Tisamenos had told his father about the stones, and the head of the Last Gorgon, though Elissa felt that he was being evasive about something. And now they were discussing how to reach Troy. She could see that it was difficult for Silvius, that despite all his efforts to pretend it didn’t mean anything to him, it was still his city. As a result, he was being a little possessive.

‘We need to go as quickly as possible,’ Silvius was saying tightly. ‘Just the three of us, so we will be fast. I wonder if the ship nymph would help us?’

‘I think we should wait,’ Tisamenos said. ‘We still don’t really know what this threat is. What if this Python of yours has taken the cities near Troy? Do we have spies there, Father?’

‘We do not, but I have heard nothing from Thessaly.’ Orestes addressed them all now, clearing his throat. ‘I have considered it. My information from Italia was pressing, and it is clear that the Bow must be found. Tomorrow, you must leave immediately. I will send you to Troy with a full crew and in my fastest ship.’

Silvius gave a small nod of satisfaction.

‘We must act with all speed.’

‘Yes, Father,’ Tisamenos answered. But Elissa could tell that he felt his pride was injured.

There was a noise outside, and Electra went to the door to listen, bending her head slightly. Her brows drew together with worry, and, her black garments flapping, she came hurrying back, hands clasped together, fingers twisting. ‘There’s fighting in the kinghouse,’ she said.

‘Impossible! Our guards would have seen anyone approaching.’

‘Then it must have begun inside …’

A servant boy rushed in, the air from the door shifting the tapestries on the walls. He was clearly terrified, his forehead gleaming with sweat. ‘Orestes, my king – it’s the Swallows!’ Elissa saw Tisamenos look up suddenly, part guilty, part fearful. ‘They’re slaughtering us! The guards were not ready – there’s a dozen of them in the main hall, and they’re spreading out into the rest of the kinghouse.’

Slowly Orestes stood up. He went, limping slightly, to where his breastplate and his sword were laid out. His eyes glinted. ‘I will lead the fight.’ He buckled on his breastplate. He turned to his son, whose hand was already grasping his sword.

‘You go now.’

‘But, Father! My place is here with you, helping to defend the kinghouse!’

‘No. This is my kinghouse, my battle. You, all of you, go now, to Nauplion, and ask for my sea captain, Andros. You have the Arrow, and the head of the Last Gorgon, your wits and the favour of Apollo and Hermes. You will succeed in your task, I am sure of it. Go, go now.’

Tisamenos wavered. Then he ran to his father and embraced him tightly.

‘This mission from Apollo. It’s a way to atone for the past,’ he said.