Chapter Ten

Summary

• The chapter starts with the narrator and Achilles celebrating the arrival of Spring after an unusually long winter.
• The boys, now fifteen, notice changes in their bodies and acknowledge their growth into manhood. They spend a lot of time outdoors, swimming, hunting, and enjoying the sun.
• The narrator and Achilles share a physical relationship, marking a new phase in their bond, which they keep hidden within their private cave.
• The narrator passionately describes their shared moments, implying their physical relationship grows and they spend a lot of time together exploring each other's bodies.
• The narrator shows insecurity and fear about how their mentor, Chiron, will react upon knowing about their relationship. Achilles, however, is assertive, seemingly unfazed by what others, including his parents, might think.
• The chapter ends with a royal messenger from Achilles' father, arriving to summon Achilles back home for some urgent business.
• Achilles is reluctant but obliges. He and the narrator speculate about the news, hoping they will only be away for a few days.
• Before departing, their mentor Chiron gives them both strange farewell messages implying caution or warning, leaving them unsettled.
• The boys leave their peaceful life on the mountain and head towards Phthia, resulting in feelings of apprehension and uncertainty about the future.