Chapter 18

The Other Side

AND SO ENDS the story of how Hypergamy arrived in the city of Iolcos and became its high priestess at the Temple of Aphrodite. This was not the end of her story, of course – as a priestess, she would go on to have further stories of her own. But one could call this 'the end of the beginning' and not be far wrong. That being said, it is also true that life does not happen in neat-and-tidy stories. People may exit one's life, but that doesn't mean they disappear. The River flows one way and then the other, but there are still splashes and floods and unexpected disruptions. The course is seldom neat and endings are seldom tidy. Not in the real world.

Hypergamy discovered this one afternoon as she was tidying up her living area. She had passed her second winter in Iolcos and the weather was starting to get warmer, but today there was a chill in the air. The temple had a few visitors that morning, but by noon it was empty and Hypergamy had gone into her rooms rather than hang around in the chamber. As she busied herself with some general tidying, she looked at the hearth that held a small concentration of ash and blackened wood fragments. It could definitely use a clean, but not while she was wearing her white priestess robe.

Hypergamy was considering locking up the temple and getting changed, when she felt the now-familiar mental tap on her shoulder. There had been no sound nor sign, but Hypergamy knew that someone had just entered the temple. Her ability to sense this had felt weird at first, but now she took it for granted. She gave her hands a quick wash in the bowl of rosewater, smoothed down her robe and went through the curtain into the temple.

A woman was standing before the statue, her back to Hypergamy. She wore a long travelling cloak with the hood down and her blond hair was plaited into a single braid that hung down her back. Her hands were on her hips, revealing bare arms that were lean and muscular for a woman. There was a copper bracelet on one wrist and a silver wedding ring, but no other adornments. Yet something about the woman's stance suggested this was a conscious choice rather than not having the means to afford jewellery. Then the woman turned, and Hypergamy found herself looking into blue eyes that she hadn't seen in two years.

'Zora!'

In six steps, Hypergamy was before her, taking hold of the other woman's forearms. Yes, it was really her. Zoravelina. Hypergamy's gaze traced the other woman's face – her smooth brow, the shape of her cheekbones, the curve of her thin but perfect lips. She looked into her eyes and saw that Zoravelina looked as overwhelmed as herself. Then, as her hands slid down Zoravelina's forearms, she felt Zoravelina's hands. The palms were hard, the fingertips calloused. Hypergamy turned the hands palm-up and looked down at them.

She felt the other woman try to pull away. Hypergamy looked back up. Zoravelina was avoiding her gaze and her mouth opened up to speak. It was going to be an apology for her hands—Hypergamy could feel it—and she was appalled by the thought that this beautiful woman felt the need to apologise for such a thing. Hypergamy took Zoravelina's face in her hands and kissed her.

She had intended it to be a kiss of reassurance, but the moment her mouth met the other woman's mouth, it lost all hope of being anything but erotic. The feel of Zoravelina's lips, her tongue, the taste of her mouth … it all flooded back to her. Her whole body began to remember Zoravelina, the woman she loved, and as they kissed and slid their hands around each other, that feeling got increasingly stronger. The kissing went on and on, past the point where they normally stopped. Indeed … there was no normal. Not anymore. And even as she kissed and was kissed back, Hypergamy was aware of the inherent contradiction. This kissing was the most amazing, wonderful, miraculous thing to be happening … and yet it was familiar, a homecoming, as normal as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

Hypergamy slid her hands beneath the other woman's cloak and took hold of Zoravelina's bottom, one buttock in either hand. Slowly and purposefully, she squeezed. Hypergamy felt Zoravelina smile under the kissing and then Zoravelina moved her head back and looked Hypergamy in the eye. Hypergamy felt in the moment that to be smiled at like that was something worth dying for.

'Well…' said Zoravelina, and the sound of that posh voice with its note of irony sent a flood to between Hypergamy's legs. '…it's nice to be remembered.'

Zoravelina had a bodyguard waiting outside the temple, borrowed from Planina's house guard. She gave him a message for her sister that she would be staying the night with her dear friend Hypergamy, then she went back inside and watched the priestess lock and bar the doors. The two women chatted as they went to Hypergamy's living quarters and began to undress. Zoravelina was the first to be naked and Hypergamy saw that she was lean and fit, her breasts and torso milky white while her face and limbs showed the browning of the sun. She also noticed with a smile that Zoravelina still brushed the soles of her feet in the same prissy manner before climbing under the bedcovers.

