It is only when Skellig mentions Xenophon that his 'owner' even realizes who he is. "Ah, you have a good eye. Came into my keeping via the terms of a contract, very sad." He does not actually sound sad about that at all, quite the opposite."

"Along with that one, as it happens," he says, waving a hand at Kirke absently. "Legally speaking, his contract would have to be paid in full before I could part with him, I'm sure you understand." That is a lie, actually, but he's betting that a foreigner has no idea about the strange ins and outs of local law.