Cob whistled. ‘Silex help us.’
‘I think we’ve learned all we can here. But we need to find out more when we get to the city.’
Working together, Cob and Dion turned the sailing boat back away from the warship, following the shore as they headed for a place closer to the embankment steps. As he searched for a clear patch of shore where they wouldn’t be in the way of the fishermen mending nets on the beach or the sailors scrubbing the decks of their galleys, Dion heard a voice calling out and glanced up.
A young woman was running out onto the rocky promontory on the harbor’s left side, below the Temple of Aldus high above. She waved her arms as she ran, gesticulating wildly, but her words were lost on the wind.
‘I think she wants us,’ Cob said. ‘She seems quite upset.’
Frowning, Dion nodded. ‘We had best see what it is.’
The woman clambered down the rocks until she was close to the water, heedless of the splashes wetting the hem of her fine indigo chiton. She lowered her arms when she saw that the sailboat was coming over.
She had near-black hair flowing to her waist, her thick locks blowing in the wind. The dark hair contrasted with her pale skin and framed a triangular face, with an upturned nose and a wide mouth. Around her neck was a copper medallion, and as the distance narrowed to several feet Dion recognized the symbol of Aeris, goddess of music and healing.
The woman was pretty, but in a haughty manner that was heightened by her present expression of blazing eyes and set jaw.
Recognizing her, Dion thought she’d grown since he’d last seen her, some years ago. She would be nineteen now, he thought.
They were close enough to hear each other. Cob turned the sailboat so that Dion came alongside the rocks.
Chloe, daughter of the first consul of Phalesia, was furious.
‘Get away from the Ilean ship!’
‘Of course, lady,’ Dion said. ‘Should I draw away now?’
Chloe clenched her fists, uncertain whether he was mocking her. Dion could see that she didn’t recognize him.
‘Before I do, could you tell me something about it?’ Dion asked. ‘You said the ship is from Ilea?’
‘We have an agreement. We are to stay away from it.’
‘You have my apologies, Chloe, daughter of Aristocles. I am not Phalesian and was not aware.’
‘Just stay away.’
Dion nodded gravely. ‘You have my word.’
Chloe turned her back on him and climbed back up the rocks. As she moved from rock to rock, Dion smiled at the damage she was wreaking on her chiton. Evidently she valued her father’s agreement with the Ilean shipmaster more than she valued her clothing.
‘Come on,’ Dion said to Cob. ‘We need to land.’
‘I’m surprised she didn’t recognize you.’
‘A king’s son.’ Dion grinned. ‘Arriving on a derelict sailboat with a stunted old man?’
‘Derelict?’ Cob patted the boat fondly. ‘She’s a good girl. I’ll award you the stunted part, though. But tell me, why didn’t you explain who you are?’
‘I wanted to see what she would say about the warship. And I would prefer to announce myself to Aristocles on my own terms. Preferably without her around.’
Cob chuckled, shaking his head.
‘Do you mind waiting while I find the first consul?’ said Dion. ‘I might be a while.’
‘I can find lodgings in the city if need be.’
Dion began to take down the sail as they approached a patch of pebbled beach. ‘I have to see if Aristocles will help us clear the narrows. I also have to find out what I can about that ship.’
Dion climbed the narrow steps leading up the sloped bastion from the harbor. The way was unguarded and soon he was making his way through the agora.
He turned to look back at the sea one last time, then found his gaze drawn to the summit of the cliff and the golden ark with the eternal flame burning brightly at the Temple of Aldus. There was only one approach to the temple, a series of precarious steps carved into the stone, leading from the top of the embankment and curving left and right as they wound their way up.