‘Well, we need our sleep.’

Silvius glanced around. ‘We can find somewhere out of the way.’

They began to look for a spot where they could huddle together. There was a little copse beyond the settlement, and they headed in that direction.

Ruffler suddenly stopped; he turned round and growled, hackles raised all along his back.

‘What are you doing there, boy?’ Elissa reached out to him.

There then came the sound of galloping hooves. Silvius’s heart started to beat faster. Could it be possible? A horseman appeared on the road, coming towards them, and Ruffler set up a furious howling.

‘Shut that dog up!’ came a voice from a window. But Silvius didn’t pay any attention.

Because coming towards them was Aeneas’s stallion Blaze. He would have recognised that proud beast anywhere. And astride him, face fully lit in the moonlight, clearer and clearer as he came closer, was his older brother.

Iulus pulled up the stallion in front of them and leapt down, landing squarely on both feet in a way that Silvius couldn’t help but admire, even through his anger.

He strode up to Silvius. ‘What in the name of the Underworld do you think you’re doing?’ he spat. ‘We received a message from Lavinium – I was out on this side of the woods, resting from the hunt, and a soldier came saying you were missing and so were Elissa and Blaze. When Blaze appeared looking for home, I thought at once that you’d escaped on him. Of course you would think to come here, wouldn’t you – the obvious choice,’ he sneered.

‘Iulus! You can’t take us back!’

‘The rest of my men are approaching behind. We’ll take you back to Lavinium as quick as thought. And then, by the Skyfather, you’ll pay for it.’

‘No! We can’t – we’ve got to go. We must do this. For our new country. For the old. For Apollo!’

Iulus clicked his teeth together and sighed. ‘When are you going to realise, little brother, that these gods do not care for us any more?’ Silvius winced at his tone. Elissa was glaring at Iulus.

‘They fled, long ago, beyond the skies.’

‘That’s not true! I’ve seen him! I’ve seen Apollo!’

‘You think you’ve seen him. We will be able to defeat this new threat ourselves. We are strong, well-trained. And you need to learn how to obey your elders!’ He struck Silvius with the back of his hand. The pain stung Silvius, and he threw Iulus off him.

Now they were squaring up to each other. Ruffler was growling deep in the back of his throat.

‘Leave him alone!’ Elissa called out. Iulus ignored her.

‘You can’t tell me what to do!’ shouted Silvius. ‘I have a mission—’