A few moments later, bearing some herbs and a small jug, the seer reappeared. There was a fire prepared in a ring of stones in front of the hut, which she lit with dexterity, sprinkling the herbs over the flames. Silvius did not recognise their scent, pungent and sharp. He watched the Sibyl suspiciously, whilst Elissa closed her eyes, seeming to breathe in the fumes with relish.

As the Sibyl weaved slowly around the stones, she chanted, words which had no meaning for Silvius. She jerked her body from side to side, inhaling deeply. With a sudden movement, she upturned the jug’s contents, and a thick, dark liquid caused a flash of bright white.

It did not catch fire in an ordinary way. Silvius watched with mounting horror as it spread across the ground to the hem of the seer’s robes. He grabbed the jug of water. Elissa stopped him, frowning.

Now the Sibyl was sheathed in white light.

She spoke in phrases they could barely understand.

Starwolf

lionstone

dolphinlight

three will slay

one will die …

She choked, as if preventing herself from saying more. The flames became the light of Apollo and for a fleeting instant Silvius saw the young god’s face in hers, and his heart filled with joy.

Then it flickered, and shifted; the eyes grew red, and for one brief, horrifying moment, he saw Python.

It passed, leaving Silvius relieved, and the seer’s expression was once more grave, gazing at him with her impenetrable eyes.

‘What do the words mean?’ asked Silvius, as she gathered up her materials.

‘I cannot tell you. It is for you to discover. I will feed you, and then you must go. The tide will be high soon.’

As they were preparing to leave, there was a rustling in a nearby bush, and a small, excited wolf cub came bursting out and threw himself into Elissa’s arms.

‘Ruffler! Where have you been?’ Elissa tickled him joyfully and the wolf cub wriggled away, skipping in circles around her. The lion padded after him.

‘I sent Leo to look for him,’ said the seer. ‘He had not gone far.’ Ruffler was indeed now being given a hearty lick by the enormous lion. Running towards him, Elissa threw her arms around his neck, and buried her face into the mane. Silvius looked on, smiling.

‘You have a long way to go,’ the Sibyl said, quietly. ‘I know that we will see each other again.’

‘Where are we to go?’ asked Silvius.

‘Into the heart of your enemies. To Mykenai, home of Agamemnon, where now rules Orestes. Into the heart of the spiral.’

‘To Orestes?’ Silvius’s heart sank. Somehow, he had known that this would be the case. ‘His father destroyed our city!’

‘All your cities will be destroyed if you do not stop Python. And then what will you do. Argue over the ruins?’

‘And what must we do there?’