Ruffler scampered along beside her, his ears pricked up and twitching. Silvius was behind her, though he walked more softly than she did; he was used to the ways of the woods.

The vegetation was becoming lusher, and after a short while of walking westwards, Elissa heard the sound of a stream. Between the dappled tree trunks she glimpsed light on water.

And without thinking about it, she ran towards the bank, tearing off her outer tunic, hurling down her bow and arrows and throwing herself into the coolness of the water. It gave her a delightful shock, and she ducked underneath.

When she resurfaced, Silvius was on the bank, stripped down to his undershirt. The chain was still around his neck. He jumped in with a splash, almost knocking her over.

It felt wonderful to Elissa to wash away the stench of fish and salt. It was even better to feel that she was also washing away the touch of the Enemy.

She dipped in and out of the water, swimming naturally, whilst Silvius, a little more ungainly, kept to the shallows.

They drank till they could drink no more, and filled their water skins until they were tight and round.

‘I never want to leave here!’ she cried.

‘For the moment,’ answered Silvius, ‘neither do I.’

After a while, Silvius scrambled out and, having put his clothes back on, flopped in the shade of an olive tree; he was soon dozing and drying out. Elissa followed him dreamily, and sat on the bank, dangling her toes in the water.

Looking at the stream, she wondered about how it connected to the sea, and how all the rivers fed into the great Middle Sea. Her mother’s city was a fearsome power, on the shore of Africa. Could she find the way to Carthage? Could she find out about her mother? All she remembered was her soft touch, and the only thing she had from her was her pendant, shaped like a dolphin.

A sharp howl from Ruffler brought her back to the present. Silvius woke, suddenly alert.

‘He’s scented something.’ Elissa watched the wolf cub’s ears pricking, his whole little body pointing like an arrow.

They scrambled up, taking their water skins, and followed Ruffler as he scampered away.

‘Do you think it’s a stag?’ called Elissa as they ran, bows and arrows clattering. ‘I’ve always wanted to be at a stag hunt!’ Aeneas had never let her join a hunt, saying she had to be older.

‘I hope so!’ answered Silvius, and, laughing with the joy of it, they sped onwards.

They came to the edge of a thick wood. As soon as Elissa entered its bounds, a gloom fell over her, and the sun’s warmth vanished, filtered away by the leaves and branches. She was aware of the sun’s position.

‘What direction are we going in?’

‘Still westwards,’ answered Silvius. ‘But …’ He looked puzzled.