Chapter 18The arena slowly emptied, people making their way to the feast.
Aeneas stood and dusted himself off. From here he could smell the beef roasting over open flames, hear the laughter as wineskins were passed around. He was in no mood to eat, but his thirst was great. Then he gritted his teeth and thrust the impulse away. If that was his only reason to attend the feast, then he shouldn’t go. If he was thirsty, there was water. He wouldn’t shame Julos further tonight.
He bowed his head. Perhaps he’d never get it right with Julos, but he hoped he was a better parent than his own father. Maybe he had fallen asleep, but at least he’d shown up. He regretted the thought immediately. It wasn’t fair on his father. Not really. Ankhises had done his best. He’d never asked to father a child,
