‘This here is the Sea of Marmara.’ Demetrios swept his arm to the south. ‘It is small, hardly a day’s voyage one side to the other. That end lies another strait, even narrower than this one, called the Hellespont. The caliph’s armies have crossed there and are marching north towards the far side of the city.’

‘That wine merchant in the tavern last night said they had a strength of a hundred thousand. That must have been an exaggeration, hey?’

Demetrios spat over the side. ‘I hope so, my friend. Truly, I hope so.’

The oarsmen were pulling them through the wide entrance to a harbour on the south side of the promontory. ‘Behold, my friends!’ cried Demetrios. ‘The New Rome.’

The harbour was buzzing with crafts of every shape and size – from two-man skiffs to bulky merchant vessels, butting and buffeting each other in the choppy waters. Stone quays sprang like dragon’s teeth from a causeway that ran along the foot of the huge sea wall.

Their boatman yelled something in a bored voice. ‘Hands in,’ Demetrios told them, ‘unless you want to lose a finger.’

The ferry shouldered its way into one of the quays like a wolf pup trying to get at its mother’s teat. The bows struck the quayside aglance and an oarsman jumped off to secure the bow-rope. A small crowd was already waiting at the top of the steps, presumably the ferryman’s return fares for the pull back to Chalcedon.

‘Time to pay Charon,’ said Demetrios.

‘Who?’ said Lilla.

‘Never mind.’ The Greek held out a calloused hand. ‘A copper coin for each of you. Two for me if I’m going back. That’s if you’re sure. . .’

Lilla wasn’t sure of much just then but she refused to appear timorous. ‘You’ll be more use looking after Fasolt. And the men.’

‘I doubt they’ll listen to me. They are Northmen, after all.’

‘Just keep them out of trouble.’ She opened her leather purse and let him count out five copper coins into his palm.

‘God’s grace go with you, Lady,’ he said. ‘And remember what I told you.’

Gerutha looked pale. Lilla didn’t blame her. The noise alone was intimidating with so many people crowding the causeway. ‘What are the crew going to do while we’re over here?’ Gerutha asked.

‘I wouldn’t worry about them, lass,’ sniffed Einar. ‘They’ve got a town full of foreign tits, a tafl board and a barrel of wine. I imagine they’ll be very happy.’ He reached out his hand. ‘Shall we?’

The gateway was like the entrance to a wasps’ nest, people swarming in and out of the city, and not one paying them the slightest heed. Einar walked ahead, Lilla and Gerutha arm in arm behind, staring in mute astonishment, their senses overwhelmed.