“We know so much about the future, and so little about this time where we’re living,” I said. Ficino grinned at me.

“We want to find Kebes,” Phaedrus said.

“Kebes is probably the least interesting thing in the whole Aegean,” Ficino said. “Though no, it would be interesting to know what kind of city the Goodness Group have come up with, to compare it with the others.”

“Kebes couldn’t found a city without other people out there hearing rumors of it,” I said.

“We have,” Maia said.

“Well, but we’re on an island, and we had divine help,” Father said.

“Kebes may be on an island,” Phaedrus said.

Father leaned forward. “He probably is. But he doesn’t have enough people or enough resources to stay on an island and entirely out of contact. He must have been trading or raiding, and if he has, we’ll hear about him.”

“Also, we don’t know whether or not there are rumors out there about us. If we’re supposed to inspire the legend of Atlantis, there probably are,” Aeschines said.

“I don’t think Kebes was responsible for the raid,” Maia said. “He’s never been involved in art raids before, or contacted us at all. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Father looked stubborn. “Everyone else has denied it.”

“They’ve lied before. Psyche have lied. They just can’t be trusted,” Maia insisted. “It probably was them. Or the Amazons.”

Father hesitated for a moment. “How could we find out? Send spies?”

“Perhaps,” Maia said. “But it will be sure to come out sooner or later. Whoever has the head will be sure to display it, eventually, and then we’ll hear.”

“And go to war,” Phaedrus said, fiercely, slapping the table and making the cups and plates bounce.

“Unless it is Kebes,” Father said. “Then we’d never hear and there would be no vengeance and … nothing. I want a voyage of exploration so we have more information.”

“More information would be a good thing, certainly,” Aeschines said. “I’ll suggest it to the committee.”

Ficino raised his cup. “It’s my birthday. I’m ninety-nine years old. It seems the perfect time to set out on a voyage. To exploration!”

We all drank.

6. Arete

6

ARETE

I wasn’t in the Chamber for the debate, or in the Assembly for the vote, but I was in Thessaly for the family fight.