“I still don’t understand why you have to leave.” “My mother is not one to be refused,” said Achilles with a rueful smile. “She has a strange bee buzzing in her ear. She is convinced there is a war coming and that if I fight in it I will be killed.” “Then she is right to take you away!” “I’m not afraid of dying!” “No,” said Patroclus, “but you are afraid of your mother.” Achilles grinned and punched his friend on the arm. “Not as afraid as you are.”
