‘Look at her,’ Kyphos murmured.

Palemon frowned and watched the busy market stall. The woman had pale skin and black hair that was streaked with silver despite her youth. She had a lithe, willowy build, with slim arms and a slender neck, and was pretty, in a delicate, elfin fashion, but it was her eyes that were both strange and captivating. One orb had an iris of emerald green, while the other was light brown.

‘She never takes the money herself,’ Kyphos said.

Palemon saw a necklace at the woman’s neck, a thin copper chain holding a round medallion. The medallion had a sheaf of wheat embossed in the center.

‘You think . . . ?’ Palemon started. ‘But she’s wearing a necklace.’

‘The king of Xanthos wore a necklace also. And the metal might not be pure.’

Palemon contrasted the young woman with her husband. A few years older, he had a square face and a brawny build, with short dark hair and a manner of open friendliness with the customers. Faces like his were everywhere, whereas the woman unquestionably stood out from the other people in the market.

‘She isn’t the first I’ve seen with strange eyes or silver-streaked hair, but she bears the marks stronger than any other.’ Kyphos turned to Palemon. ‘The queen of Xanthos was a pure-blooded eldran and no one knew, not even her own family. After the fall of Aleuthea, people have become lax in their vigilance.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Sire. There are eldren in the population.’

Palemon tugged on the braids of his beard, thinking for a moment, before he came to a conclusion and pushed through the crowd to approach the stall. As citizens turned to face him, indignant glares became expressions of fear when they saw the broad-shouldered king with the dark, penetrating eyes – the strange new ruler of their city. Reaching the front, he lifted his chin and stared at the woman eye to eye. He was tall, and she was just as tall as he was.

Looking slightly panicked, she wrung her hands behind the table of wares. ‘King . . .’ The young fruit seller cast a frightened look at her husband.

Palemon turned to Kyphos, who had followed him but looked as if he had no idea what his king was going to do next. ‘Give me a silver coin.’

Looking perplexed, Kyphos handed one over.

Palemon reached out to the woman. ‘Take this coin.’

‘If you want to buy . . .’

‘Take it!’ Palemon barked.

‘My husband . . .’

‘I said take it, girl.’ Glaring at her, staring unblinkingly into her odd-colored eyes, Palemon thrust his hand at her, matching her uncertainty with an unbending will of iron.

Reaching into his open palm, the young woman hesitantly took the silver coin. She held it for the briefest instant before her nose wrinkled and she set the coin down on the table.

‘Good enough for me,’ Palemon said.