion of Xanthos.’
‘So are you the father who thinks archery is for commoners?’ Roxana addressed Aristocles. ‘Will you give me my villa?’
‘A villa?’ Aristocles’ eyebrows rose. ‘Well, I’m not sure if the Assembly—’
‘Wait.’ Nikolas held up a hand. ‘My brother always said naval power would determine the fate of the world, something I think we’ve all learned first hand.’ He smiled grimly at Roxana. ‘Roxana, if you build me more of these ships, I will give you a villa.’
‘What of my men?’ Roxana persisted. ‘There are many with skills who were captured. Most were enslaved by the sun king. If you name them free they will serve you well.’
‘Any who wish to serve under you may live, but they’ll still be slaves. The rest?’ He shrugged. ‘We’re not usually in the business of taking slaves.’
‘I’m sure most will serve.’ Roxana grinned. ‘Dion—’ She looked around. ‘He burned two thirds of the fleet. If he hadn’t we might be facing each other on different terms today. Is he here?’
When silence met her words Chloe left the group. She walked to the edge of the embankment, following the summit of the wall, heading left until she was in a place free from death, provided she didn’t look down at the shore.