Hypergamy herself took her time getting undressed. When she had undone her hair and taken off her sandals, she sat on the bed unlacing her robe while listening to Zoravelina talk about her new life. She now lived on a farm with fields and pastures to tend, but her pride and joy was their stable of six horses. In the city, Zoravelina had thought nothing of horses other than as a mode of transport, but that view had transformed in the countryside. Syphon had taught her to ride and now she loved nothing more than galloping across the land with the wind in her hair. Zoravelina spoke passionately about the power of a horse, of their personalities and temperaments, how they rewarded confidence and punished timidity, and how they were so much more than mindless beasts. Hypergamy listened in such fascination that she stopped undressing and Zoravelina had to give her a kick from under the covers.

'Hey, come on!' she said. 'We can talk later.'

And, indeed, when Hypergamy slipped naked into bed and the two women's bodies pressed against one another, there was very little conversation. They started off in their usual roles—Hypergamy on top, Zoravelina below—their mouths kissing and licking while their hands and legs explored each other. Then Hypergamy began work with her tongue on Zoravelina's ear while her fingers began work on her cunt. Hypergamy alternated between wet caresses on her lover's highly sensitive earlobes and whispering what she would be doing to her later. She took Zoravelina to the precipice of pleasure and beyond, and Zoravelina cried out and clutched at the other woman as her body shook in orgasm. She let out an unladylike grunt, her fist tight in Hypergamy's hair, and Hypergamy felt the sudden urge to climb onto her lover's face.

As Zoravelina came down from her first orgasm, she was like a woman drugged, with lidded eyes and a slack lower jaw. When she became aware that Hypergamy was looking at her, it was with difficulty that her gaze swivelled over to meet Hypergamy's. Zoravelina could tell something was up, but she was still too blasted by the orgasm to think straight. Hypergamy smiled, withdrew the hand from her lover's vagina and ran her wet fingers across Zoravelina's forehead and into her hair. She did this several times, finally wiping the last vestiges down the other woman's cheek.

Zoravelina's gaze never left Hypergamy's. If there was any change in expression, it might have been in a glint in the eye that seemed to say, 'If you want to shock me, you'll have to do better than that.' Hypergamy gave Zoravelina a kiss on the lips and felt the kiss being returned.

'I love you,' said Hypergamy.

She pushed herself upwards, rising out of the covers like a whale breaching the water. Hypergamy placed her knees astride Zoravelina's head while holding onto the headboard of the bed. She felt the other woman's hands on her hips and before Hypergamy could lower herself, she felt those hands pulling her downwards, felt the head rise up, and a mouth and a tongue were suddenly invading her vaginal lips. Hypergamy gave a great cry, relaxing herself on her lover's face, supporting her own weight on the bedframe. Zoravelina began eating her out like a woman possessed and Hypergamy felt her whole body shudder.

'This is Elysium,' she thought. 'I have died and this is Elysium.'

An impulse seized her. She reached down with one hand and began fingering her clit. Faster and faster she went, as the other woman licked her out. Then, suddenly, she was there – Hypergamy felt the orgasm hit as she ejaculated clear liquid. She heard Zoravelina shriek, but Hypergamy kept going, spurting and crying out. She grabbed Zoravelina by the hair and circled her hips, rubbing her flooding cunt over the other woman's face like a cat rubbing itself on a post, marking its territory.

'You're mine, you bitch, all mine!' gasped Hypergamy. 'You belong to me!'

The sun had come out and yellow sunlight was coming in through the small window openings. Hypergamy felt a slight change in warmth, but her eyes were tight shut as she knelt on the bed, her forehead pressed against the wall above the headboard. She was still kneeling in the same position, but Zoravelina had slipped out from underneath, saying she needed to pee in a somewhat shaky voice. Hypergamy said nothing, but inside she was castigating herself.

She didn't hear the other woman pee, but she did hear the scrape of the clay piss pot as it was returned to its place under the foot of the bed. This was followed by the splash of water from the rosewater bowl. Then, as she knelt with her forehead cold against the wall, she felt the bed move and a hand ran over her shoulder and down her back.

'Are you all right?' said Zoravelina.

'I don't know.'

'Hey … look at me.'

Hypergamy sighed, rolled her forehead sideways and opened her eyes. Zoravelina was kneeling next to her on the bed, her brow wrinkled in concern. Her hand was still warm on Hypergamy's bare back.

