‘Of course you were. And I intercepted your note to him. Well, he picks up my mail when I’m away Unfortunately Xavu is out of town, and has been gone for months. Too long.’

Pyxeas frowned. ‘Is he in trouble?’

‘Possibly. Or exploring some new opportunity. These are turbulent times, my friend; things change constantly, and communications are terrible. Either way, he’s not here. And besides he couldn’t have helped you – not old Xavu.’

Rina snorted. ‘You’re sure of that, are you?’

Uzzia smiled at her. ‘You want to get all the way to Daidu, don’t you? The writ of the Khans isn’t as strong as it used to be, what with the drought and the bandits. It would have been too much for dear old Xavu. But you’re in luck.’

Rina’s eyes narrowed. ‘In Xavu’s place – you? Is that what you’re offering?’

‘I’ve made many journeys east. I’ve even been as far as Daidu, once. Yes, I believe I could get you there, even in these troubled times.’

‘For a price!’

‘That goes without saying.’

‘You are a woman,’ Rina said coldly.

Pyxeas stiffened. ‘Many of our great Northlanders were women, niece. From the great Ana onwards.’

Uzzia smiled. ‘I’m stronger than some men, and smarter than most of them. The secret of my success. Trust me.’

And, looking at her, Avatak realised he did trust her, completely, after just this brief meeting. He really believed she could do what she claimed.

Pyxeas leaned forward. ‘But why, madam? Why would you do this? There must be easier ways to make a profit. Why would a Hatti wish to guide two Northlanders to Daidu?’

She seemed impressed by the fact that he’d asked the question. ‘You go beyond haggling over fees to ask me why. I hope you’ll do me the courtesy of letting me ask you the same.’

He nodded curtly.

‘I do this because I sense opportunity here. In you. I want to achieve more with my life than scraping a bit of petty profit in a place like Hantilios. I am Hatti, yes, but more than that. I am of the royal line.’

Rina snorted laughter. ‘Everybody in New Hattusa says they’re of the royal line.’

‘Perhaps they are,’ Uzzia said evenly. ‘Our dynasty, my family, is thousands of years old, the only dynasty ever to have ruled the Hatti empire. After so long, yes, perhaps every Hatti save the slaves has royal blood. But in my case, the divergence from the root stock is only a few generations back. My grandmother was Tawananna, which is a word that means senior queen. She was pushed aside by enemies at court. We remember, my family.’

‘And you would have your place back,’ Rina said, sneering.

Uzzia kept her gaze on Pyxeas. ‘You say you are a man of learning. I have read history, and I have learned the story of a previous Tawananna, called Kilushepa, who more than two thousand years ago was pivotal in a stratagem that saved the Hatti, and indeed Northland.’