Chapters (52)
- Cover
- Title
- About the Author
- Dedication
- By the Same Author
- Author’s Note
- Map
- Domus Libris
- House of the Wolf
- The House of the Wolf
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Timeline of the Trojan Cycle
- Further Reading
- Acknowledgements
- Supporters
‘You may find out in Sicilia. It is not given to me to know any more. We nymphs do not have the gift of prophecy. Although some say it is more of a curse.’
The ship nymph, calm now, sailed placidly on. Occasionally a dolphin or two would leap around the bow, and click in its own tongue, exchanging news with her.
As Elissa was gazing out over the stern, she called excitedly, ‘Look! Silvius! Quickly!’
Joining her, Silvius’s eyes followed the length of her arm, and saw, rising out of the white foam of the sea, the wild, pale faces of the sea nymphs. They pointed and stared, and as the ship approached them – a little haughtily, perhaps – the sea nymphs scattered. The ship nymph, aware of their attention, opened the eyes of her figurehead, and said, ‘Poor things. They’ve never seen such a thing as me before. Peace, sisters, go back to your watery homes.’ But Silvius could tell she was proud of being a new, wondrous thing. The sea nymphs, giggling, dove back down into the depths, seaweedy hair trailing behind them.
Soon a dark mass hove into view on the horizon. It was now late in the afternoon, and the sun’s heat was mellower, and Silvius and Elissa stood watching as the land mass resolved itself into mountains, woods, harbours and shorelines.
It was a relief to see land again, although Silvius did not know what dangers might await them there. But there was no way they could turn back now.
The ship nymph brought them gracefully into a deep harbour, and anchored herself. ‘Sleep now,’ she said. ‘There is no danger.’
‘How do you know?’
‘The dolphins tell me all is quiet. I will watch, and for now, you should rest.’
Resolving to make for shore as soon as they woke the next morning, they curled up in the berths. Ruffler snuggled into Elissa’s side. Silvius was very much aware of how near Elissa was to him. The ship nymph sang a song, deep, ancient and sad.
Bold lady Dido, queen of the seas,
Led her people to settle new lands.
She burned with love for a Trojan prince …
Silvius could see a smile spread across Elissa’s face as she fell asleep, comforted by the song. He lay awake until the ship nymph had finished, and fell asleep to the surge of the sea.
Eighteen
The House Accursed
MYKENAI, ACHAEA: KINGHOUSE OF THE LION
Orestes and Tisamenos were now in a large chamber underground, lit only by a small opening in the wall far above them, through which a shaft of moonlight came, and the dim glow from the torch Orestes was holding. It took a moment or two for Tisamenos to be able to make out his father. Orestes was fumbling with something, half-hunched over, muttering to himself. He straightened up, the crack of his knees ringing loudly, and then, after a few attempts, he lit another torch.