The eunuch turned as a palace guard came to the entrance. He held the curtain aside as the soldier looked within.

‘The king of kings asks for the girl.’ The soldier nodded his head in Chloe’s direction. ‘Come,’ he said. ‘Do not keep him waiting.’

The guard escorted Chloe to Solon’s personal quarters. His color was good and he showed none of his prior weakness, as he stood tall, arms raised as a steward slipped a long shirt of glittering metal rings over his head.

He dropped his arms as she entered and regarded her with his penetrating gaze.

‘Chloe of Phalesia,’ he said, speaking with precise syllables. ‘I have a rebellion in Shadria. The leader of this rebellion, the brother of the late Princess Yasmina, is trying to build an army in the great desert in the south. He has seized gold that was on its way back to Lamara. It was going to be sufficient to complete my pyramid.’ His voice lowered to a soft growl. ‘I need it back.’

‘You must go yourself, king of kings?’ Chloe asked.

‘This I must do. Until my last breath, my commanders will know that I lead.’

‘Then I wish you success.’

He smiled without mirth. ‘I am sure you do. It is to your own best interests, and that of your homeland, that I am successful.’

The rest of his threat hung in the air. If the sun king couldn’t regain his gold, he would need to find some elsewhere. The golden ark in Phalesia, melted, molded, and beaten thinner than the finest silk, would cover hundreds of the pyramid’s stones.

‘I need to know,’ Solon said. ‘Can you make enough of the tea for the journey?’

She saw a chance to get some important information. ‘How long will you be away for, lord?’

‘Either the rebels will flee before we can catch them, or we will destroy them to a man. In either case, I hope to return in two weeks, perhaps three.’

She nodded. ‘I can make you the tea. But you will need to sweeten it yourself with honey and lemon. It will use up most of my stock, and there are few of the tulips I need in the city.’

‘The taste will not concern me.’ He waved a hand, then was pensive for a moment. ‘I am pleased with you, girl. And you have proven yourself trustworthy. While I am gone you may continue to go to the bazaar to find the things you need. I will make sure your bodyguard has silver.’

Chloe bowed.

The sun king dismissed her with a nod and the guard escorted her back to the women’s quarters. As Chloe reflected on Princess Yasmina’s fate she sat on her bed and asked Tomarys to fetch the materials she needed: hot water, silk, and several jugs.