‘The island of Cythnos has but one trireme to pledge,’ the man said. ‘But our entire navy stands with you.’

There was laughter at that, though it died away as one of the Spartans stood.

‘I am Eurybiades, of the Spartan fleet. We have only sixteen galleys to patrol our coasts. It is all we need. Our rowers are helots, but each ship carries forty Spartiate warriors. If there is to be fighting at sea, we will play a part.’

Themistocles nodded. He expected the Spartan to take his seat once more. When Eurybiades did not, Themistocles had to pause in the act of acknowledging one of the Arcadian officers.

‘I can pledge our sixteen,’ Eurybiades went on, ‘but I cannot give up its command, nor accept the command of others in war. That is our code, gentlemen. If I went back to tell the ephors and kings of Sparta that I had given our fleet to the orders of Themistocles of Athens, I would be given a knife and a quiet room to make my ending.’

Themistocles hesitated, thinking fast. He missed Aristides then! That man could spin an argument from spiderweb and Themistocles was coming up short.

‘Our ships …’ Themistocles began, ‘have trained in manoeuvres you will not have seen, could not attempt with just sixteen. We have tactics and formations, commands you will not have heard … a thousand things.’

To his dismay, Eurybiades sat down. With anyone else, Themistocles would have counted the point won. With the Spartan, he had the suspicion that the man had laid out his offer and saw no reason to discuss it further. Themistocles might have gone on speaking for an hour and made no impression at all. He wondered if Aristides could have done any better.

Themistocles bit his lip. He was on his own in the room, with vital decisions that would affect the lives of every man there. It was also true that whatever he agreed with the Spartans could be revoked when they were at sea, or when battle was joined. He closed his eyes for a long blink, knowing this was exactly the sort of Athenian low cunning that the Spartans detested. Too many beats of time had passed already, with fresh conversations breaking out.

‘Athens accepts your offer to lead the fleet, Eurybiades. We are grateful. Are there any dissenting voices? Good.’

The Spartan dipped his head in acknowledgement, though there was no triumph in it. It was truly as if Eurybiades knew there was no alternative.

Themistocles took a deep breath, settling his nerves. He dabbed at his forehead, where sweat shone.

‘The second reason victory will be hard is the numbers here tonight. Where are our brothers this evening? I sent delegates all over Greece, west and east and north, right to Macedonia. You answered, but the influence of Persia spreads further every season. I know some will have been bought off by coins and promises, made slaves by gold archers.’

‘None of that matters,’ Cleombrotus said.