‘We have heard from the Persians; we have heard too from the Spartans. Show courtesy, gentlemen! Show dignity, as it is taken and earned, not granted to us. Never granted! I have stood in this place, with the scent of new wood all around me, where there were ashes – and I have been lectured by a Spartan king, come to tell me my honour!’

Themistocles felt his mouth open. There was silence in that room, without even the tiny movements of men sitting on stone for too long. They had frozen in astonishment to hear Aristides abandon his usual style.

‘I know Athenians,’ Aristides said, his voice suddenly softer, though more chilling. ‘As I know all Hellenes. I know we will not betray our brothers and sisters. The idea is … obscene. I do not speak for all those here tonight. I speak with one voice, alone, yet heard. That is our way, our law, our tradition. With that one voice, I say this: I trust in Athens, in our genius, in the labour of our arms, in our ships and the wombs of our women. I trust in our gods: in Athena, in Apollo, in Ares and Poseidon. I may be one voice, but perhaps I speak for more than one when I answer Macedon, when I say, “What happened to you to be so reduced, to come here as a messenger for Persians?” My answer is that we will stand against you, to the last man, to the last woman and child. We will never be your slaves. Never. Tell that to your master, O king.’

A cheer began, but Aristides raised a great shout over it. In all the years, he had never bellowed in a political meeting. Yet Themistocles remembered the man’s roar from the field of Marathon. The association caused a cold chill to run down his back.

‘And to Sparta, with my lone voice, I say this!’ Aristides called over them.

The noise dropped away again as they grinned, their eyes bright in the golden lamplight.

‘I say this …’ he repeated, controlling the exultation that had risen in him. This was what Themistocles loved, he realised. He only told them what they wanted to hear, but it felt … glorious.

‘I say this. You see our response. You know how we will answer the Persians. We have refused Persian gold. It is not so hard to refuse yours. Put your fears away, regent of Sparta. Though we have given more than anyone, we have yet more to give. We will stand. The question is only whether you will be at our side, or safe behind your wall.’