At last, a woman, muffled up in a long cloak, appeared at the end of the path that snaked between the beehive tombs, carrying a single torch. She paused in front of the door of the second tomb on the left, and placed the torch against the wall.

This was the signal. Elissa gulped.

Silvius flashed Elissa a look of encouragement. She had to keep Erigone here until Orestes arrived. If he didn’t, they would have to overpower Erigone, and that would lead to all sorts of complications.

Elissa approached her softly.

Erigone, on the other hand, did not waste any time. ‘Tell me, then, young Cretan, what your plan is.’ Silvius thought she spoke like somebody who was used to getting her own way, whatever the cost.

‘First you must agree to our terms,’ said Elissa, firmly.

‘Foolish girl,’ snapped Erigone. ‘I will not agree to any terms without knowing what your plan for Orestes is. Or have you brought me out here on a phantom chase?’

‘Not at all,’ answered Elissa. ‘I have what you want.’

‘Then don’t play games with me, young girl. You do not want me as your enemy.’

‘Crete’s power is waning in the Middle Sea,’ said Elissa, stalling. Silvius admired her confidence. He saw Tisamenos watching her carefully. It made him feel protective of her. ‘We need an ally we can trust. Orestes will never make terms with us. But you …’

‘I … as queen, ruling, of course, in place of Penthilos until he is old enough … Yes, I understand. But you see, I have a problem. And that is what to do with Orestes.’

‘Yes – what to do with Orestes?’ A flare of torchlight, and the hollow face of the King of Mykenai was illuminated.

‘Treachery!’ cried Erigone. ‘I tricked this girl here into revealing her plot against your life!’ It was a shocking lie. Silvius wanted to rush out immediately, but Tisamenos restrained him.

‘I go first,’ he whispered.

‘The boy was right,’ said Orestes, his voice heavy with weariness.

‘The boy was.’ Tisamenos now stepped into the torchlight, walking stiffly, head erect, his mutilated hand held aloft as if it were a trophy. ‘I, Tisamenos, was right. Your son.’

Twenty-Eight

The Fury

Tisamenos approached the King and Queen of Mykenai in a circle of tawny light. ‘I was right, Father.’ He saw Elissa, standing proudly beside Erigone. How brave she had been, entering into that nest of vipers.

‘Traitor!’ cried Erigone. ‘He’s called us both here to murder us with his foreign friends and take the throne!’

Silvius placed his dagger on the ground. ‘Not I.’ This rough Italian had something noble in him, Tisamenos thought.