Hadrian is summoned to the palace barbican after ignoring calls to his room. Expecting trouble, he finds Pallino waiting for him. Pallino initially jokes about Hadrian's refined appearance, but anger quickly surfaces: the myrmidon and the others believed Hadrian had abandoned them or died, and Pallino accuses Hadrian of choosing wealthy new companions over his old comrades.

Because the palace guards will not let Hadrian leave unescorted, Hadrian uses their refusal to show Pallino that Hadrian is neither exactly a prisoner nor truly free. Unable to speak openly under surveillance, Hadrian leads Pallino aside and asks about the others. Pallino says Elara is well despite a bruised jaw, and the conversation begins to soften.

Pallino reveals that Switch told him about Hadrian's plan to buy a ship using family land, which makes Pallino question why someone of Hadrian's background ever fought in the pits. Hadrian cannot safely explain the full truth, so Hadrian says only that leaving home was necessary and that joining the myrmidons had been his best option. Pallino understands enough to stop pressing him.

The two discuss Erdro's death in the staged weapons demonstration, agreeing that Erdro was a good man and that the contest had been stacked against him. Pallino suggests that perhaps Hadrian is safer away from the arena, but Hadrian says he would rather be offworld because palace life does not feel like home or freedom.

Hadrian revives the ship plan, proposing that Pallino, Elara, and Switch could work for him and avoid risking their lives in the coliseum. Pallino is interested and promises to speak with Switch, calling the myrmidons Hadrian's brothers. The word deeply affects Hadrian, who asks Pallino to tell Switch that Hadrian is sorry and would explain if he could.

Pallino reassures Hadrian that soldiers learn to trust the people pulling the same way, even bastards, and accepts Hadrian as one of them. After some lighter talk, Pallino leaves for drills, but not before making clear that this is not goodbye. He jokingly says Hadrian might need them if he ever wants to skip town, turning their reconciled bond into a possible future means of escape.