Aristomache raised a hand to cut him off. Father had not missed a note. He raised an eyebrow, and she nodded to him to continue. He played the upside-down lyre, left-handed, through all the complexities of the song, flawlessly, just as if it were the natural way. This time there was perfect silence as the last note died away.

“It’s not against the rules of a musical competition to make things more difficult for yourself,” Aristomache said, answering Kebes.

“Nobody expects you to do as well,” Father said, smoothly. “Your instrument isn’t made for it.”

But Kebes for the first time looked uncertain. He guessed that if he played as he had before, the judges would find for Father, who had done something more difficult. He frowned hard and turned the syrinx over. Of course he shouldn’t have tried. It wasn’t meant to be played that way, and he hadn’t practiced, which Father certainly must have. Kebes blew, but what came out wasn’t the same rippling hypnotic music as before but a discordant babble. The crowd laughed, with an uncomfortable edge. Kebes righted his instrument and played as he had the first time. But he didn’t have the same confidence, and without the energy of the crowd the Myxolydian music felt hollow.

There was no doubt what the judges were going to decide. They didn’t take long in their deliberations this time. Aristomache stood. “We have a majority,” she said. “We will each give our votes. I vote for Pytheas.”

“Pytheas,” Erinna said.

“Pytheas,” Ficino echoed.

“Matthias,” Klymene said, staring straight in front of her and not meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Pytheas,” Neleus said, very firmly.

“Pytheas,” Nikias said, in the same tone.

“Matthias,” Sabina said.

“Pytheas,” said Alexandra.

“Matthias,” concluded Erektheus.

“That’s six for Pytheas and three for Matthias, so Pytheas has won. But I beg you Pytheas, be merciful.”

And as she spoke that word, Kebes shouted “Fix!” He grabbed a sharp knife from the collection on the ground and rushed at Father. But I hardly noticed, because throughout the crowd people were drawing weapons and attacking those of us from the Excellence. It was what Erinna and Maecenas had predicted. The whole colosseum erupted into chaos.

21. Arete

21

ARETE

The shape of the colosseum, the steps where people were sitting and the clear aisles for moving about, were on our side. The preparation and the weapons were all on the other side. Kebes’s people had been ready and planning angles of attack, picking out victims in advance. It all seemed to happen in a split second.