Chapter 16The first event was the boat race. The object was simple enough: a finger of rock jutting from the waves. Competitors had to swing their ships around it. The winner was the first to return and beach his ship in the harbour.
Aeneas stood on a raised platform atop the cliff near the tomb, craning his neck to look upon the sea. The shrieks of gulls and the buzz of the crowds assembled upon the shoreline below filled his ears. He stifled a yawn. The day had barely begun, but already he was exhausted. Familiar voices had called him through the night …
He spotted Julos nearby, along with Nisos and Euryalos. Whatever Euryalos had said made Julos snort like a pig and that only made them laugh harder. Aeneas smiled. It was good to see Julos among companions near his age.
‘Boys,’ Aeneas
