so what is he carrying?

[marycatelli]

The villain of this story is not the big one.  He's not even a necromancer. . .

So I concluded he was carrying something that the necromancer gave him.

A charm sounds odd for necromancer magic.  But talisman and amulet both ring oddly in this world.  (I don't know why.  It's not because they smell of ritual magic.  There's a fair amount floating about.  Perhaps because the heroine -- and point of view -- doesn't know their nature until long after she thinks of them?)

Maybe I'll just call it a medallion for its shape.