'What's bothering you?' said Zoravelina.

'I think you already know.'

'All right, maybe I do. Are you worried that I might be … perturbed?'

'Not the word I would have chosen.'

'What, then? Shocked? Offended?' She hesitated. 'Disgusted?'

Hypergamy winced. Zoravelina moved up to her, forcing her around to face her.

'Don't do this, Hypergamy,' she said. 'All this time, you've been showing me how to let go in bed, and now you're the one pulling away?'

'I lost control.'

'I love it that you lost control! I want you to lose control!'

'You screamed.'

'It took me by surprise! Come on, Hypergamy! Don't you trust me? Or do you still think of me as a spoiled little girl?'

Hypergamy looked miserable. Zoravelina shook her head and kissed her, full on the mouth, with lips and tongue. Hypergamy tried to kiss back, but the emotions spilled over and she was sobbing and crying. She felt Zoravelina take charge, moving her away from the wall and lying her down on the bed. Zoravelina lay next to her and gathered Hypergamy into her arms, hooking one leg around the other woman's legs. Hypergamy pressed her face against Zoravelina's breast as she cried, holding her tight and feeling the emotions rage through her system.

'I love you so much! I love you so much!' wailed Hypergamy. 'But I'd forgotten how much! Until … until…'

A fresh wave of melancholy engulfed her and she was crying again. Zoravelina held her and soothed her. Hypergamy lay sobbing herself out in wave after wave of emotion, until the waters began to calm and she began to feel herself returning to normal. She felt Zoravelina use her hand to dry her face and she smiled at how both rough and tender that hand felt. Hypergamy looked at the other woman and saw such love, such acceptance, that her heart ached, and she wondered how she had managed without it for so long.

'I love you, Zoravelina,' she said. 'I love you.'

'I know,' said the other woman. 'And I love you too.'

The two women looked at each other, their eyes happy and sad, their hands touching each other's body, their legs entangled together. Zoravelina ran her fingers through Hypergamy's hair and then she rested her hand on the other woman's cheek. She sighed and her expression turned serious. It was as though a cloud had moved before the sun.

'There's a couple of things I want to ask you,' said Zoravelina.

'Of course.'

'The first is practical. I'll be staying in Iolcos for about a month with my sister. Now, obviously I have to see friends and family—and I imagine you have work to do—but I would like to stay here as much as I can.'

'I would love that, my darling.'

'Good. Thank you.'

'Don't be silly. What's the second thing?'

Zoravelina took a deep breath.

'When I go back to Neocharossos,' she said, 'I want you to come with me.'

'To visit the family?'

'No. I want you to live with us.'

Hypergamy blinked, a little stunned. Zoravelina moved closer, her legs gripping one of Hypergamy's legs between them.

'I just want you to think about it,' she said. 'And promise me you'll ask the Goddess for her guidance.'

'I've already asked her about you.'

'That was before I came back.'

Zoravelina moved so that she was on top of Hypergamy. She looked down with an intense gaze, her whole body pressing onto her.

'You are the love of my life, Hypergamy,' she said. 'The love of my life. What happened between us was not a dream or a phase or some kind of wish fulfilment. It was real. It is real. And the reason I came back to Iolcos is because I don't want to live without you.'

Hypergamy looked into Zoravelina's blue eyes and saw both fear and determination. She gave herself a moment to choose her words.

'Zoravelina, my darling,' she said. 'I don't want to live without you either. But "want" is the operative word here. What we want and what the gods want for us are not the same things.'

'That's why I'm asking you to consult the Goddess of Love,' said Zoravelina. 'After all, she was the one who brought us together. Can she really mean for us to live separate lives?'

Hypergamy pondered that. It was a good question. She ran her hands along Zoravelina's body and tightened her embrace.

'All right, I'll ask her,' said Hypergamy. 'I promise.'

'Thank you, my love,' said Zoravelina, and now she was the one with tears in her eyes. 'Thank you.'

The days that followed would count as among the happiest of Hypergamy's life. Zoravelina spent almost every night with her and it was marvellous to wake up next to the woman she loved with a whole day stretching before them. Hypergamy found that it was the simple things that moved her the most – preparing a meal together, holding hands when no-one was around, lazing under the fig tree with Zoravelina lying in her arms. She still did her work at the temple, but sometimes Zoravelina would stay and watch, even bringing cups of water when necessary or chatting to people waiting.

