They left the frantic activity behind, looking for a place where the grass was soft and they could watch the harbor and the sea. Dion felt uncomfortable around Isobel, but she seemed far from uncomfortable around him. She held out a hand, and when he clasped it she began to settle herself, arranging the soft folds of her garment in her lap. When Dion sat down, she rearranged herself so that she sat close to him, their thighs touching.

‘If my father wins the election, he will be first consul of Phalesia,’ she said.

‘I hear he’s almost certain to win.’

Her face lit up. ‘I hope he does. I’d like to know all the work has been worthwhile. My mother died when I was born, which means I’m hosting so many banquets that I’ve put on weight.’

Glancing at the slender young woman, Dion raised an eyebrow.

‘Tell me about yourself,’ Isobel said.

‘You probably know all about me already.’

She frowned. ‘I know some things, but I’m old enough to know that what I know is far from everything. Your mother was an eldran.’

‘Yes, she was.’ Dion waited.

‘And you have their abilities.’

‘Some of them. It’s something I still struggle with.’

‘Your family was killed when the Ileans seized Xanthos, all except your brother.’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Isobel said, meeting his eyes. ‘I can’t imagine what that must have felt like. And then to have your brother finally make peace with Ilea, only to lose his life at the end. You have no one.’

‘Not true,’ he said. ‘I have my uncle. I have my friends, Cob, Finn, and Roxana.’

‘Do you have friends among your mother’s people?’

‘Among the eldren? I do . . . I did. We haven’t spoken in a long time. I’m sure you know about the Blackwell Mines.’

‘The eldren captured them from Tanus and won’t give them back.’

Dion nodded, and then there was silence as they watched the work at the shipyards.

‘People say you were in love with Chloe, daughter of Aristocles,’ Isobel said, looking up at him a little fearfully, waiting to see what his reaction would be. ‘I spoke to her once. I always thought she was beautiful. I was a little frightened of her, to tell you the truth.’

Dion looked away from the shipyards and out to sea. ‘I was. We went through a lot together.’

‘You went all the way to Lamara to rescue her.’

He smiled. ‘I did. But I didn’t even know her then. It was on the way home that I learned how strong she was. We survived Cinder Fen together and faced the Ileans at the battle of Phalesia. But then . . .’

‘Then your brother banished you to the Wilds, and married her himself. You must have hated him.’