achilles and patroclus are now thirteen. their bodies change, and they notice the other boys in the palace begin sleeping with women. one night, peleus tells achilles and patroclus the story of meleager, who was the strongest warrior of his time, and how he refused to fight after the king of calydon declined to give meleager his riches. as a result, the city of calydon was attacked. while peleus tells the story, achilles plays with patroclus’ feet. before they bid peleus goodnight, peleus suggests that achilles look for a servant girl to sleep with. achilles says he is too tired tonight, but maybe some other time. patroclus asks achilles if he likes the servant girl, and achilles angrily pushes patroclus and says he’s tired of talking about her.

one day while on the beach with achilles, patroclus kisses him. patroclus, filled with shame, watches as achilles runs away. on his way back to the palace, patroclus is approached by an enraged thetis who tells patroclus that she saw the kiss and that achilles will be leaving the palace. later that night, achilles informs patroclus that he will be leaving in the morning to become chiron’s student.