Chloe’s brow furrowed as he reached into the pouch at his belt and withdrew a heavy copper amulet. He handed it to her and watched to see her reaction.

The amulet of shiny red metal had the circumference of a large cup and was perfectly circular. Within the circle was an open child’s palm, the fingers slightly curled so that the child held what appeared to be a sheaf of wheat. The sheaf had a narrow stem and was pointed at one end.

Chloe wondered how she should react.

‘Tomarys . . . This is a fine gift. But I fear angering my deity. This is the symbol of Edra, goddess of love, fertility, and children. I worship Aeris, goddess of music and healing.’

‘I know,’ Tomarys said, his arms folded over his chest as he grinned. ‘But the symbol of Aeris didn’t suit my purpose. Examine it.’

‘Wheat is the symbol of fertility . . . It appears I’m asking Edra’s blessing to conceive.’ Chloe looked up, perplexed, but smiling. ‘Thank you, Tomarys. This is the first kind gesture anyone has made since I was first taken from my home.’

Accepting the gift, she unclasped the chain from around her neck and threaded the amulet through the little hoop at the top, before once more fastening the necklace. The amulet was a little large for Chloe’s taste, and now hung below her neck, just above her breasts.

Tomarys’s grin broadened as he reached forward and did something to the amulet. A moment later he showed Chloe the sheaf in his palm; he had completely removed it from the rest of the piece.

It was tapered and sharp on the underside. Chloe’s eyes widened as realization dawned.

‘It is a small throwing knife, made of bronze, rather than copper, for bronze takes a better edge. Practice with it as much as you can.’

He showed her how to place the decorated knife back in the child’s open palm. Tomarys then glanced up at the sky again. He opened his mouth, hesitating before speaking.

‘Listen, Chloe . . . I plan to get my family out of Lamara, but it will take some weeks. I want to leave the sun king’s service and be with my family, far from here, and you should be with yours. I hope to be ready before Solon returns. For now, we need to bide our time.’

‘Tomarys—’

He held up his hand. ‘This is only possible because of what you did for my brother. He, too, wishes to be free.’

Chloe saw that the timbers of the dilapidated rail around the arena floor cast long shadows on the sand.

‘We should leave,’ Tomarys said. He smiled. ‘Every day your skills improve. Perhaps one day it will be you who protects the weak from evil men.’

Chloe laughed aloud when she heard these words of praise from the toughest man she’d ever met.