I awake in my two tower property area of the castle my family lives in. I'm Echo of Sparta, but my friends in the village call me just Echo. My family are the rulers of the Port of Sparta in Greece. But we call Greece the country Hellas instead.
Greece is what the Romans call us. The year is 401 BC. Even though I don't know that. I sleep on a loom made by my personal seamstress. She says it's styled like the ones Athena, the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy , makes. It has a woven picture of a garden sanctuary on it.
I was wearing a handmade purple silk gown the villagers gave me as a gift at my favorite festival. I slid out of bed and onto the cold stone floor. I looked out my window of the the tower. It was almost sunrise. I'm 12 years of age so I go to a manor in the town to get my education with others my age.
I slipped off my gown and dropped it down a chute that leads to ground level. It gets washed there. I put on a pearl colored chiton that went to my knees. I put a traditional crown on with my dark brown hair tied up into a bun.
I put on gladiator styled sandals and open the top of the chute and slide down it. I am not allowed to to slide down it because it's dangerous, but no one is in the wash room this early.
It was a long trip down , but it was fun. I landed on my feet and walked out of the room. I headed
down to the dining hall to eat. No one eats with me. They all sleep in late. Even the servants.
But I saw my friend, Isabel, in there at the table. She was one of the servants and my hand maiden.
" Good morning. What are you doing up?"
" I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep!"Isabel said. She had blue eyes and blonde long hair. My eyes change color, but are mostly always brown. I have tan skin and Isabel has fair skin. We're different but we are still best friends.
" Well you can get to the manor early then today."
" That sounds perfect! And we can pick up Simone on the way!"
" I always pick up Simone, Isabel!" Everyday I walk with Simone to the learning center. Isabel and I grabbed our brown fur cloaks and head out of the great gates of the castle. Forts were towering above us with centuries in each one guarding the castle.
Some of the centuries opened the main gates for us.
" Thank you , Jacob and Jason."I said to the men. I turn to Isabel and say, " In eleven moons our whole family is going to Athens!"
" Really? That wonderful. Well it is a tradition for your dynasty!"Isabel replies.
" Oh we are here. You wait here while I get Simone."I announced to Isabel. I walked up the front path to a little straw and wooden cottage. I knocked on the door with the brass handle.
I heard the shuffling of feet inside. Simone's mother answered the door. She greets me with, "Oh , hello dear. Come inside! Come inside!"I walked inside and sat down at the small wooden table in middle of the room.
" Simone woke late this morning without me knowing it! He's getting ready now in his bedchamber . And might I say you look like Artemis herself!" I smiled. Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, young girls, and maidens.
" I got a gift from Samuel, one of our guards, and I'll really be like Artemis because it was a bow and a quiver of arrows!"I exclaimed. I got that gift and shot at a tree all that day.
Just as I was saying that, Simone ran down the hall from his bedroom. Him and I walked out and towards said hi to Simone and we all walked down the street talking , all the way to the manor.
The headmistress, Agnes, popped her head out the door and said, " Good morning, my lovely children!"
" Good morning, Lady Agnes!"Isabel , Simone, and I greeted at the same time. We walked through the long hallways until we reached the last classroom on the right. Lady Paula shooed us in the almost full room.
We did language and learning social manners all day. At lunch I sat with Simone and we talked about my trip to Athens . Isabel finally decided to show up and we all talk about her new conversation with one of the teachers in the hallway.
At the end of the day I just got to the main road when I see Jacob running towards me.
" Miss Lady Echo, the your family needs you now!" I looked at Simone and Isabel one more time and I saw horrified looks on their faces before I start to sprint home.
" Isabel, stay with Simone today! I'll come pick you up later!" I called over my shoulder. News like this is never good! I was so deep in my thoughts I didn't notice a log placed right in front of me.
I tripped and went flying through the air. I landed in a pose where I landed on head and neck. It hurt. I laid there for I don't know how long before I blacked out. I heard the gasps of my friends right before.