Chapter Three

Summary

• The character stands in a field holding two dice which he cannot remember who gave to him.
• He is confronted by Clysonymus, an unpleasant older boy whose father frequently visits the palace. Clysonymus demands to see the dice, but the character refuses.
• The character, a prince, resents the intended disrespect that was Clysonymus and the other noble sons' usual treatment of him. Nevertheless, Clysonymus attempts to take the dice by force and steps forward.
• The character refuses and defensively steps back. Clysonymus taunts him, alleging his father called him a coward.
• Clysonymus tries to take the dice again, prompting the character to push him away. Clysonymus falls onto a stone, his head bleeding profusely, causing the character to run away in horror.
• They later find the character in shock under an olive tree. He has lost the dice in his flight and is taken inside by his father's angry command.
• In response to Clysonymus's death, his powerful family nobles demand the character's death or exile. The character's father chooses the latter to avoid losing his kingdom, knowing heirs are easy to obtain.
• The character is then sent to Phthia, ruled by the kind King Peleus, and becomes one of many foster sons in the king's large palace.
• During his first day, he meets and leaves an unfavorable first impression on Achilles, Peleus' biological son.
• The character adapts to daily life in the palace, attending training in martial arts during the mornings and spending his afternoons alone after breakfast.
• The character is haunted by nightmares of the deceased Clysonymus every night, with the dreams persisting despite his appeals to their magical moon goddess.