Rina sipped the wine. It was sour, the grape crops had evidently been awful for years, but it was the first mouthful she’d taken in months – servants in Barmocar’s home didn’t drink wine. ‘Ah, that’s good. Thank you. So – “the Ana”?’

Alxa seemed much older than when she had come to Carthage, her face lined, her once-habitual smile gone. She was still just sixteen. ‘It’s a long story, Mother. But first, Nelo? I’ve not heard a word since the army took him.’

‘Nor me. From what I can tell from overhearing Barmocar’s conversations, they’re anticipating a clash with the Hatti, but it’s not come to that yet.’

‘Maybe he lives,’ Alxa said grimly. ‘As long as disease, hunger, or the sheer stupidity of the military haven’t killed him yet.’

‘We have to hope.’

‘Here’s to hope.’ Alxa raised her mug, and touched her mother’s.

‘I’ve heard nothing from home either, incidentally,’ Rina said now. ‘From your father. Which is why the note you sent was such a shock.’

Alxa grinned wickedly, suddenly seeming more like her old self. ‘It evidently worked. My ruse, I mean. Maybe I’d make a good spy, do you think?’

‘You’ll earn me a whipping.’

That wiped away the smile. ‘They whip you?’

Only once . . . She changed the subject quickly. ‘So now you’re the Ana, are you?’

Alxa shrugged. ‘Carthaginians have trouble pronouncing “Alxa”, believe it or not.’ All-sha. ‘They’ve only heard of one Northlander, most of them, who is Ana, who they think lived a hundred years ago and built walls on the seabed by hand. So now I’m “the Ana”.’

‘What have you been up to, Daughter? The last time I saw you, you were doing translation for a member of the Tribunal of One Hundred and Four.’

‘That didn’t last long. I made a couple of mistakes . . . There are so many people flooding into Carthage, you can find whatever skills you want, if you just look. Lawyers, doctors, even priests. It wasn’t hard for my boss to replace me with someone better and cheaper. And prettier,’ she said with a grimace.

‘You should have come to me.’

‘Oh, Mother, that’s ridiculous. What could you have possibly done? No, I found my own way.’

‘Doing what?’

‘Nothing too terrible, don’t worry.’ On impulse she took her mother’s hand. ‘I’m still a maiden of Etxelur. Still chaste.’

With great care, Rina showed no reaction.