Chapter 2

The Seduction

IN THE SMALL dark office lined with shelves of scrolls, the port master poured a light pink wine into two goblets. Syphon had sent word a couple of weeks earlier for Hypergamy's chest to be sent to his house, but now the woman was here in person to offer payment for the storage. The port master wouldn't hear of it, preferring for her to keep her promise. So she sat in the chair facing his desk, graciously accepted a goblet of wine, and began to tell him about everything that was happening.

Hypergamy had been given a servant's bedroom, which was in the same wing as the children's bedrooms. It was small and the bed was narrow, but the vacant guest bedroom was close to the master bedroom and Zoravelina didn't trust her husband not to sneak into Hypergamy's room in the dead of night. The port master pulled a face, as though he knew that situation only too well, and turned the conversation to her audience with the king. Hypergamy gave an ironic laugh.

'What audience with the king?' she said.

'Don't you at least have an appointment?'

'Nope.'

'The possibility of an appointment?'

'Syphon tells me he's doing everything he can, but that I must understand that the affairs of state will always take precedence over individual matters.'

'How does he know the letter is not about an affair of state?'

'I think he's guessing that the contents of the letter are not politically important.'

'Is he right?'

'Unfortunately, yes.'

The port master stared at his guest as she calmly took a sip of wine. He wet his lips before speaking.

'So, basically,' he said, 'nothing is going to happen until you sleep with him?'

'That would be my guess,' said Hypergamy.

'My dear … I am so sorry.'

'Don't be.'

Hypergamy looked at him, wine in hand.

'I am living in a beautiful house,' she said. 'I have a hostess who, when she's not drinking, is showing me around the city. I'm spending time with two delightful children. And the man in question is hardly ever home.'

She finished her drink and sighed.

'So you see,' she said, 'I'm not all that worried about being held hostage by a man until I sleep with him. I'm more worried about the day when he realises that by not sleeping with him, I'm living a pretty good life at his expense!'

Hypergamy was given another lift back to the house and she spent a pleasant afternoon with Zoravelina and the children. Supper that evening was equally agreeable, but after the children had gone to bed and Syphon still wasn't home, Zoravelina began to drink. She talked endlessly about her husband—the bad things he did, the nice things he didn't do—and every time Hypergamy tried to change the subject, Zoravelina dragged it right back. Hypergamy began to realise that her hostess took a kind of pride in how miserable her marriage was, and she was not going to be distracted from it.

It was getting late when Hypergamy helped the lady upstairs to the guest bedroom which was now her bedroom. The master of the house still wasn't home and Zoravelina sat half-naked on the bed, rambling on about how he would disappear for days at a time while Hypergamy hunted for her nightdress. Eventually, she was ready for bed and Hypergamy tucked her in. She picked up the lamp with the flame at its spout and stepped back to leave.

But as she stood by the bed looking down at the mumbling woman, Hypergamy realised that she didn't want to go. She put the lamp on the small bedside table, sat on the bed and began to stroke the woman's blond hair, lightly scratching her scalp with her fingertips.

'Hmm…' mumbled Zoravelina. 'That feels nice…'

'Do you like that?'

'Yes…'

'Zoravelina…'

'Hmm?'

'You're very beautiful, you know.'

'Hmm…'

'And sad and unhappy … and spoiled and entitled…'

'Hmm…'

Hypergamy looked at the woman's face as she ran her fingers through her hair. The woman's lips were moist and slightly open and Hypergamy looked away, taking a deep breath as the sides of her fingers enjoyed the softness of the hair. Zoravelina's eyes were closed and her mumbling came to a halt. After a while, Hypergamy stopped stroking and rested her hand on the woman's head. Her breathing was even. She had fallen asleep.

Hypergamy sighed. She leaned forwards, kissed the other woman on the forehead, then picked up the oil lamp and quietly left the room.

Hypergamy was an early riser. The air was cool in the morning and the house was quiet and still. There was a section of garden with orange trees and hibiscus and Hypergamy liked to walk there alone, like a nymph in a miniature forest. Hidden in that garden was the statue of a woman, naked except for the cloth of a toga that draped over one shoulder and reached down to her shin. The figure was smaller than life-size, but as the plinth was high enough for the woman to look down upon passers-by, Hypergamy felt like this was Aphrodite come to protect her. A morning and evening prayer became part of her routine, a time for her to reflect and ask the Goddess for her wisdom and guidance.

