‘This may be the centre of the world to you,’ he said. ‘But it is not to me.’
* * * *
At the line-up for the first race there was still no sign of Princess Alcestis or her father, but beside him Bladud found the Thessalian prince. Though the young man did not recognise him from the incident at the theatre, Bladud instantly felt that Fate had put them together for some reason. He glanced at the other athletes and no one would have blamed him had he felt discouraged at the competition assembled there, but he hardly noticed the others. This race was between the Thessalian and himself — and the prize was to be Alcestis.
All through that day the heats continued and by the evening both the Thessalian and himself were still in competition.
That night Bladud slept fitfully, tossing and turning
