I spend quite some time talking to the guards. They come and go and investigate. Eventually they politely escort me back to the palace and take me to the main hall. I sit alone at the table for a while and decide I need a drink. I barely water it down at all. I have finished the glass when a voice behind me says “Hail!” For a moment I think that it is Minos sitting on his throne, but that is not possible. Then I realize that it it is the voice of my friend Corwin. Then I hear the voice again.

“All hail, my home! Some joy I feel on seeing thee again on my return from Troy, some sorrow too the sight recalls,” Troy?! What is going on? This is very wierd. Have I gone mad? Or am I just drunk? But I only had the one glass didn’t I? I look at the glass and realize that it is full of wine again. I notice a figure reflected in the wine and look up to see Corwin pointing to me as if he had flesh.
“for never yet have I beheld a house more closely encircled by the net of dire affliction...”
I suddenly remember the old play he is quoting from and realize what he is doing. But is he talking about me in general or this recent attack on me? Could they be the same? But I don’t have time to mull this over. I decide to take over his lines from the play.

“Ye gods! what do I see? What death's-head greets my sight?” I quote

“Thou art right; I am dead through misery, though I still gaze upon
the sun.” Corwin promptly replys.
I decide to try an experiment and skip some lines again, “How terribly thy tearless eyeballs glare!”

“My body is vanished and gone, though my name hath not yet deserted me.” he replies and I wonder if his funeral games are indeed done.

“Unsightly apparition, so different from what I expected!” I continue the diologue.

The shade of Corwin smiles, “ I have heard all; be chary of thy tale of woe”

This isn’t Orestes’ next line but rather Menelaus’ again,

“Is that what you came to tell me?” I ask him and as he fades I here the Phrygians lines coming from him, “Ah me for Ilium, for Ilium, the city of Phrygia, and for Ida's holy hill with fruitful soil!”

“Wait! Don’t go!” I rush up but only succeed in knocking over the goblet which crashes to the floor. Just then Anna enters. She looks at me and asks what is wrong.
I smile slightly I think and reply, “It seems that the shades of the past are haunting the present.”