Achilles stood leaning on his spear while Athena went to Hector in the form and voice of Deiphobos. She came close and said brother should not hold back alone; together they would face Achilles and see whether he died or they.
Hector answered that Deiphobos had always been dearest of his brothers, and now more, for he had dared come outside when others stayed in fear. Athena as Deiphobos said father and mother and comrades had begged him to remain, but grief for Hector drove him out. Now they should fight hard and spare no spear.
So she led him on by cunning. When the two came near, Hector spoke first and said he would flee no longer. Three times he had run around Priam's great city and not dared stand; now his heart bid him face Achilles. He asked for a covenant: the winner would strip the armor but give the body back to his people.
Achilles glared and answered that there could be no covenants between men and lions, nor one mind between wolves and lambs. He would not take Hector's offer. Now one of them would glut Ares with his blood.
He poised his spear and hurled. Hector watched and crouched; the spear flew over and stuck in the ground. Athena snatched it up and gave it back to Achilles unseen. Hector cried that the throw had missed and said now it was his turn; the war-god Ares was evenhanded.
He cast, and the spear struck the middle of Achilles' shield but rebounded and did not pierce it. Hector was angry, for he had no second spear. He called to Deiphobos for another — and Deiphobos was gone. Then Hector knew the gods had called him to death.