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‘I was born in Varenne,’ said Charls. ‘A rich trading province, with an excellent trade tariff system. I have always found the revenue management very good there.’
‘Arles,’ said the Prince. ‘The viper pit.’
‘Ios.’ Lamen stretched out, looking relaxed, his limbs warm in the firelight. ‘But I was brought to Arles, where we met.’
‘I thought you were Patran,’ said Guilliame.
‘No, I was born in the capital.’
He said no more than that. Charls supposed that he and Guilliame were two of the few who knew the truth of Lamen’s origins—that under that long Veretian sleeve there was a golden cuff, and that Lamen had once been a palace slave. He did not know how Lamen had come by his freedom, though he could see how Lamen had caught the Prince’s eye. Lamen was a young man in peak physical condition, good natured and loyal. Any unmarried nobleman would notice him.
‘And how is it you now fight for Veretians?’ said Alexon.
Charls found himself curious to hear his answer, but Lamen said only, ‘I came to know one of them.’
The firelight seemed to change the mood, warming it. T
he wagons were visible in the flame glow, a rosy orange.
‘Around here, people don’t think much of the new alliance,’ said Alexon.
‘Damianos is a great king,’ said Charls. ‘You should trust in him, as we trust in our Prince.’
‘Do you think they’re doing it?’ said Alexon.
Charls coughed on his wine. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘The King and Prince Laurent. Do you think they’re doing it?’
‘Well, it’s not for me to say.’ Charls avoided looked at the Prince.
‘I think they are,’ volunteered Guilliame. ‘Charls met the Prince of Vere once. He said he was so beautiful that if he were a pet he’d spark a bidding war the likes of which no one had ever seen.’
‘I meant, in an honourable way,’ Charls said, quickly.
‘And everyone in Akielos speaks of the virility of Damianos,’ continued Guilliame.
‘I don’t think it should follow that—’ Charls began.
‘My cousin told me,’ said Alexon, proudly, ‘he met a man who had once been a famous gladiator from Isthima. He lasted only minutes in the arena with Damianos. But afterwards Damianos had him in his chambers for six hours.’
‘You see? How could a man like that resist a beauty like the Prince?’ Guilliame sat back triumphantly.
‘Seven hours,’ said Lamen, frowning slightly.
‘Here in Aegina, they say Damianos takes the Prince every night, but that it’s not seemly for a king to renounce his slaves and limit his appetites, denying himself all but one person.’
‘I think it’s romantic,’ said Guilliame.
‘Oh?’ said Alexon.
‘I heard Damianos disguised himself as a slave to uncover the secret of his brother’s treachery, and the Prince of Vere fell in love with him not knowing who he was.’
‘I heard that they allied themselves in secret months before,’ said Alexon. ‘And that the Prince hid Damianos from Kastor, pretending he was a slave, while they courted privately.’
‘What do you think, Charls?’ said Guilliame to the Prince.
‘I think they had help,’ said the Prince, ‘along the way, from those who were loyal.’
