Lore doesn’t want to believe Castor is the new Apollo, but with him before her, she can’t deny it. The setup of the ceremony seems odd, and she wonders if Philip plans to kill Castor to claim Apollo’s power for himself. Castor sits on the throne, and Phillip welcomes him back to the House of Achilles, listing the honors planned to celebrate Apollo’s presence and the improvements the House of Achilles has made in the world over the last seven years, particularly in medicine. Philip ends by asking Apollo to “create a disease that we alone can cure” in order for the House of Achilles to leverage power (94). Castor refuses.

Evander (Van), a relative of Castor’s, arrives and relays information about the current Agon. The Kadmides took control of the House of Theseus, killing Tidebringer and Hermes. Amidst Van’s speech, the mirrors around the room suddenly turn red, and a voice commands, “Achillides, hear me” (97).

Around the room, hunters fall to their knees at the mercy of Wrath’s power (he instills fear with his voice). When Wrath speaks again, he addresses Castor, offering him a choice.