‘Who will speak?’ the epistates bellowed over the heads of the assembled men.

There was a ripple of conversation, more serious than on some days. Any one of them could reply, if he found supporters in the crowd. Of course, if a brawl began, or a speaker offended the gods, the Scythian archers stood by to bear him off.

Xanthippus shook his head.

‘There has to be a middle ground between tyrants and this – a new leader every day of the year.’

‘“Every man can rule in Athens, at least for a day,”’ Epikleos said softly. ‘And of course the council of the Areopagus has power. The archons understand the people better than they do themselves.’

‘Perhaps,’ Xanthippus replied. ‘There are some who would deny them a voice, as if no man’s opinion is worth more than any other! If we ever go so far, Epikleos … Even now, listen to them!’ He paused as arguments erupted and swelled across the Pnyx. Xanthippus shook his head. ‘This is … messy.’

His friend sighed.

‘There is nothing like this in the world, Xan. It may be messy, but it is wonderful.’

Xanthippus looked at him in surprise.

‘You really have changed your mind? When, after Marathon?’

‘Not then! Where were these when we marched out? Not half the voting males know one end of a spear from another. No, if I were harder than I am, I would say either fight for your city or be ruled by those who did! No, I was discussing the tyrannies with Aristides …’

Xanthippus tapped him on the arm. Themistocles had answered the call, climbing to the speaker’s stone so that he would be heard. Raised above the crowd, with the Acropolis on his right hand to inspire him, his words would carry to everyone there. The epistates looked formally for supporters, concerned with his duties. Voices called out, hands held high to second Themistocles in his right to speak. His opponents raised no objection, seemingly content to let him begin. The sacrifices had all been made, the prayers to Athena and Apollo given. The leader for the day took his seat as Themistocles cleared his throat and opened the meeting.

‘My friends, my brothers, Athenians. Every one of you will have heard the miners at Laurium have found a new seam – a thread of silver and lead ore as rich as anything we’ve seen before.’ A ripple of astonishment went around the Assembly and Themistocles laughed out loud. ‘Will you pretend to be surprised? Athenians, I know what you know. There are, what, ten thousand men working that mine? More? This was never news that could be kept secret, not from the first moments. The whispers have gone round and the wealth belongs to us all. We of Athens are richer today than we have been before.’

They cheered him, or perhaps the idea. More, they went along with his assessment that they had all known the news. Xanthippus thought there would surely have been some who had not heard. Yet they would laugh along with the rest, delighted to be included. In that way, with just a few words, Themistocles made them all one. Epikleos grinned back at Xanthippus for his saturnine expression.