For her part, Zoravelina got to see Hypergamy's new life as a priestess. What she saw in particular was how much of Hypergamy's work was simply listening. People would come to the Temple of Aphrodite with their stories—both women and men, both the young and the old—and there was so much pain and heartbreak and loneliness in those stories. And yet, unlike the priestesses of Hera, Hypergamy never offered unasked-for advice nor uttered nice-sounding homilies. Mostly, she just listened and made them feel heard, and for many visitors that seemed to be enough. Zoravelina noticed how often people walked out of the temple with their spines a little straighter than when they walked in.

One morning, Hypergamy suggested that she close the temple and that they take some food to a grassy ridge she knew overlooking the bay. Zoravelina thought that was a fine idea. They wrapped up some goat's cheese, bread, apples, and olives, packing it into Hypergamy's hemp bag which she carried on one shoulder. She wore a simple off-white dress covered with a travelling cloak that she intended to use as a blanket on the grass. Zoravelina carried a leather waterskin and together they made their way through the streets leading upwards. Eventually, the houses thinned out and there was a natural ridge of limestone that marked the present edge of the city. Hypergamy led Zoravelina onto a track through knee-high grass that opened out onto undulating hills and pastures. There was the odd stone farm visible in the distance, but not a soul to be seen. And in the other direction was the glittering blue sea stretching off to the horizon.

'Wow!' said Zoravelina. 'It's beautiful!'

'You've never been up here?'

'What, a woman of my station?'

Zoravelina had parodied her own posh voice and Hypergamy smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. She set down the bag, unhooked her cloak and laid it out over the grass. Zoravelina went over to join her, lifting the skirt of her dress so that she could sit on the ground.

'You know,' said Zoravelina, 'one of the things I love about living in the country is the freedom. All right, I have to consider social expectations when Syphon and I go into town, but here in Iolcos I was obsessed!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'Well, you know what I mean. I certainly couldn't ride a horse the way I do in the country. It would cause a scandal!'

'How do you manage with the dress?'

'I don't wear one.'

Hypergamy seemed to go dizzy. She busied herself looking into the bag. Zoravelina watched her with a wry grin on her face.

'What are you thinking?' she said.

'None of your business.'

Zoravelina laughed. 'Actually, I have a special riding outfit. It's basically the same short tunic that men wear when they ride, but cut to my size.'

'I'd love to see you in that.'

'I'd love to show you. You know, my husband gets a hard-on whenever he sees me on a horse.'

'I'll bet he does.'

Hypergamy took from the bag a couple of clay cups wrapped up in a cloth and gestured for the waterskin.

'So, how is our friend, Syphon?' she said.

'Oh, the same grumpy bastard,' said Zoravelina. 'Except with the children, of course.'

'Yes, and how are they?'

'Castor is doing well,' said Zoravelina, accepting a cup of water. 'He may be only six, but he's lost that babyness he used to have. His father takes him out round the farm and on trips to the woods. He's becoming a real little man.'

'And Callista?'

'She's having a more difficult time, I'm afraid.'

'I'm sorry to hear that.'

'Well, she was quite pampered here and rural life is way tougher. Syphon has a few farm hands, but we don't have servants anymore and she doesn't like all the work.'

Zoravelina looked at her own hands, examining the callouses.

'It took some time getting used to that myself,' she said.

'I can imagine.'

'What about you? How do you like living alone?'

'I hate to say it, but I think it suits me.' Hypergamy stretched out her legs. 'I've never had my own place, you see. Staying with you was the first time I'd even had my own room.'

'My goodness…'

'I know that technically the temple building belongs to the city, but it feels like mine. Do you know what I mean? It's been two years and I still get a kick out of having my own home.'

'I'm sure you do…'

Zoravelina put down her empty cup and stared out at the sea. Her hair was loosely pinned back and it danced and waved in the breeze. Hypergamy took off her sandals and moved to recline next to the other woman, their hips touching. She put her hand on Zoravelina's leg.

'Are you disappointed to hear that, my love?'

'Yes,' came the answer.

'Are you surprised?'

Zoravelina sighed. 'No.'

There was a silence. Hypergamy moved her leg so that it was touching the other woman's foot. She gave Zoravelina's leg a small squeeze.

'This invitation to live with you,' she said. 'Is it a one-time offer? Or could I count on it if I experience a change in fortunes?'

