‘The Old Lion was keen that we assist him and win his victory for him.’ Silence. ‘But I declined! He was ready to pay us a part of the Mathuran spoils. I told him, ‘Fuck off! We will take the spoils for ourselves!’ A rousing cheer. ‘We have defeated the Mathurans, whom the armies of the Emperor could not touch. The Three Sisters, they boasted. Where, I ask?’ Widespread laughter. ‘But the battle isn’t over, my friends. So, to your units. That girl said Krishna was here, inside. Find me Krishna! Find me where the rest of the goddamn Mathurans are hiding! Whoever finds one will get the choicest of women from my harem!’

Weapons and shields, plated arms and gauntleted fists shook in the air. Kalyavan! Kalyavan! Most of the men marched out hastily, eager to get first hand on the loot. Krishna heard the sound of their retreating boots.

‘Archon, why did you let them go?’ a voice asked. ‘You saw the traces of the hole beneath that podium. There is a passageway right under us. The Mathurans are no doubt hiding here. We should storm in with strength.’

‘Don’t be foolish, Matarchis. Wave the torch over the floor and look at the boot impressions. Only one person seems to have walked across this space tonight. And I would wager my sword that it was Krishna. Scampering alone into a secret crypt...it has to be the vault where he has hidden the Syamantaka Jewel. Do you think these mercenaries would have remained loyal once they set their eyes on a wish-granting stone? You are the five men I trust with my life. Now, you two,’ Krishna heard him command, ‘stay here to guard our retreat. We do not want any surprises. The rest, down under we go. Carry swords as well as crowbars and pins.’

‘What about the girl?’ a voice asked.

‘She looks half-dead anyway,’ the one who was called Matarchis spoke.

‘No, we will take her down. If Krishna is up to any tricks, we will remind him that we can play dirty as well.’

Hostage…Krishna thought. It didn’t matter. After a hundred heartbeats, he saw four soldiers climb down the stairs, the two in front holding a girl between them. One held a lantern. Then he saw Kalyavan, the man he had been looking for, step down with a torch in one hand, his sword in the other. He wore an olive wreath around his head.

The Greeks searched the room to which the stairs led, cautiously, stopping short upon seeing the sarcophagus. ‘What in the…!’