On the morning following the night she had put Zoravelina to bed, Hypergamy said her morning prayers and then lingered in the garden. She could sometimes hear the echo of clashing swords from across the grounds as Syphon sparred with his bodyguard, but not this morning. He hadn't come home all night. The house was now waking up, with servants going about their business and the guard at the gate being relieved by another. When it was time, Hypergamy returned to the house and had breakfast with the children and their nurse. Their tutor arrived and they were taken off to rooms where they would spend the next hours at their lessons.

It was late in the morning when Hypergamy went out to the atrium and saw Zoravelina. The sun had risen over the house and the lady was sitting on the one stone bench that was still in the shade. She was bent forwards, her head resting on fingertips that were rubbing circles into her temples. There was a clay cup beside her and a servant girl stood a discreet distance away, holding a tray with a water jug. As the bench was essentially a stone slab, Hypergamy went to sit on the other side of it, next to and slightly behind the ailing woman. She put a hand on her curving back.

'Good morning,' said Hypergamy softly.

'Oh, it's you.'

'How are you feeling?'

'Embarrassed. Mortified.'

'Please don't be. Not on my account.'

Zoravelina groaned and screwed her eyes even tighter shut. Her fingertips continued to press circles into the sides of her head. Hypergamy glanced down at the cup by her side and saw less than a mouthful of water inside.

'Zoravelina,' she said. 'May I ask the girl to pour you some more water?'

'Just ask her yourself.'

'It's not my place to do that.'

'Hypergamy, you're my guest,' said Zoravelina. 'I'll tell Yiorgos that you're to be listened to by the servants, same as me. Just don't do it in front of my husband. He likes to think he's in charge.'

She said all this without opening her eyes. Hypergamy bit her lip as she regarded her, then she beckoned to the servant girl. The girl stepped forwards, holding the tray in both hands and having difficulty keeping it level. She was young, maybe sixteen.

'What's your name?' said Hypergamy.

'It's Luna, ma'am.'

'Well, Luna, I'll take that,' said Hypergamy, reaching for the jug. 'And I want you to prepare some hot water for a bath.'

The girl hesitated and looked at her mistress. Despite having her eyes screwed shut, Zoravelina gave a nod and a wave of the hand. The girl rushed off while Hypergamy poured water into the cup and held it out.

'Here, drink this,' she said.

'I just need a moment.'

'It'll help if you drink water.'

Zoravelina groaned and opened her eyes for the first time. She took the cup, drained it, then gave it back and closed her eyes again. The fingertips went back to the sides of her head. Hypergamy poured another cup.

'Oh dear…' muttered Zoravelina. 'You're not going to "take care of me", are you?'

'I'm afraid so,' said Hypergamy. 'You're going to drink this water, and then I'm giving you a bath. And after that, I'm going to give you a massage.'

'Ooh … I like the sound of that.'

'Good.'

'Can you do massages then?'

'Of course. It was part of my education as a concubine.'

Zoravelina's fingertips immediately stopped moving. Her eyes cracked open and Hypergamy saw the blue iris of one eye swivel to look at her. Hypergamy smiled and leaned closer, her shoulder pressing against the other woman's arm. When she spoke, her voice was low and suggestive.

'You didn't really think I was a princess, did you?' said Hypergamy.

The blue iris stayed locked onto her.

'I suppose not,' said Zoravelina. 'But one doesn't like to be rude to one's guests.'

'Oh, I do so understand,' said Hypergamy, mimicking the posh voice. 'But here's the thing, my hungover darling: I spent three years at the Jarat Alfata in Heliopolis.'

'That sounds … exotic.'

'It's a school that teaches the Arts of Love. Trust me, Zoravelina … performing a good massage is the least of my talents.'

'Don't say things like that.'

'Why not?'

'You'll give me ideas.'

Hypergamy smiled and planted a kiss on the bare shoulder she'd been leaning against.