Zoravelina looked at her, eyes gleaming.

'Anytime you want,' she said. 'Seriously. Come stay with us anytime you want.'

'Would Syphon be okay with that?'

'He'd welcome it!' Zoravelina hesitated. 'Well, um…'

'So long as I slept with him?'

'Yes.'

Zoravelina looked concerned, but she didn't look away. Hypergamy held her gaze for a moment, then pushed herself onto the other woman. Zoravelina was rolled onto her back on the cloak, the long grass effectively hiding them from view. Hypergamy was on top, looking down into her eyes.

'If I'm going to fuck your husband,' she said, 'then I want you to be there.'

'If you insist.'

'And not just as an observer. I want to see you ride his cock.'

'Are you sure about that?'

Hypergamy blinked. There was a cold edge to the voice and she now saw a coldness in Zoravelina's eyes. Hypergamy leaned back on her arms, still on top but giving herself a little distance.

'What's going on?' she said.

Zoravelina swallowed and looked away. She let it stew for a moment, then looked back up. Her eyes were shiny with tears.

'Before he died, Yiorgos told me about when you came to the house,' she said in a shaking voice. 'And that you made him promise not to tell us.'

Hypergamy felt tears prick her own eyes. She began to move off the other woman, but Zoravelina grabbed onto her.

'No, don't go,' she said. 'Just tell me why you didn't come into the bedroom.'

'You and Syphon were making love.'

'We would have stopped.'

'I didn't want you to stop! It was a bloody miracle that it was happening at all! And I didn't want to ruin it.'

Hypergamy tried again to roll off, but Zoravelina took her head in her hands, holding her in place. She had strength in those hands now and Hypergamy realised that she couldn't count on overpowering the other woman anymore. Zoravelina was looking at her and her gaze was fierce.

'You knew that we loved you,' said Zoravelina. 'And I'm speaking for Syphon as well as myself. He was just as gutted when he found out.'

'Zora, I appreciate that…'

'No, I don't think you do!'

Tears spilled from Zoravelina's eyes and ran down the sides of her face.

'Do you have any idea how often Syphon and I speak of you? The fact that we have a marriage at all is entirely down to you. And if you had walked into that room, it wouldn't have mattered that you were interrupting us having sex … we would have been overjoyed to see you! Absolutely overjoyed! And you know that! Don't you?'

Hypergamy had tears dropping from her own eyes. They were landing in the other woman's hair, but Zoravelina didn't even blink. Hypergamy spoke in a choked voice.

'It was too soon…' she said.

'Too soon for what?'

'For Syphon to know how much you and I love each other.'

'He knew already!'

'Yes, but knowing with your head and actually witnessing it are two different things.'

'That's just an excuse…'

'I didn't want to share you!'

Hypergamy had almost shouted it. She took hold of herself, forcing her body to relax and her voice to be even. She looked Zoravelina in the eye.

'I didn't want to share you,' she said. 'I wanted you all to myself. And even if I'd tried to play along, Syphon would have felt it. And it was too soon for the two of you. It was too soon.'

Hypergamy held the other woman's gaze, this time without difficulty. Zoravelina looked back, her gaze just as firm, just as unwavering. Then Hypergamy felt the hands on her head pull her down and Zoravelina kissed her with such ferocity that Hypergamy felt the woman's teeth. She returned the kiss and the ferocity, her hands grabbing Zoravelina by the hair as she kissed. Then Hypergamy felt herself being rolled to the side and now Zoravelina was on top, kissing and pawing at her. Her hand found its way under Hypergamy's dress, to between Hypergamy's legs, and Hypergamy drove her tongue deep into the other woman's mouth to let her know that this was exactly what she wanted.

The last days of Zoravelina's final week were both exquisite and poignant. Zoravelina spent every night at the temple, except for the last night which she had promised to her sister. Planina was holding a family dinner the night before and Zoravelina would be leaving first thing in the morning. There were three carts heading north with an escort of armed horsemen and Zoravelina had bought herself a place on one of them.

On their last day together, Zoravelina helped Hypergamy in the temple. She sat with the visitors—mostly women—who were waiting for the priestess, but she spoke to a few of them, trying to listen the way Hypergamy listened. At the end of the day, Hypergamy locked up, changed out of her white robe, and the two women had a simple supper together. The mood was subdued, the conversation casual, and after supper they went outside and lay together on a blanket under the fig tree, holding each other in silence.

