The story ends with a flash forward to Priams' inglorious death at the hands of Achilles' son, Neoptolemus. Achilles (partly due to the nostalgia stirred up when he mistakes Priam for his own father, Peleus) agrees, and the exchange is made. Priam appeals to Achilles's conscience, reminding him of his own father and son (here Malouf juxtaposes Priam's grief at the death of his son and Achilles' grief at Patroclus' death), in trying to persuade him to return Hector to Troy for a proper burial. With guidance from the god of travellers, Hermes, Priam eventually meets Achilles at his camp. After recruiting a common cart driver, Somax, from the market square, Priam and his driver set out for the Greek camp. When Priam explains his plan to his family and advisors, it is met with resistance. Priam cannot stand the abuse of his beloved son's body, and (prompted by the messenger-goddess Iris in a dream) decides that he will approach Achilles without his royal decorations, mortal to mortal, and attempt to ransom Hector's body back with the better part of the Trojan treasury. The narrative shifts from Achilles to Priam, Hector's father, and the King of Troy.

This causes much dismay to the Trojans and his own men, as it is an unprecedented act of barbarism, and is made worse by the ancient belief held by both Greeks and Trojans that Hector's soul cannot pass into the afterlife unless it is given a proper burial, something that Achilles refuses to allow. Achilles, enraged at his friend's death, slays Hector, Patroclus' killer, and drags Hector's corpse behind a chariot around the walls of Troy and Patroclus' funeral pyre for the next ten days. This story begins with Achilles mourning the death of Patroclus (who is described as his kinsman, cousin or lover in various books and films) during the Trojan War.

It retells the story of the Iliad from books 22 to 24.

Ransom (2009) is a novel by Australian author David Malouf.

Ransom malouf