Aristocles nodded. ‘Further than Athos. Ilea is on the Salesian continent. I know little of their king, Solon, but word is that in the past years he has swallowed his neighbors into his empire. He is a powerful ruler.’

‘This man, Kargan,’ Chloe said. ‘Is he powerful also?’

‘That remains to be seen,’ Aristocles said. ‘We must ask many questions and answer few.’

Hermon, one of the servants, a stooped old man who had tutored Chloe in childhood, came and bowed to Aristocles. ‘Consul Nilus is here, Lord.’

‘Show him in,’ Aristocles said.

Moments later Chloe heard her father in the reception as he spoke with his plump colleague. ‘Nilus, how good of you to come.’

‘Is he here?’

‘No, not yet.’

‘Any idea how many companions he will bring?’

‘My message specified no more than two.’

‘Tell me, Aristocles, what is our strategy?’

Sophia called out from the kitchen. ‘Ask many questions and answer few.’

Chloe frowned at her younger sister, but Nilus laughed. ‘An excellent idea,’ he said, coming to the door of the kitchen. A plump man with curly black hair and a round face that was often red when he spoke, he was one of her father’s rivals, but also a colleague and confidant who occasionally came to the villa to work with Aristocles late into the night.

Seeing Chloe, Nilus scratched at his cheek before speaking. ‘Ah . . . Aristocles. Your daughter—’

‘I will be a gracious host,’ Chloe said. Her lips thinned. ‘It was only when they started blaming the eldren that I had to say something.’

‘You can’t let them hurt Zachary,’ Sophia said.

‘Yes, well, it is a delicate issue,’ Nilus said.

‘I’m making one of mother’s dishes,’ said Chloe, changing the subject. ‘Spiced meal cakes with pork sausages.’

‘Excellent,’ Nilus said. ‘I do miss her cooking. The gods only know why fever strikes some and not others. She was a good woman, of that there could never be doubt.’

Chloe smiled sadly. ‘Why don’t you have father pour you some wine?’

‘Excellent . . . Excellent.’ Nilus looked around. ‘Where is your father?’

‘Nilus, come, our guest is here,’ Aristocles called out from the reception.

Chloe and Sophia exchanged glances while they worked. Busy with the preparation of the food, Chloe listened to the conversation in the next room as she mixed the coarse flour she’d been grinding with salt and dried oregano.

‘Lord Kargan, you have brought no companions?’ Nilus was asking.

‘There are none on the Nexotardis with my status,’ Kargan’s gravelly voice replied.

‘Please, take a seat,’ Chloe’s father said. ‘Let me pour you wine.’

‘Where are your servants?’

‘I have sent them away for the night. My daughters will be preparing the food and serving.’

‘It is a great honor,’ Nilus said.

‘Your women are allowed to share the same quarters as your men? You have them serve your food?’