The Eternal Banquet by Jennifer Macaire

Author:Jennifer Macaire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Eternal Banquet
ISBN: 9781786154552
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2019-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

The shadows grew long. Alexander didn’t reappear, and even Plexis cast apprehensive glances at the crowd milling on the docks. Paul brought me a piece of flatbread wrapped around strips of spicy fish. We had cool water to drink and a slice of watermelon for dessert. Plexis stayed with me until the sun had nearly set, then he decided to go into the city to search for his friend. However, we had no idea what had happened to Alexander and no idea where to look for him.

Phaleria would trade until it grew too dark, then she would be occupied putting everything away again. Her crew was busy as well, even with Paul and Yovanix helping as best they could. Yovanix was blind, but knew where everything went, and had memorized each corner of the dragon boat. He manoeuvred about with such ease that when I saw him I was hard put to remember he had no sight.

Demos saw Plexis leave and came to reassure me. He was a big bear of a man, but kind-hearted. Seeing my unease he put aside his chore and sat next to me for a while. He told me not to fret, but everyone had been saying the same thing to me since Alexander had left. I was still worried. Where was Alexander? Why hadn’t he returned? And where was the glass-merchant? It didn’t make sense. He should have put his wares back out on the dock, but now that the crowd had thinned I could see that there was nothing in front of his boat, and the boat itself looked deserted.

‘Demos, I’m going to go see if the glass-merchant is still there.’ I pointed towards the Phoenician’s ship.

Demos raised his eyebrows, so I explained what had happened when I’d met the slave. Now he looked startled. ‘I saw that man heading into the city right after Iskander,’ he said. ‘And the merchant left soon afterwards.’

‘They haven’t come back?’

‘No, I didn’t see them.’

‘Were they carrying their wares?’ I asked. I had overheard them talking about the salt market, so maybe they had gone there.

‘Yes, they were both carrying large bundles.’

I didn’t question his statement. He was naturally observant, and if he saw them leave then I believed him. I was still apprehensive though. ‘Tell me, Demos, when you saw Iskander for the first time in twelve years, did you have any doubts who he was?’

‘No, it was a shock, to be sure, but I had no doubts. Once you’ve seen Iskander you can never forget him. He has a glow that ordinary men do not have. He shines like the sun, and he holds his head a certain way. Even from afar, I recognized him in battle. And there, at the inn, I saw right away it was him.’

‘That’s what I was afraid of,’ I said looking towards the city where the bells in the temple of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva had started to ring. The sun was setting and the tiled rooftops were blood-red.

‘I’ll finish here, and then I’ll go to Rome.

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