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Back Golden Age Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  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. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  70. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dion immediately knew he was looking at Chloe, daughter of Aristocles, the first consul of Phalesia.

Taking the right fork at the top of the boulevard, he continued to follow.

The next street was short and opened out onto the wide road that skirted the wall of the sun king’s palace. The warrior kept close to Chloe as they walked; without a doubt he was there to guard her and ensure she didn’t escape. Dion knew that if the man turned around he would see him, and his suspicions had already been raised.

‘Who are they, master?’

‘Hush,’ Dion said, waving his hand behind him. ‘Stay quiet.’

Dion ran plan after plan through his head but discarded each in turn. Chloe and her escort were a hundred paces ahead and would soon be at the palace gates. He had his bow, but it was an impossible shot. Even a well-placed arrow might not finish off Chloe’s grim-looking warden.

He finally hung back as the pair approached the gates to the palace, putting his back to the wall as they passed the guards and entered.

Chloe looked well and unharmed, but she was under guard. She was now gone from him.

‘What is it, master? Do you know her?’

Dion thought furiously. He couldn’t be in several places at once. Until he had a plan, he couldn’t jeopardize his position with Roxana.

‘Anoush.’ He crouched, looking the boy in the eyes. ‘I have a task for you. I want you to watch the palace. Be careful not to be seen, but get to know everyone who goes in and out of those gates. Can you do that?’

Anoush nodded vigorously. ‘Of course.’

‘If you see that woman again, give her a message. Tell her that the curious sailor is at the House of Algar.’

He made Anoush repeat the phrase and nodded. ‘Good. And follow her. I want to know where she goes.’

‘Yes, master.’

Dion handed Anoush one of the silver coins he’d been given by the paymaster. ‘Are you sure you can do this? Do you need more money?’

‘It is too much,’ Anoush said. ‘Thank you, thank you. I will begin watching right away.’

As the boy scampered away, Dion pondered as he returned to the nearby guesthouse. Algar asked him for more money after his absence, taking most of what he had. He wondered if he should get cheaper lodgings, but his instinct was to stay close to the palace.

He had found the first consul’s daughter, and she was apparently allowed into the city. Anoush would keep watch for him. Dion now wondered how he would deal with Chloe’s guard . . .

33

33

Chloe sat on her bed pallet, grinding one of the flower pods, her eyes unfocused as she thought about something else altogether.

She shivered as she relived the fight in the tight alleyway. She remembered her terror and helplessness; she’d been completely incapable of defending herself.