Xerxes raised a hand to halt the herald. The king looked out over the strait, wondering if Themistocles was even at that moment watching from one of the ships darting back and forth like stinging insects. He saw too the hulls and oars bobbing on deeper waters beyond, waiting in fresh ranks like reserves. Xerxes understood why a Greek might feel despair at such a sight. Barely a third of his warships had entered the strait. Twice as many remained outside, unmarked, unwearied, a host of swords. With the king’s pavilion visible on the shore, Xerxes knew those captains would put themselves in mortal danger to be seen fighting for him. Careers and families were made while the king watched. Even as he had the thought, two of his crews barely avoided crashing into one another, oars sweeping them past at exhausting pace.

‘Is there more? Go on,’ Xerxes said to the herald, waving his hand.

‘There are a few lines left, Majesty … “The land across from you, that borders the strait, is a small island named Salamis. If you send half your fleet around it, they can enter the strait at the far end. Faced with your ships on both sides, I would be able to surrender in dignity. I ask for your mercy then. I pray for it and that you and I will meet again, in honour.” It is signed “Themistocles”, Majesty.’

The herald turned the sheet of papyrus over, looking for any other word or secret symbol. There was none.

‘Summon General Mardonius. And fetch a few of my Greek allies to my side. I would have them confirm this Salamis is an island. Someone must know the truth of it.’

One of his guards darted away to carry the king’s command. The herald waited for new orders, his head bowed. The ship’s boy had given up his resistance and scratched his fingers in the sand, making patterns there.

Xerxes smiled to see that. He had been as young once. Of course, his father would have had him beaten for such a lapse in concentration. Instead, Xerxes had the guard take the lad off to the nearest camp kitchen to be fed. The letter had filled the king with a sense of benign pleasure. His father had understood the Greeks after all! Their leaders could indeed be broken to harness. Gold, and the possibility of mercy, was worth an army.

It was past noon by the time Mardonius appeared, red-faced from running hard and fast. The Thebans with him had all been disarmed, Xerxes noted. His guards were not fool enough to let even trusted allies into his presence with swords and spears.