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Back Copper Chain Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pulling him along behind her, she sprinted toward the galley, waving and shouting. Half a dozen oarsmen were at the ready and the vessel was filled with barrels, sacks, and crates. The stern-faced captain glared at them.

‘Get in!’ he bellowed, pointing at the interior of his ship. ‘Quickly now or we’ll miss the tide. Another moment longer and you were going to have to find another way to Xanthos, deal or no deal.’

Chloe and Amos tumbled into the galley up near the bow, and a moment later the crew pushed off and oars thrust out from the sides. Chloe found a place to sit and cleared space for Amos. She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the wind fresh in her face as the rowers maneuvered the vessel toward the harbor mouth. Turning to Amos, she saw that he’d turned green. Waves lifted them up and down. He met her eyes and swallowed.

‘Amos. Are we going to Xanthos?’ Chloe asked.

‘We have to,’ Amos said, giving a hiccup. ‘Ships from Myana to Phalesia always stop in Xanthos.’

Chloe put out a hand. ‘Give me your knife.’ He looked worried as he handed it over, but she tested the edge, nodded, and handed it straight back to him. ‘Something to take your mind off things. Shave your beard.’

‘But the boat—’

‘—is moving, I know. You’re a warrior. Warriors should have a steady hand. It will take us several days to get to Xanthos. By the time we get there, you’re going to be the Amos I know and love. Understood?’

He nodded slowly, his face turning even greener as he leaned out over the gunwale and dipped the knife in the water before starting to scrape the blade against his face.

19

19

Dion inhaled; the soft breeze was fresh and fragrant, carrying scents of thyme and lavender. He and Glaukos were climbing marble steps, passing manicured gardens and side paths leading to sumptuous villas. High overhead a perfectly blue sky promised fair weather, while the rays of the golden sun warmed the bare skin of his arms. Phalesia was always beautiful in the spring.

The steward climbing ahead of them, wearing a navy-blue tunic embroidered with gold, turned and smiled. ‘We’re nearly there. Not much farther, King, Lord.’

A pair of soldiers brought up the rear, also wearing navy and yellow: nephews of Lord Philippos, if Dion remembered correctly. Despite their youth, the two men looked at ease with their weapons.

‘He didn’t mention what the urgency was?’ Dion murmured to his uncle.

‘Philippos is a canny man. He wouldn’t ask you to come all the way to Phalesia and visit his home if he didn’t have something of importance to discuss.’

‘If it’s about this election . . .’ Dion knew he had a thousand matters to attend to at home. ‘I have no desire to get caught up in Phalesian politics.’