Tisamenos strode ahead, aloof, whilst Silvius kept pace with Elissa just behind him. They were walking across the plain in a curve, away from the road, and the ground was hard and scattered with thorny bushes which tore and scratched at their legs. It was thirsty going, and more than once they had to stop to drink from their diminishing water supplies.

The Achaean boy didn’t utter a word. Silvius felt a tug in the Arrowhead, as if it knew where it was going, and he took this as a good sign.

He led them round the eastern side of the citadel, up a winding goat track which was barely visible to the human eye. Above them were some structures shaped like beehives, nestling together outside the vast city walls of Mykenai.

‘What are these?’ Silvius asked as they came underneath their spreading shadows.

‘My ancestors’ tombs,’ answered Tisamenos. ‘And here, we halt.’

Silvius and Elissa took refuge in the shade of one of the tombs, whilst Tisamenos remained standing, arms folded, long golden hair falling to his shoulders, regarding them as if they were not humans at all, but simply objects. The golden circlet around his neck gleamed. What use did Tisamenos have for them? Silvius thought there must be something he wanted.

‘We’re outside the city walls,’ said Tisamenos. The rasping quality in his voice was stronger.

‘You can’t take us inside,’ said Silvius, running his hands through his thick black hair. ‘You’ve been banished. It’ll pollute the city if you do.’

‘You’re right.’

‘So you need us to help you,’ continued Elissa.

Tisamenos this time simply nodded. ‘The stones tell me that you have something. An arrowhead, belonging to Apollo himself.’

Silvius said sharply, ‘What do you mean? How can stones talk?’ He wondered if Tisamenos was going to trick them. Did he think they were stupid? But then, they had seen so much already – stones talking was not the least of it. And besides, he knew about the Arrowhead.

‘I know it sounds mad. But I can’t explain it,’ answered Tisamenos. ‘I can only tell you what happened. I was tainted by the Last Gorgon, and since then I hear the stones … I know that Orestes has something of use to you.’

‘We were meant to meet,’ said Elissa.

‘You’ve seen it?’ said Silvius. ‘Where is it?’

‘In the kinghouse,’ answered Tisamenos.

‘Then we’re almost there!’ That hunger again, and a pulling in his chest.

‘Tell us, then, what we can do,’ said Elissa, draining a water skin.

‘It is guarded by a Fury. She will only let Orestes past. You need Orestes on your side.’

‘And you would help us with that?’ said Silvius. ‘After you tried to kill your father?’