Golden Age (The Shifting Tides, #1)(73)

A heartbeat later the sharp bronze ram of the Anoraxis met the creature’s silver scales behind its head, the sea frothing into blood as it struck. Dion saw the wildran’s body floating on the surface of the water as they passed. The bronze ram had almost completely severed its triangular head from its body.

Roxana came to the bow to join him.

‘Well done,’ she said. She clapped him on the back and grinned.





31


Chloe and Tomarys were once more in the bazaar, but this time she’d asked her bodyguard to take her directly to the hidden section at the rear. They passed droves of beggars, and numerous cloth sellers trying to attract them with rolled lengths of yellow silk. But it was earlier in the day than their last visit, and the crowds were comparatively thin.

The going was made even easier by the imposing man who walked at Chloe’s side. Tomarys still wore his leather vest and brown trousers; she had seen him in nothing else. Despite his towering height he walked with athletic grace. Even though he was unarmed, many people who would have intimidated or pestered Chloe drew back when they saw the man with her, averting their eyes and walking away.

‘Chloe . . .’ Tomarys said. It was the first time she had heard him use her name. ‘Now that we are away from the palace . . . I must thank you. For what you did for my brother.’

‘It was nothing.’

‘No.’ Tomarys turned and stopped in his tracks to look down at her. He gripped her shoulders with both hands. ‘It was not nothing. In another few weeks, perhaps a month, he would have been dead. Pyramid slaves suffer a fate worse than any hell.’ He spoke forcefully, with passion. ‘Fed worse than animals. Whipped until the skin slides off their shoulders. Dozens of bodies are thrown into the river every day, where they are eaten by the crocodiles.’ The tall man’s wide mouth spread into a smile. ‘Now my brother tends horses in the stables. The money I was saving to buy his freedom will now be used to pay healers to look after my mother. If my mother’s health improves my sister will be able to find work in the bazaar. And I have you to thank.’

Tomarys looked at his hands clutching Chloe’s upper arms and released her, suddenly embarrassed. ‘I am sorry, lady.’

‘It’s fine,’ Chloe said with a smile. ‘Shall we continue?’

He nodded, and followed her as she walked to the gap between the stalls leading to the decrepit square behind. A half-dozen beggars sitting in a semicircle on the floor stared up at the pair. Chloe’s gaze instantly went to the hut where they’d last found the old man drinking tea, but there was no one there. She knew that behind the shack was the long narrow lane where the boy had given them the soma flowers. She wondered what to do.

Chloe had managed to ease the sun king’s pain, but he had soon finished all the tea she could brew, despite her admonishment to eke out the medicine over a period of time. Now, just a few days after her last visit to the market, the sun king had given Tomarys silver and asked her to make more.

As soon as possible after being charged with her task, Chloe had left for the market. If she’d waited long enough for the magus to hear that she was buying more flowers he might have insisted on going with her, which was the last thing she wanted.

She had to buy more flowers. And this time she needed to find more than two.

‘We should not spend long here,’ Tomarys cautioned.

Scanning the area, Chloe wondered if she should look inside the shack. Slowly, she walked closer to the shadowy opening and called out. ‘Hello?’

Tomarys walked forward to stand slightly in front of her, holding her back with an arm, as they both spied movement inside.

The old man with the pockmarked face and hooked nose slowly emerged. He was licking each greasy finger in turn as he walked toward them, making grotesque sounds of enjoyment. He stopped in front of them and wiped his hands on his coarse brown trousers.

‘I remember you,’ he said. ‘What do you want?’

‘We need more flowers.’

He shook his head. ‘I have tar of heaven. That is what I will bring you.’

‘No,’ Chloe said. ‘I already told you last time. I need flowers. Many more.’

He looked up at Tomarys and then at Chloe, regarding her with heavy-lidded eyes. ‘You have money?’

Chloe nodded.

‘Wait.’

The old man turned and walked around the back of the hut. Chloe and Tomarys waited. The time wore on.

Chloe started to walk forward, peering around the side of the shack until Tomarys pulled her back. They continued to wait.

Finally, after such a long time that even Chloe was about to leave, she saw movement. The seven-year-old boy who had given her the flowers last time came forward, beckoning.

‘Come,’ he said. ‘This way.’

Following him they came to the back of the hut and saw the narrow alley. The boy skipped ahead and then turned around, continuing to wave them forward.

‘Let me go first,’ said Tomarys.

The tall, muscled bodyguard entered the alley with Chloe just behind. Once again they followed its interminable curve.

One moment the boy was just ahead, the next he suddenly put his head down and ran.

There was a sound of running footsteps from behind. Chloe started to turn. A man’s arm went around her neck.

He held her up on her toes and she felt sharp steel pressed to her throat. She couldn’t see his face, but she could smell his rancid breath. Tomarys stood looking at her, half a dozen paces away, trapped in the middle of the alley. Chloe saw another man approaching behind him. He carried a long curved dagger and was as lean as a pole, with a narrow face and a diagonal scar across his nose.