The man he was directed to see was surrounded by a dozen Persian scribes, all scribbling records and permissions, or taking money and handing back some system of chits and tokens. Large men stood with swords and spears ready to protect the wealth as it flowed in. Themistocles had not seen so much silver in one place since before the war, and he looked around in interest. An enterprising man could surely find something to buy and sell in such a place, he thought, unless the Persians took too great a part. It confirmed for him that the port and the city were no longer Greek, for all he heard the words of his people shouted all around. That was a sad thought, after all they had done to remain free.

He was stopped by a hand on his chest as he approached the port master.

‘What do you want?’ a stranger snapped at him.

He had to raise his voice to a shout to be heard.

‘I have personal business with the port master. Jaavan, is it? He will want to hear me.’

The stranger gave him a long look, then shrugged.

‘Wait here,’ he said.

Themistocles watched as the man went to Jaavan on his behalf, whispering into his ear. Persian authority seemed to depend on rings of men around the centre, he realised. He wondered how many more he would have to cross as a supplicant. The thought was unpleasant, but he had come to this place of his own free will and he could not complain or go back, not then.

He saw the port master craning to peer at him, then call him over. Themistocles took a deep breath as he went forward. The guards almost growled as he came close to their master, making clear there would be consequences for any rash act. In the meantime, the bustle and noise of the traders went on at undiminished volume.

‘Thank you for seeing me,’ Themistocles said. ‘Do you speak Greek?’

‘I do,’ Jaavan replied with a thick accent. ‘What is your business?’

‘Oh, I am not a trader,’ Themistocles began. He felt a hand grip his shoulder then as one of the guards began to draw him away. He spoke faster, even as the port master turned back to his previous concerns. ‘I am an archon of Athens! I am Themistocles, who commanded ships at Salamis.’