“You’re stronger,” Amara replies. “You lost everything in a single day. I had years to get used to my losses. I cannot imagine what it was like for you—one moment safe with your family, the next dragged off onto that ship. All the things you saw. But you survived.”

Dido picks at the fabric on the bed, not looking up. “Sometimes I think I brought it on myself.” She tugs a thread lose and winds it round and round her finger. It digs deep into her skin. “I didn’t want to marry the husband my father chose for me. I was complaining about him to my cousin before the pirates attacked. Until then, being tied to an ugly man who sold cheese was the worst thing I could imagine.”

Amara almost wants to laugh, but Dido’s stricken face stops her. Before she can think of what to say, Thraso sticks his head round the door. “Some fucking drunk just threw up in the corridor. We need more water.”

“What about Fabia?” Amara says.

“She’s already trying to clean it up, she can’t do everything. Anyway, why are you moaning? You’ve barely sucked a cock all night, you lazy bitch.” Thraso takes a step forward, but Amara jumps off the bed before he can raise his hand to slap her.

She ducks past him, grabbing the bucket from the doorway. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry; I’m going.” Dido picks up one of the oil lamps and hurries after her. The stench hits them as soon as they leave the cell. They step around the vomit splattered on the floor, bumping into Fabia as she straightens up.

“I’ll need that bucket as full as you can manage,” she says, flicking an angry look at the culprit.

The sick-stained drunk is pawing at Cressa, trying to persuade her to take him into her cell, even though he can hardly stand upright. “So pretty . . .” he murmurs, insensible to her look of revulsion.

Amara and Dido take the back way onto the street, passing the door to Felix’s apartment. Dido goes ahead, holding up the clay lamp to show the way. The flare sends their shadows lurching. At first the light and noise from the Elephant follows them, but soon, they are enveloped in almost total darkness. Moonlight picks out the bare shape of the houses, leaving unknown pools of black. Amara’s heart beats loud in her ears. She has always hated being out in the dark.