Even so, sweat broke out on his forehead. He needed information, but if there was fighting, someone would die.

He now addressed both the king and his companion. ‘You have given us a choice between life and death, but if we choose to serve you, we need to know what it is you’re asking.’

Palemon hooked his thumbs in his belt. ‘You’re brave. I’ll give you that.’

He scratched at his cheek and then came to a decision.

‘The sunken city out there, Aleuthea’—he nodded in the direction of the sea—‘was the homeland of my ancestors. When the eldran king Marrix destroyed Aleuthea, we fled to a frozen land, vowing one day to return. Since then, in honor of Palemon the First, who led us to safety, every ruler of my people has been given his name.’ His voice became low. ‘I am the direct descendant of the most powerful king the world has ever known.’

Palemon met Dion’s eyes, daring him to challenge his claim.

But Dion stayed silent. The evidence was in front of him, from the sophisticated armor to these people’s skin color, far too pale for these sunny lands. He now had the answer he’d sought. It remained to be seen what else he could learn before he and Cob were forced to fight their way free.

‘We made it home,’ Palemon continued, ‘but we left most of our people starving in that faraway land, so far north that all the land is ice. We will take your ship no matter what you do, but your crew would be useful to us; you have an opportunity to spare their lives. Now’—he turned back to Cob—‘make your choice.’

‘How many of your people are there?’ Dion asked. ‘Are their numbers low enough to fit on this one ship?’

‘No,’ Palemon said shortly.

‘Then what use is one ship when you need a fleet?’

‘He speaks sense,’ a new voice said.

Dion turned in surprise, seeing a woman approaching from the back of the audience chamber. She had a tall wooden staff in her hand, crowned with a hand-sized hoop of solid gold, but she was far too young to need it for support. More striking still was her appearance. She wore a supple garment the color of the deep sea, like a chiton but far more close-fitting, hugging her slim figure in a way that was almost scandalous. She had glittering blue eyes, straight, raven-black hair, and a face of sculpted beauty, with high cheekbones and lips tinged a bluish shade. Her jewelry reminded him of a priestess of Edra: shining copper bands jangled on her wrists and she wore a fanlike copper necklace at her throat. Strange symbols had been etched into the flat surface of the copper, angular shapes that reminded him of the Ark of Revelation, destroyed by Nikolas the previous year.