When night fell, the women undressed, washed themselves and went to bed. Lying naked in each other's arms, they finally made love in the light of an oil lamp on a side table. But like their conversation that evening, the lovemaking was quiet and undramatic, with only the briefest forays into each other's vaginas. Even their orgasms were muted.

Hypergamy was on her back after just such an orgasm, feeling her lover curl up by her side. She reached an arm over, but Zoravelina resisted. Instead, she lifted herself up on one elbow and looked down at her. Hypergamy had strands of hair over her face and Zoravelina brushed them gently aside, her hand wonderfully warm on her forehead.

'I was just wondering,' said Zoravelina. 'Did you have that talk with the Goddess?'

'I did, my love.'

'Okay.'

'Would you like to hear what was said?'

'Yes, I would.'

Zoravelina was still stroking the other woman's forehead. Hypergamy smiled and looked at her as she spoke.

'The Goddess was very clear about her position,' she said. 'She wants me to be her priestess in Iolcos, but I am free to leave with you if I want to. She will not compel me to stay, nor will she punish me if I choose to live with you.'

'Was that all?'

'Not quite. She also told me that she would no longer be my goddess.'

'She would abandon you?'

'Abandon is not the right word. Did you abandon Hera when you made love to me? Or did you just realise that Hera was not the right guide for your life?'

Zoravelina looked troubled. Her leg was folded against Hypergamy's hip and Hypergamy reached down and began to stroke the thigh with the palm of her hand.

'What is it, my love?' she said.

'I don't know,' said Zoravelina. 'Aphrodite is supposed to be the Goddess of Love and we love each other. Why would she not want us to be together?'

'Because she is the goddess of a very specific kind of love. Of sexual, passionate love. But there are many other forms of love, my darling, as you well know.'

Hypergamy held the other woman's knee.

'There's maternal love,' she said. 'And love for your family and friends. And then there's the love you feel when you are doing something you believe in. I can feel it in you when you talk about taking care of your horses.'

Zoravelina sighed. She looked down at Hypergamy's body, but absently rather than sexually. She idly traced the line of Hypergamy's collar bone. Hypergamy sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

'I saw the same thing in Syphon,' she said. 'He was always very attentive to his horse. What was its name?'

'Xanthos.'

'That's right. It struck me as odd, because bad men are usually cruel to their horses. That and the fact that his children are not afraid of him. It made me wonder whether there was more to him than I was seeing.'

'Hypergamy … I really don't want to be talking about my husband.'

'Sorry.'

'It's okay.'

Zoravelina settled down, laying her head next to the other woman's head and reaching over to cuddle with her. Hypergamy reached across the bed and pulled the covers over the two of them. The two women lay together, ready to fall asleep in each other's arms. Hypergamy cleared her throat.

'Are you going to tell Syphon we made love?'

'Of course.'

'How will he react?'

'I'm going to tell him when we're in bed together. It'll turn him on. I might even end up pregnant again.'

'Would you like another child?'

'I would, actually.'

There was a silence. Hypergamy moved her hands over the other woman's skin. Zoravelina felt very warm. She ran a hand over a thigh, enjoying its smooth muscularity.

'I love you, Zora.'

'I know.'

'I love you more than anyone I've ever loved.'

'I believe you.'

'Then why do I feel this disappointment in you?'

'I can't help that, Hypergamy. It was clear to me even before tonight that your destiny is to be a priestess of Aphrodite. But I'm still disappointed that you won't give it up to be with me. Just like you're secretly disappointed that I won't give up my family to be with you.'

'I would never ask you to do that.'

'I know. But aren't you a tiny bit disappointed that I never even consider it?'

Hypergamy pushed herself up and looked down at the other woman. The oil lamp had long since sputtered out, but she could still see Zoravelina's eyes in the half-light, her gaze direct and without judgement. Hypergamy felt like her heart was going to burst.

'I love you, woman,' she said. 'I love you so very, very much.'

'I know,' said Zoravelina softly. 'And I love you right back.'

'Promise me something.'

'What?'

Hypergamy leaned in close, their noses touching.

'When your life is done and you cross the River Styx,' she said, 'I want you to come looking for me. Your children will have their own destinies by then, so you'll be a free woman.'

'And what happens when I find you?'

'I want you to be my woman. I want you to be the person I spend eternity with.'

Zoravelina's eyes glistened in the darkness. When she spoke, her voice was thick with emotion.

