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‘Again, I really do suggest picking one of the men, Empress,’ said Hieronymus. ‘The prince’s guard has a reputation for—’

‘I said Gia,’ Claudia interrupted.

She met Gia’s eye with a small, affirmative nod.

Hieronymus’s lips tightened.

‘Every entrance is accounted for,’ said Damocles. ‘Every soldier has been vetted and approved by me personally. We have done everything we can to ensure your safety, but you aren’t to go anywhere alone with him.’

‘You think he’s dangerous?’ Claudia asked.

‘All men can be dangerous, Empress,’ said Damocles. ‘Especially in private.’

‘Let us assume he’s not foolish enough to violate a woman with her own army on standby,’ Claudia said. ‘He may still be dangerous of mind, though – dangerous in his ambitions. Tell me everything you know about Prince Darius, Damocles. In truth, I don’t know much about him at all, despite the fact that we are technically engaged to be married.’

‘We’re told he can speak Latin,’ said Damocles. ‘He is educated and said to have mastered many traditional arts. He’s a soldier, and, if the streets are to be believed, one of the finest fighters in Persepolis.’

‘What of his personality?’

‘Mixed accounts. Some say he is charming and kind, others say he is a rogue, causing trouble for the king.’

‘I am sure he would hear mixed accounts of me, too.’

The consul and her advisor looked to each other.

‘How do you think I should deal with him? What approach should I take, in establishing a relationship?’ she asked.

‘If I may speak frankly, Empress?’ said Damocles.

‘Go on,’ she said.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to flatter his ego a little,’ he said.

‘Meaning what, exactly?’

‘Enchant him. Use the weapon of desire. I strongly advise you to…’ He looked at the floor. ‘How can I put this?’

‘Flirt,’ said the elderly Hieronymus. ‘You should flirt with him.’

Gia didn’t react, yet Claudia could feel her irritation bristling silently beside her.

Every pair of eyes in the room were fixed on her.

‘This too can be a woman’s weapon,’ said Damocles.

‘I’m well aware of the power of flirting, but thank you… for your suggestion.’

At the sound of horns, they moved outside to stand on the palace steps, spread out between the rows of pillars and ready to greet their mysterious visitor.

Claudia’s heart began to pound, though she wasn’t sure why. The anticipation of the unknown, she suspected.

A crowd gathered outside, rising in volume as the sound of boots and horses grew louder, until they were deafening in volume. The prince’s procession was imminent, filling the streets with music. Claudia could hear it long before she could see it.

The colourful, musical promenade of beasts reached the palace, chaperoned by no less than four thousand praetorians, passing right by the growing group of protestors.

One threw something at the prince’s litter between rabid curses. Claudia didn’t know what the prince had done to offend him so, or if he was targeted purely for being associated with her. The man was quickly dragged out of sight by guards, but rotten food was now splattered on one of the Persian party’s embroidered fabric awnings, making it look as if someone had vomited on it.

It wasn’t quite the reception she had hoped for.