Lore

Just before the start of the previous Agon, Lore can think of nothing but Aristos Kadmou’s ultimatum and her fear that her father will agree to give her to the Kadmides. Not even training with the Achillides helps clear her mind. During a break, one of the other kids taunts her with her fate, and Castor attacks the boy. They scuffle briefly until the instructor pulls them apart. The bully backs away, but Castor falls, convulsing.

The healers see to Castor, but there’s nothing they can do. Lore promises Castor that, if he dies, “I’ll follow you to the Underworld and drag you back” (323). Castor demands she swear not to rescue him from death but falls asleep before he can extract the promise.

Numb with shock at Castor’s death, Lore finds a group of Odysseides across the pond. Among them is Iro. The group is armed with “weapons they had taken from the Kadmides, at Lore’s insistence” (325). Fury builds in Lore. She engages Iro in battle, letting loose a lifetime of anger into the fight. Iro finally manages to get a hit in and gain some distance. She uses her weapon to keep Lore at bay, but the spear heats, turning into molten metal.