'Drink the water,' she said. 'And then meet me in your bathhouse. I'm going to change into something more appropriate.'

Hypergamy got to her feet and walked away.

As the eldest of four sisters, Zoravelina was always the responsible daughter, the one her parents expected to set an example. And, for the most part, she liked it. Zoravelina was sensible by temperament and looking down her nose at the antics of her younger sisters came easily to her. But now, as she sat with a thumping headache, staring at the red bougainvillea hanging from the house, Zoravelina began to wonder what she might have missed in the name of 'being sensible'. She had become a mother almost as soon as her own childhood was over, and her life seemed like one repetitive chore after another. Even with her monthly bleeding, it was the repetitiveness that got to her more than the cramps. 'Oh, not this again…' she would think and her heart would sink into her sandals.

And then along comes Hypergamy, this strange, intelligent, utterly beautiful woman – a woman her husband was desperate to sleep with. And she was … she was what?

'She was offering to bathe you and give you a massage,' said Zoravelina to herself. 'That's all. You're hungover and pathetic and she feels sorry for you. Plus, she's staying in your house, eating your food, and she wants to show her gratitude.'

Yes, that made total sense. Except … Zoravelina really was having ideas. And those ideas were anything but sensible. And Zoravelina couldn't help feeling that Hypergamy was the kind of woman who didn't say things on a whim. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Her head felt hot. She looked up and realised that she had been sitting on the stone bench for so long, the sun had moved in the sky and she was no longer in the shade. Zoravelina sprang to her feet, suddenly afraid that Hypergamy might interpret her absence as disinterest. Whatever was happening, she was certainly not disinterested. Zoravelina gulped down her cup of water, filled it and drank another cup just in case Hypergamy asked, and then she left cup and jug behind as she headed to her bathhouse.

There is one detail we need to clarify: What the two women called 'the bathhouse' was in fact a room on the ground floor, and what they called 'a bath' was actually a stone seat surrounded by a knee-high square wall with a drainage hole cut into one side. The whole structure was raised slightly above floor level so that gravity would take the water out through the hole and along a channel which led to the garden. 'Taking a bath' consisted of a person sitting on the stone block while a servant poured water over them. Zoravelina's 'bathhouse' was considered luxurious by her friends because it had its own fireplace where a giant pot of water could be heated.

There were two entrances to the bathhouse – one from inside the house and one from the garden. Zoravelina had chosen to walk around the outside of the house and come in through the garden. The wooden door was already open, letting out the smoke from the fire, and it was nice and warm inside. There was a big stone table laid with water jugs great and small, but it could be easily cleared off and used as a massage table. Zoravelina saw the various clay pots of oil and smooth hardwood tools which would be used to scrape the skin during the bath. She turned and saw Hypergamy and the servant girl, and her mouth dropped open.

Both women were barefoot and dressed in the grey chiton of a female servant, a tunic that was cut to just above the knees. But somehow, Hypergamy in a simple garment with bare legs and arms looked more like a goddess than a servant. Give her a bow and arrow and she would be Artemis and the servant girl her nymph. There was a great iron pot on the small fire and Hypergamy was showing the girl the various clay pots and jugs, some for storing water, others for pouring. Zoravelina composed herself and stepped into the room.

'Hypergamy,' she said with a formal nod.

'My lady,' said Hypergamy.

Did she have a glint in her eye? Zoravelina wasn't sure because Hypergamy had immediately turned to the girl.

'Now, Luna,' she said. 'When you see steam coming off the surface of the water, use this scoop to transfer water into that pot. Then top up the iron pot with cold water from the tank over there. I want there to be a continuous supply of hot water, do you understand?'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'All right, I'll leave it to you.'

Hypergamy turned to Zoravelina and gestured towards the low wall of the bath.

'If you would take a seat, my lady,' she said.

Zoravelina sat on the low wall and Hypergamy went down on one knee and began to untie one of the lady's sandals. She slipped it off and then ran a thumb along the arch of Zoravelina's bare foot. It felt wonderful and she had to stifle a gasp. My goodness, what was going on? Hypergamy removed her other sandal and then began to gently massage the woman's feet. Zoravelina's eyes rolled upwards and her head began to swim.

