CHAPTER 5
I soon become quite familiar with the members of Medusa's household, more so in fact than I have ever been with my own family. Medusa's mother, Aspasia, is a handsome woman with sparkling green eyes and an energetic presence that belies the delicacy of her growing pregnancy. Despite the servants' constant pleas for her to rest more and leave the running of the house to them, Aspasia insists on personally tending her herb garden and preparing her tinctures. She also tries to get me to consume more food at mealtimes, saying that I am too thin and that such girls will never gain suitable husbands and secure futures. As a goddess, I would normally be quite insulted that anyone – and a mortal, of all people- would say such things to me. I cannot explain why but I find that I enjoy the attention Aspasia showers upon me. Maybe it is because I never experienced the strong filial bond known to exist between mothers and their daughters. Although Hera has certainly done the best she can to alleviate my loneliness, she is not my mother and never can be.
I do not see as much of Medusa's father, Dorian, as I do of Aspasia and the female members of the household. Except for Titos and Medusa's slave Spiro, the rest of the male inhabitants lead almost invisible lives. Their world lies in the lower part of the house, where Dorian spends his time conducting business or entertaining his male friends. Sometimes the sound of the men's voices will faintly carry to the upper rooms where we women spend most of our time. Dorian is a handsome stocky man with only a few tinges of grey in his blonde hair. His eyes are somewhere between blue and green and often give his face an amused expression. Although he clearly adores Aspasia, I have seen Dorian exchange secret passionate looks with the household's head manservant, Alexandros. I am aware that such feelings between males can exist; no doubt some of my brothers have carried on sexual intrigues with various unnamed mortal men. If Aspasia is aware of Dorian's wandering eye, she does not give any sign of it. At times, I think she is a bit relieved when her husband's attentions are not focused on her. Whenever she thinks no one is looking, I sometimes see a look of exhaustion creep across her face. But it is not a look of dissatisfied tiredness; she clearly feels proud of her efficiently-run household and enjoys the daily challenges that come with it. At the same time, though, it is clear to see why the servants worry about her taking too active a role during her pregnancy.
Although little Titos is known as the "Little Master" of the house, he is more restricted to the house than either Medusa or I and can often be seen trudging up the stairs to the women's quarters for his lessons while complaining that everyone other than he has a more pleasant life. Though he clearly enjoys being naughty and never hesitates to try the patience of both nurse and tutor, I have not yet seen Titos make extra work for or physically abuse a slave.
Medusa herself is the heart of the family and seems to spur on the other household inhabitants to reach their daily potential for success. She urges her mother to rest when she feels Aspasia is overtaxing herself. Medusa also has no trouble acting as mistress of the house and managing financial accounts is no grueling task for her. She personally sees to it that the andron, or the room where Dorian entertains male visitors, is daily tidied and that the food and wine served are only the finest. In short, it is Medusa and the servants that give the house its efficient yet wholly restful atmosphere.
Some time passes after my arrival at Medusa's house and one afternoon in the women's quarters, Aspasia informs us that we shall be attending a wedding in three days. Medusa is at the loom, adding the finishing weaving touches to a new tunic for Dorian. I am occupied with a less pleasant task- cleaning the sheep's wool in preparation for dyeing. It is quite disgusting, for one must get rid of all the dirt and grease often found matted in the wool. Even less pleasant is picking the burrs and endless insects that are also tangled within the wool. As it is, I feel some relief at the news of a pleasant distraction- even if it is a wedding. One cannot expect a virgin goddess to become greatly ecstatic over an event that is contrary to her way of life.
Medusa has also put down her work and is gazing at her mother with rapt attention. "Who is getting married? Is it anyone we know?"
Aspasia smiles at her eldest child as she tucks a stray auburn behind Medusa's left ear. "It is your cousin Phoebe, dear. She is marrying Cosmas, eldest son of Euclid the magistrate."
I have only seen Cosmas and Euclid a few times and only then from behind the curtained window in the women's quarters. Euclid is a portly man of about sixty whose deliberate slowness in his movements gives the impression that he is always pondering some weighty manner. Cosmas is at least three decades younger and, although broad-shouldered himself, is less ample than his father but just as quiet. I have also seen Medusa's cousin Phoebe when the latter comes to visit. She is no more than fourteen, young enough to be Cosmas' daughter, but such marriages are not uncommon among mortals in Arcadia. Phoebe is awfully talkative and always manages to neglect her share of the weaving whenever she comes over. Imagining her as Cosmas' wife and mother of his children is as difficult as picturing the two of them physically consummating the marriage…
With a shudder, I tear my mind away from the image that no respectable virgin should have in her head. It is not that I have a strange aversion to carnal acts; I merely do not like the idea of enduring physical pain from male penetration. But that does not mean I am not curious about the act. I know that some of my fellow Olympians, mostly the males, spy on mortal couples in passionate heat. I, on the other hand, see this as voyeurism and so instead observe the sexual antics of animals.
Now I return my mind to the present.
"I am rather new to attending weddings," I say to Aspasia and Medusa while resuming my scouring of the unwashed wool. "Will you both provide me with instruction concerning the procedures?"
