‘If you take the ships of Sparta and Corinth with you,’ Themistocles said, ‘it will not be with those of Athens. Not on those terms. Every day we win here is one more the Persians are delayed in whatever plans they have made. That is beyond dispute. I must refuse your order, navarch. I believe you are in error. So – the ships of Athens will remain to block the Persian fleet. We’ll last as long as your King Leonidas, at least.’

‘And those of Corinth,’ another voice sounded.

All eyes turned to the Corinthian. The man only shrugged when Eurybiades glared at him.

‘My captains saw no action today,’ the Corinthian said. ‘I won’t go home until we have taken the measure of these Persian crews. Put us in the vanguard tomorrow and set us free to attack. We’ll send these bastards to the deep.’

There was a growl from the other captains and Eurybiades matched it in frustration, silencing them.

‘Either I am in command of this fleet or am I not. Which is it, Athenian?’

Themistocles said nothing and only waited until the Spartan was certain no one else would speak in that room. Eurybiades gathered himself in cold dignity then, his anger vanishing as he twitched his red cloak into place, ready to rise.

‘You command then, tomorrow,’ he said. ‘As you seem to have done today. In time of war, I will make no threats, Athenian. But if we survive this, you and I will find a quiet place and I will make my objections clear to you.’

‘Very well,’ Themistocles said.

He rose as the Spartan stood, out of respect and also in case the man lunged at him. The Spartan’s anger could be read in every quivering line, for all his self-control. Eurybiades left the cabin and the tension seeped away as all eyes turned to Themistocles.

‘Eurybiades is a good man … though I think his judgement has been shaken, perhaps by worry for his king. We cannot aid Leonidas by pulling back, only by completing his task. While he holds the pass, we remain. We will give the army time to form.’

He shook himself, as if moved. Xanthippus could see the effort it took for Themistocles to smile and adopt a more reasonable tone.

‘Now, someone whistle up my boat, would you? Look to me for signals tomorrow. We have them bottled up. Win another day. Check your water and make sure the men eat. And get some sleep if you can,’ he said to the captains. ‘We’ll take the fight to them tomorrow. Corinth – you have first rank. Be sure – Sparta and Athens will be watching.’

They trooped out past Spartan soldiers on deck watch. Xanthippus saw Themistocles lean in to Cimon and paused with the pair of them, waiting for the boats.

‘Do you know, Cimon,’ Themistocles said, ‘why good men are thirty years of age before they can be an epistates or a magistrate, or hold any of the council posts?’