‘Really?’ she grunted. ‘I thought perhaps you’d seen our prey but hadn’t found the right moment to tell me.’

Dion smiled. ‘She’s a beautiful ship.’

‘Got any more questions? The others only want to talk about the women they’ll buy with their bonus.’

‘They give the bonus to the entire crew?’

‘No,’ Roxana snorted. ‘Only to the man who makes the kill. They all think it’s going to be them.’

‘What if it’s the Anoraxis that makes the kill? That ram looks sharp.’

‘So it is. And you’re right; more often than not that’s how we do it with serpents. I get the bonus in that case, and I get to decide how it’s shared out. If’—she gave him an evil grin—‘I decide to share it at all.’

‘I do have one question,’ Dion said.

‘What now? You still want to know if it could take less than a year to build a bireme? I told you: it’s possible, but it would take more than just manpower and gold. There’s one final ingredient.’ She tapped the side of her head. ‘Knowledge.’

‘That brings me to my question,’ he said. ‘How did you get to be both shipbuilder and sailor?’

‘Captain, you mean,’ she growled, but there was no menace in it. She peered ahead as she spoke. ‘I was a slave, apprenticed to one of the shipwrights. I learned things quickly. But why build ships and never sail them? The other captains talk about me. Say I’m too informal with my men. But as long as I have my own ship to command I’ll do as I please, and I’m too valued to punish.’

‘Are you wealthy?’ Dion asked, unable to hide his curiosity. ‘A shipbuilder must be prized.’

Roxana chuckled. ‘I’m still a slave. I share a house with seven others.’

‘Why are you here, then? Has Lamara always been your home?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘I’m originally from Efu, in Haria. I sailed in the king of Haria’s navy before Solon’s conquest. Now I’m here, making and sailing ships for the sun king.’

‘Why fight for Solon?’

She fixed him with a puzzled look. ‘Besides Solon, who would have the resources to build ships? One day, I might even have the opportunity to build my dream.’

Dion thought he saw a spray of water in the distance, but decided it was just two waves colliding.

She glared at him. ‘Aren’t you going to ask me about it?’

Dion laughed. ‘Please, I want to hear.’