Artabazus seemed friendly enough on their previous acquaintance, though Alexander could not tell if his easy talk and laughter were real or Persian politeness. Artabazus had a surprising amount of flesh on him, a little tub of a man. The others were as tall and lean as Mardonius himself, with deep seams in their cheeks and eyes that seemed to be completely black. Both Hydarnes and Masistius cast a cold gaze over the Macedonian king. He did not need to ask if the news from Athens had reached them.

‘Please, Majesty, you are my guest,’ General Mardonius said. ‘Sit with me and eat.’

His words were repeated by the translator, who remained standing by the table. Alexander nodded in gratitude, swallowing his nerves and sitting on a bench that wobbled under him. The floor was some sort of dry matting, covering soft ground. He found he had to tense one leg to keep his seat straight. The others took places across from him, while the translator still stood, looming over the table like an ornament. Alexander blinked at the arrangement. It felt as if they had chosen sides, or sat in judgement.

Servants brought food in a dozen small dishes. Alexander recognised figs and spinach greens, as well as spiced hare and goat. He waited through prayers in a language he did not speak. Those were not rendered into Greek, perhaps out of respect for the sacred, he did not know. For the first time in a year or longer, Alexander wondered if he had given up too much for gold and peace.

No. He had seen the burned houses and broken walls of Athens. That was the price of defying these men. A king’s first duty was to protect his people against the flood, the fire – and the Persian. Alexander kept his head down as the prayer ended. They ate then, mostly in silence. Artabazus clearly said something amusing about the goat that made Mardonius laugh. Neither of the other two cracked a smile. They ate without obvious relish, as if it was just another chore.

When they had mopped their lips and drunk the wine to the dregs, the same servants entered and whisked all signs of the meal away. Even the table was folded and removed, with one soldier waiting patiently until Alexander understood and rose to his feet. The bench he was sitting on was taken from the room. He felt suddenly vulnerable, facing the Persians on his own. Alexander had to remind himself that he was a trusted ally, his life protected by their honour.

‘I am grateful to you, Alexander,’ Mardonius began. ‘I know how … distasteful it must have been to make my offer to ungrateful Athenians. Our friend here has told us how they scorned the peace they might have had,’ Mardonius said.