“Ezekiel Polyon. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Don’t know if you’ve heard–you have a reputation among the sailors now.”
“The…sailors?”
“The navy. Ever since we broke the Saltstill Cabal’s blockade two weeks ago. While we were fending off their reinforcements, somehow the fucking city guard repelled their primary invasion force at the Fisher’s docks and didn’t give a fucking inch. We got outmaneuvered plain and simple, but we didn’t pay for it, all owing to a Kolai reject who charged a ten-man advance unit with nothing but a spear and a bucket of pitch, killed them all, then set fire to a galleon. Among what I’m sure are many acts of heroism, of course.”
“Rumors are prone to exaggeration, Lord Stratus.”
“Perhaps, but I personally witnessed some of the carnage you left. Impressive. Ironic as well, given the actual Kolai were no damn help at all.”
“You honor me. I can’t help but assume, though, that Piraeus’ most promising young admiral should have a more pressing cause for this meeting.”
“Most promising, Lord Polyon? You honor me, though far less deservedly.”
“I am no lord.”
“Oh? Am I mistaken, then, in my understanding that you are the son of Maria Athene, herself a cousin of Councillor Ekreon Athene?”
“I am not accustomed to masquerading as nobility here. I am merely the son of an apiarist.”
“An unruly branch, to be sure, but you still possess the right to petition the council.”
“Provided I never avail myself of it.”
“…”
“…”
“Very well, Lord Polyon, I will get to the point. You have heard the directive by now that the guards and navy both are to root out the remnant smuggling operations the Cabal still has in the city? And I expect your commander has received additional intelligence regarding regular shipments arriving each week on the southern Fisher’s dock that then disappear into the city tunnels?”
“I have received both of these directives, yes.”
“Would it interest you to know that this second piece of intelligence was delivered by a known agent of Lord Teleos? It would, wouldn’t it?”
“My interest in such a detail would be a dangerous thing to express, Lord Stratus. Though if what you say were to be true, it would introduce a battery of additional questions.”
“Then let’s speak plainly. My aims here are dangerous to express too. Treasonous, some might say, but I think you’ll be receptive.”
“Receptive…to what?”
“I want to overthrow the council. Teleos, Athene, Alcyon, all of them.”
“…”
“Come now, Lord Polyon. I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t be interested. Or do you not think me–”
“I’m listening, Lord Stratus. Tell me more about this conversation with Teleos’ agent.”
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