Relas stood, panting. The exchange had been very brief, an eruption over as quickly as it had begun. He kept his fists raised, however, wary of a rush.

The Spartan scrambled up and rested on one knee. He glanced over at Pausanias, very aware of his audience. In a moment of respite, he wiped blood from his nose and lips, frowning at it. His eye was already swelling shut. Still, anger suffused him. As he rose to his feet, he seemed to have grown larger to Xanthippus’ eye.

Relas met him with a flurry of blows. The Athenian took hits on his arms and ducked another, then hooked a cross that caught the Spartan over one ear. The man’s legs wobbled at the blow, so that he staggered. Relas followed up, coming forward, finding the head with his fists over and over again, until the Spartan crashed onto his back and lay in the dust, completely senseless, bloody mouth open.

Relas waited until he was sure the man would not rise again and then turned his back on him and remounted. There was blood on his face and hands, Xanthippus saw. He noticed too that Cimon was trying and failing to hide his delight.

Pausanias merely looked disgusted as he dug in his heels and trotted away. It fell to Xanthippus to ease his mount over towards the others of his small group. He saw Cimon clap Relas on the shoulder.

‘That was … well done, Relas,’ Xanthippus murmured. ‘You surprised me.’

‘He surprised that arrogant whoreson as well,’ Cimon said, too loudly.

One of the Spartans still in earshot half-turned at that and Xanthippus grimaced, wondering if Cimon had been drinking already. Surely he had finished the last of it by then?

‘If you had not been in exile for the last few years,’ Cimon went on, ‘you would know Relas is something of a name.’

‘I have missed much,’ Xanthippus admitted. ‘Should I know you?’ he addressed the last to Relas himself, who seemed embarrassed.

Cimon answered for him.

‘You might if you followed the bouts. He is, after all, the boxing champion of Athens. I never thought I would see him knock a Spartan down! If this damned war is ever over, Relas, you should come back here to challenge at the Olympics. You might have shortened the odds today, but I’d still make a fortune.’