He wanted to place a hand on her shoulder but hesitated. Hunched over the dead body she looked so small and fragile.
*Looked*
He knew better by now than to be deceived by appearances. He had rarely met anyone more lethal in battle.
“I am sorry,” he said, his voice heavy with grief. “I should have found another way…”
She laid a veil carefully over what remained of the dead man’s face and looked up at the foreigner.
“My brothers and my sisters…”
“…Are the dependable foundation of life.” He chimed in.
She smiled sadly.
Outside the crowd roared as the next gladiators entered the arena.