'I would love that,' she said.

'Do you promise?'

'I do.'

Hypergamy kissed her. Zoravelina kissed back, moving her body so that Hypergamy could position herself on top. Their hands and limbs began to move as their kissing grew more passionate. As a cloud blew across the moon, enveloping the room in the darkness of the night, the two women kicked away the covers and made love one last time.

It was her last day in Iolcos and Zoravelina was approaching her sister's house. She felt strange. Hypergamy had walked with her some of the way and before they parted, Zoravelina had made the remark, 'Back to reality'. But as she nodded a greeting to her sister's manservant and was led to the gynaikon, Zoravelina had the feeling that this was the dream and that she had left reality behind in the temple. She felt like a ghost who had already crossed the River Styx, and that the whole world around her—including her own body—was just shadows and illusions.

Still, even illusions love their families. Planina and her husband had a daughter of about the same age as Castor and Zoravelina spent some time playing with her while the servants packed her belongings in her wooden chest. At dinner with her sister and brother-in-law, she shared her concerns about Callista. While she could see Castor embracing life in the country, she felt Callista might want to go back to the city when she was older. She certainly wouldn't want to marry a farmer. Planina and her husband offered to give Callista a home when she was fifteen; this would give Planina three years to prepare her niece for the marriage market in the city. 'Assuming she wants that,' added Planina. Zoravelina embraced her and felt wonderfully close to her sister. She still felt like a ghost in a dream, but it was a good dream and Zoravelina felt guilty that she felt so little gratitude for her good fortune.

That night, Zoravelina quietly cried herself to sleep. She was awakened by a servant early in the morning while it was still dark. Planina had woken up in time to say goodbye and they gave each other one last embrace. Then Zoravelina was escorted through the streets to where the carts were waiting. The sun was beginning to peep over the horizon as Zoravelina took a seat on her chest next to some barrels and wrapped the travelling cloak around herself. There were about a dozen passengers in all and the three carts were being escorted by four armed horsemen. One of them was Syphon's former bodyguard. Zoravelina learned that her husband had secured him employment after he could no longer afford to pay him. The horseman was grateful of the chance to repay the kindness by ensuring her safety. It was a good start to the day.

The sun was on the rise as the carts trundled out of the city and onto the track that led northwards. On the advice of the horseman, Zoravelina sat in the middle cart and was leaning against a barrel with the cloak's hood over her head. They would be travelling for around a week at this speed, stopping off at inns where they could, and she dozed while fantasising about riding on horseback like a king's messenger. Then a man's voice broke into her reverie. It was one of the horsemen.

'Who's that?' she heard him say.

Zoravelina opened her eyes and looked around. The terrain was slowly transforming into undulating hills, with the track winding its way through them. To one side, the ground rose up as a grassy bank and silhouetted against the white-blue morning sky was a figure in a dark grey cloak. A gust of wind blew at it, showing a glimpse of white underneath. Zoravelina slowly rose up on the cart, lowering the hood, then taking the cloak off entirely. The horseman who had spoken looked at her in concern.

'It's all right,' she said to him. 'It's a friend seeing me off.'

Indeed it was. The figure followed Zoravelina's example, lowering the hood and letting the cloak fall. And there was Hypergamy in her priestess robe, looking not just beautiful but radiant. Zoravelina suddenly saw herself on Charon's ferry as it approached the fields of Elysium. She would look up and see Hypergamy on the shore, just as she was now. And as soon as the boat touched land, Zoravelina would jump off and run to her, throwing her arms around the other woman, never to be parted again.

Zoravelina raised her hand and from a distance Hypergamy blew her a kiss. The two women waved and blew kisses, much to the bemusement of the other travellers. And they kept on doing it, even as Hypergamy grew smaller and smaller in the distance. Then the cart went around a curve in the track and the grassy bank and the priestess were lost from view. Zoravelina had tears streaming down her face, but they were tears of joy, not of sadness.

She sat down in the cart, her back straight, her eyes glowing, as she felt her love course through her body. She no longer felt like a ghost in a dream, but present and real and happy to be alive. She fixed her gaze on the patch of hill through which she imagined Hypergamy to be and spoke to her under her breath.

'Until we meet again, my love. Until we meet again.'

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! And if you enjoyed this novel, you can find more stories about Hypergamy online. Simply google 'Hypergamy the Priestess'.