The watchman sang out, ‘Land!’ And in the distance a dark line grew gradually more distinct, and soon Silvius could see hills and harbours, and the drummer drummed faster, and the men cheered, and Elissa danced on the deck and whooped, and Silvius leapt up and down, whilst Tisamenos looked on, a small smile on his face.

There was a broad bay ahead, and the thirty-five ships, each with their two hundred or so soldiers, drew up onto the shore, and the men pouring out of them were like ants rushing from their nest. Silvius remembered how he’d longed for battle, with the spears shining in the sunlight, and now he realised that would soon be happening.

‘We camp by the shore tonight.’ Silvius caught up with Tisamenos and Elissa. ‘And we march tomorrow.’

Tisamenos merely nodded, whilst Elissa looked serious.

‘Come on,’ said Silvius. ‘Let’s go and hunt a deer.’

As they were sitting round a fire eating freshly killed venison that night, a messenger arrived from the Trojan settlements in the west. He was panting, and grimy, and he gulped gratefully at the water he was given. He was thin, and his eyes were black with lack of sleep. But when Silvius saw him, he rose up and embraced him.

It was Drusus, the boy who shared his watch in Lavinium on the day that Stargazer had arrived in the city with the Arrowhead.

‘Silvius! You’re back! They talk of nothing else in Lavinium. And Elissa, too!’ Drusus greeted them excitedly.

He told them the extent of Python’s conquests. ‘They’ve taken all the lands as far east as Spoletium, and they are encroaching on the Latin cities.’ That was most of the north of Italia. But Silvius was not deterred.

‘How many men have we lost?’ asked Silvius.

‘Don’t fear – they hold out well. I was told to come and meet you, and lead you the safe way. Python is concentrating his power on Lavinium, massing for an attack. We have retreated to Alba Longa, where we have joined with Iulus’s forces.’ At the mention of his brother, Silvius looked up, remembering how he’d left him on the shore. He found he wanted to see Iulus again, that proud, distant figure.

‘And the remaining Etruscans,’ Drusus continued. ‘We’re backed up by the Achaean colonists in the south, though they are few. We are very grateful to see you.’

‘Does Aeneas have a message for me?’ asked Silvius eagerly.

Drusus shook his head. ‘He was hunting when I left.’ Silvius observed him closely, but it did not seem as if he was hiding anything. Then he must be alive. His heart swelled, longing to see his father once more.

That night, he bedded down next to Drusus.

‘Do you remember when the blacksmith’s boy overslept, and Blaeso was so angry he chased him all round the city?’