“There were many reasons. None of them good.” Achilles pulls the stone from his pocket and offers it to Scout, if he wants to see the truth of his shade. Not to be gruesome, but to assure him that he died by violence. “The war began after a king’s beautiful wife was stolen by a foreign prince. He gathered an army of Greeks to lay siege to the prince’s city.

“Most of us joined the king’s cause for the renown that comes from battle—killing worthy opponents, claiming their arms and armor—and the riches that come from conquest. That was why I fought …

“Until our enemies killed someone very dear to me. Then I fought for vengeance.” Which was a far more potent motivator than esteem or worldly goods. “After my death, Lamb was brought to replace me, but he was only a lad like you three. He fought hard in my name. To please me.”