‘His. Or hers. . .’ The Jewess shrugged her small, sharp shoulders. ‘Alas, no. But they seem confident that their. . . person. . . is well placed.’

‘Mother of God,’ Leo swore, and paced even more restlessly. Katāros looked on, face impassive, though he couldn’t help but notice a glance from those kohl-rimmed eyes in his direction. He ignored it. For now.

‘High Chamberlain – take note,’ said Leo suddenly, spinning on his heel. ‘I charge you with sniffing out this. . . this vermin. Do you hear?’

‘Of course, Majesty.’

‘No stone unturned. No one above suspicion. We must take care. We can afford no mistakes. Send the sons of Kallinikos to me. They must be warned. And protected.’ These ‘sons’ – known as the lamproi, the ‘Brilliant Ones’ – were the only men in the empire who understood the secret of its greatest weapon. Kallinikos – a Jew who had fled Syria ahead of the Arab tide – had saved the city a generation ago with his liquid fire. Now his sons were charged with saving it a second time.

‘It will be done without delay, Majesty.’

‘You have done well, fair lady,’ Leo said, addressing Lucia. ‘Uncommon well.’ The Jewess bowed gracefully. ‘Arbasdos did not overstate your skill.’

‘He knows me well, Majesty,’ she said demurely.

The emperor chuckled. ‘I’m sure. Go then. Lord Katāros, see she is rewarded.’

Outside, the pair walked the full length of the first hallway in silence. Only when they had turned a corner did Katāros speak, choosing his words carefully.

‘A remarkable achievement,’ he said.

‘Do you think so?’ she replied, a smile twitching at the corners of her small mouth. ‘Oh, by the way, Abdal-Battal sends his respects.’

Katāros stopped. She stopped with him. ‘So,’ he sneered, ‘where are the marks?’

The confident smirk faltered. ‘Marks?’

‘I take it you required some persuasion.’

A long eyelash flickered. ‘Across my back,’ she admitted.

‘Any others?’

‘They were enough.’

‘Not so skilful then,’ mused Katāros, half to himself, then strode on. Lucia hurried to keep up with his long, swinging stride. ‘Easier to sneak in, than out.’

‘It was. Then again to send a woman in there was a folly only Arbasdos would’ve been conceited enough to make. But the emperor will soon pay the price for his friend’s mistake,’ she added, spicily.

‘Did they speak my name?’

‘They didn’t have to. As soon they told me they had another within the walls, I knew.’

‘How?’

She gave a tinkling laugh. ‘Call it a woman’s intuition. Alas, you would not know of such things.’

‘You understand nothing of what I would or would not know.’

‘Oh, my! And I thought your kind could feel nothing. But your pride is pricked as easily as any real man’s—’

‘Enough of this nonsense,’ he snapped. ‘What have they told you? Did Lord Battal give you any message for me?’

‘Lord Battal, is it—’

‘Quickly now.’

‘Patience, little one.’

‘What did he say?’