There was definitely a hint of pleasure in the man’s obstinacy, Xanthippus could see it now. Perhaps Themistocles had sent him to Ereius to instruct as well as to learn.

‘Have a look at the other galleys, strategos,’ the captain went on.

He took Xanthippus by the arm and Xanthippus let himself be guided to the bare edge, though the hissing sea rushed by and seemed appallingly close. Not for the first time, Xanthippus wondered if a railing wouldn’t be a fine idea.

‘See how low they are on the waves, strategos,’ Ereius said, ‘how they rise and fall. We can approach the enemy abreast, in a line, or in files if the width of sea is too constricted. That works well to protect our flanks. But when the fighting starts, it becomes chaos, strategos. I’ve seen it.’

The implication was that Xanthippus had not. It was all the more irritating for being true.

‘Just yesterday, Trierarch Ereius,’ he said, ‘I saw a boat summoned with a banner held high on a spear. Such things are possible, if you have the will.’

‘That boat must have been waiting nearby, strategos …’ the man began.

Xanthippus spoke over him, his voice growing hard. He had no time to be gentle, though it lost him the man’s friendship.

‘If you do not have the will, I will relieve you immediately from your post, Ereius. I will call a boat for you and send you to the rear, to wait out the day’s manoeuvres. At sunset, when we return to the port of Piraeus, I will have you dropped on shore to walk into the city, alone. Do you have family there? Then you will explain to them why you were left behind, while the fleet sails against a terrible enemy.’

‘I don’t … Themistocles …’ Ereius tried to begin.

Xanthippus raised his voice another notch and went on.

‘Themistocles appointed me. That is the end of his involvement. Now, if I have no faith in your ability to follow my orders, I have no choice but to return you to Athens in disgrace. I will lose your experience and not look back. Do you understand me?’

The trierarch’s face had lost its jolly expression and become flushed as Xanthippus spoke. The captain nodded sharply, though he was already opening his mouth to continue his objections. Xanthippus raised a finger and watched the man’s mouth close with a snap. Epikleos was staring at nothing, his face blank as he waited in intense discomfort for the clash of wills to end.

Xanthippus smothered his own dismay at the turn the conversation had taken. Regardless of his lack of sea knowledge, he had no time to be liked, nor to persuade a trierarch who honestly thought he was master on his own ship.

‘We serve, Ereius, you and I, at the order of the Assembly,’ he said coldly. ‘An Assembly which is here, all around us, rowing these galleys! I know my people, Ereius. I know they are ingenious. So indulge me, as a hoplite, as a soldier, would you? Without scorn, without ridicule. Is that clear? Or shall I take command?’