Golden Age (The Shifting Tides, #1)(12)

Aristocles bit off any retort. All Phalesians were proud of the Assembly of Consuls, and Chloe knew he would be itching to take up the argument, but he was also wise enough to put diplomacy first.

‘What of your king, Solon?’ Nilus asked. ‘Please, tell us about him.’

‘Solon is beloved of the sun god Helios and has taken Ilea into a new age.’ Glancing in from the kitchen doorway, Chloe saw Kargan puff up his broad chest. ‘Our armies are huge; our warriors are the strongest. The sun king takes tribute from Shadria, Sarina, Haria, and the isles of Ibris, Amphi, and Tarlana. In Lamara I can buy the finest goods. Our new biremes expand our influence every year.’

‘We may also be interested in trade,’ Nilus said, looking up to meet Kargan’s eyes.

Kargan shrugged. ‘It remains to be seen if trade is possible. I don’t intend to remain long, only until I’ve made repairs to the Nexotardis.’

‘We will help in any way we can,’ Aristocles said. ‘And we wish you to feel welcome while you are in Phalesia.’

‘As I have said many times, I will pay. I do have one condition, however. Nobody is to set foot on the Nexotardis, nor wander too close. Understood?’

‘That is acceptable,’ Chloe’s father said.

‘Good.’ Kargan frowned at his cup. ‘Is there no better wine in this house?’

‘Chloe,’ Aristocles called. ‘Fetch the Sarsican red.’

Chloe went out to the terrace and descended to the villa’s lower level, quickly finding her father’s best wine in the cellar but missing the conversation until she returned.

‘—offer I would like to make,’ Kargan said as he downed his cup and Chloe refilled it from the new amphora, before moving on to the two consuls. ‘There is a temple,’ he continued, ‘high on the peak above the waterfront. A flame burns on the plateau, shedding light on the columns. In the middle of the summit is a chest of gold.’

‘The Temple of Aldus, yes,’ Aristocles said.

‘I asked one of your people and he said the chest is solid gold. Is that true?’

‘The Ark of Revelation is a sacred relic,’ Nilus said.

‘Hmm,’ Kargan said, his eyes suddenly intent. ‘What is it?’

When Aristocles and Nilus both hesitated, Kargan glanced up at Chloe, meeting her eyes for the first time. ‘Girl?’

Chloe looked at her father, who nodded. ‘My daughter studied at the Temple of Aeris,’ Aristocles said. ‘Chloe, tell our guest about the Ark of Revelation.’

She set down the amphora before speaking and took a deep breath, suddenly made nervous by the foreigner’s stare.

‘This is a story known not only in Phalesia, but in all the Galean nations, from Tanus to Sarsica.’

Chloe faltered when she saw a smile creep up on Kargan’s face, flushed with drink.

‘Lord Kargan . . . ?’ Aristocles asked.

‘It is nothing,’ Kargan said. ‘Merely her accent. It sounds foolish on your men, but from a woman your speech is strangely attractive.’

She glanced at her father, who looked as if he was trying to frame a response, and then back to Kargan. The Ilean waved impatiently for her to continue.

Chloe went on with determination. ‘Long ago, the first men prayed to the god Aldus, asking him to make humans supreme of all creatures.’ Kargan frowned, but thankfully didn’t interrupt. ‘Aldus consulted with the other gods and an agreement was reached. The gods gave us mining, and taught us the use of gold, silver, copper, and iron, elevating us from the beasts.’

She drew another breath before going on.

‘But the gods made their own demands in return, by way of a pact. Led by Aldus, god of justice, they said that in return for their gift of knowledge we had to abide by ten laws, which Aldus wrote on tablets and put inside a golden ark.’

‘What are the laws?’ Kargan raised an eyebrow.

‘Aldus said he would not tell us the laws, but that they were self-evident. Anyone who could live by them of his own accord would be granted entry to paradise on his death.’

Kargan finished his cup of Sarsican wine in a gulp, refilling it himself. He became expansive, gesturing as he spoke. ‘And this is the ark on the cliff? Surely you must have opened it by now.’

‘No,’ Chloe said. ‘The pact states that if the ark is ever opened the wrath of the gods will come down on us all. Those already in the lands of paradise will be ejected, and none will be granted entry again. The knowledge to use metals would be taken away from us, and we would once more become as the beasts.’

‘The nature of the laws is a source of constant debate among our magi,’ Nilus explained.

‘I still think you should just open the ark and find out,’ Kargan said. When his words were greeted by expressions of horror, he laughed. ‘Ah, this wine is better,’ he said. ‘I will tell the sun king about what I see here. You mentioned trade, First Consul. What do you offer?’

‘Copper. Olive oil. Honey. Wool. Ceramics. Timber.’

‘What of iron? What is the quality of your weapons?’

In a sudden movement, stunning them all, Kargan sat upright as he drew his dagger from the scabbard at his waist and laid it on the table. ‘This is our best work. Show me your sword,’ he met Aristocles’ eyes.