Chapter 23Aeneas rested a hand upon the windowsill, rubbed his temples. In the courtyard, Epirote warriors were drilling. They were practising the method for dealing with attacks from uncoordinated masses. Half of them locked shields and lowered blunt spears while the rest threw themselves into the fray hurly-burly.
‘That’s half the reason he won’t let you stay,’ said Andromakhe, appearing at his elbow. ‘The rioters.’
He didn’t turn right away. ‘Eavesdropping, my lady?’
She laughed, the sound musical. It took him back to the days of flinging mud at the chamberlain with her and Hektor, running off before they were caught. ‘If you don’t want to be overheard, Aeneas, you shouldn’t shout.’
‘Ah. This is true.’ Aeneas shifted his weight. ‘So what’s the other half? Don’t tell me it’s about no
