Marcellus Durrell

The seventh and final book of The Elektros Saga. Elektros learns that it is as dangerous to be the Great King's friend as it is to be his enemy.

Themistocles, the Hero of Salamis, is now a wanted criminal and must flee Athens--and Elektros has no choice but to go with him. They travel from town to town, trusting no one, suspecting everyone, one step ahead of a thousand bounty hunters.

Elektros returns to Athens to find a city awash in overconfidence after their victory at Marathon. As confidante to Themistocles, the unofficial ruler of Athens, Elektros understands what most people do not: the Great King is preparing to invade again, this time with the largest army in human history, accompanied by a huge war fleet. As Themistocles must convince the Athenians that their very survival requires them to build their own war fleet, Elektros closely witnesses the dirty, dangerous, and hopelessly complicated world of Athenian politics.

Elektros goes to Athens to complete his military training. A natural soldier, he is heroic before the Battle of Marathon, but even this does not make him acceptably Hellenic to some powerful Athenians.