‘I did not come to the council to hear Cimon’s spite, unworthy as it is – undeserved as it is. Have the councillors put up the subjects for debate? I am waiting for some word on the new silver from Laurium. Some of the master shipwrights have not been paid in a week. They’ll have to stop soon or starve, without funds.’

Epikleos nodded, though he looked unhappier than ever.

‘The council has sent a delegation to Laurium to examine the works and assess the need for new labourers. I’m told they will report to the Assembly no earlier than a week from today,’ he said. ‘The word is they’ll need to move to ten- or twelve-hour shifts to have a chance of producing enough ore. It all increases the cost – and, of course, the refiners and stampers are after more pay as well.’

‘Which tribe has the spear-point?’ Xanthippus said.

‘Leontis is on for twelve more days – after that, our own dear Acamantis.’

‘Another week to wait for the report, though! Why so long, if the problems are already clear to all?’ Xanthippus rubbed his face with an open hand, over skin that looked red and rough. ‘They’ve had months to organise shifts and construct new furnaces. This is … lazy, or the foremen are incompetent. Perhaps some idiot sons have been appointed where they should not have been.’

Once again he rubbed his jaw, scratching a strip with a fingernail.

‘Themistocles commands Leontis, in all they do,’ he said. ‘Though he hides it. Why would he delay? Should I raise it with him?’

‘Not if he is the one behind the delay,’ Epikleos said. He could not help checking around to be sure they were not overheard.

‘That can’t be true,’ Xanthippus snorted. ‘If anything, he would bring forward the date of that report, or be urging them to spend more on workers. Themistocles was the one who wanted that silver for ships in the first place!’

‘Perhaps. Yet he has not. He has been quiet over this. I think that will continue – unless there is some advantage for him.’ Epikleos sighed, wearily. ‘He is said to be close with Cimon after the way he spoke at the funeral. Cimon is spending silver like a Persian, I know that much.’ They exchanged a glance at that, though it would not be said aloud. ‘The council are just men, Xan. Just volunteers. They can be flattered and invited to dinners, given good seats in the theatre, made to feel important, who knows? Perhaps Themistocles seeks influence just to squeeze a better rate of pay for the miners and forge-men, with part of it paid back to the one who arranged it. All legal, as fees for the broker. A delayed report would benefit him then, as the silver dries up and people starve and riots begin in the Agora. Such things go on all the time.’

Xanthippus stared at his friend, unnerved by the possibility.

‘The shipwrights are claiming double pay at the port,’ he said.