'The water's ready, ma'am.'

'Thank you, Luna.'

Hypergamy rose to her feet and gestured for Zoravelina to rise too. While the girl was using a small jug to transfer steaming water into a large two-handed clay pot, Hypergamy began undressing the lady of the house. Zoravelina had been undressed by servants before, but it was never this exciting. Her heart raced and she was swallowing on a dry mouth. Hypergamy frowned.

'Do you need some water?' she said.

'I'm fine,' said Zoravelina.

'Luna,' said Hypergamy, turning her head. 'When you're done there, could you go out and fetch a jug of drinking water and a cup?'

'Do you want me to go now?'

'No, finish what you're doing first.'

Hypergamy had untied Zoravelina's gown and with businesslike hands, she slipped it over the other woman's shoulders and down her body. Zoravelina stepped out of it, now completely naked, her eyes on the woman before her. Hypergamy's expression gave nothing away as she held out the gown with one arm.

'Luna, could you take this?'

The girl hurried over and took the gown. Zoravelina saw that Hypergamy was avoiding her gaze as she lifted her hand. Zoravelina took it and stepped over the low wall into the bath area, then she turned and sat on the stone block. There was a shock of cold when her bare bottom touched the seat, but she settled herself down and leaned forwards on her legs. Then, realising that this posture was making her breasts hang, she decided to sit upright. Hypergamy was busy at the stone table, pouring steaming water into a large jug, then stirring in cold water until she was satisfied with the temperature. Meanwhile, the girl was topping up the iron pot with cold water and checking the fire underneath it.

'All right, my lady,' said Hypergamy, the great jug in both hands. 'Could you please lean forwards?'

Zoravelina returned to her position of leaning on her legs. She let out some slow deep breaths as she braced herself for the water to hit … and then she learned that this was not Hypergamy's style. She did not just dump the water onto her or pour it from a distance. Zoravelina felt the other woman's finger on her shoulder blade, as though giving her a warning, and then it came … hot, hot water, but not scalding hot, pouring like dragon's honey over and down her back, the jug gently going from left to right and back again.

'Oh! Oh! Oh!' gasped Zoravelina.

'Too hot?' said Hypergamy.

'No…' Zoravelina began to laugh. 'No, it's perfect … it's just … perfect…'

Zoravelina tried to stop laughing but couldn't. Being naked, the hot water, Hypergamy's hands … it all felt so good it made her nervous. She liked bodily pleasure as much as anyone, but this was overwhelming. Eventually, the laughter died down, but her chest was heaving, her skin was crying out for more, and her whole body was screaming to be touched.

'Sit up straight,' said Hypergamy. 'And lift your chin, please.'

Zoravelina obeyed, leaning back with her eyes closed, and Hypergamy repeated the process over her front. The guiding finger went along her collarbone as the delicious hot water poured over her breasts, her shoulders, her arms. This time, Zoravelina gave a groan of pure pleasure, not caring about the servant in the room. She wondered whether Hypergamy was looking at her breasts, then suddenly ached to feel her hands on them. But the scrape of ceramic pot on stone told the lady that Hypergamy had stepped away. She opened her eyes. The woman in the grey servant's chiton was busy at the stone table.

The hot water was part one of the bathing process. Zoravelina leaned forwards on her legs and closed her eyes as part two began, with Hypergamy rubbing oil into the skin of her body. After that, the oil and dirt would be scraped off with a smooth scraping tool and part three would be another round of hot water. But right now, Hypergamy's hands on her back and shoulders and arms were Zoravelina's entire world. Those fingers and thumbs pressing into her flesh were all that existed. She was vaguely aware of the servant girl saying something about fetching drinking water, but that seemed to be happening in another reality.

There was the sound of a door being opened and closed.

The hands on her body abruptly stopped and Zoravelina heard movement. She opened her eyes in time to see bare feet stepping into the bath with her and she was in the middle of saying 'What's going on?' when her head was taken roughly in two hands, tilted upwards, and a woman's mouth was pressed onto hers. Zoravelina's brain had just enough time to think, 'By the gods! Hypergamy is kissing me!' when she felt the woman's tongue pushing into her mouth. Zoravelina let it happen, but when her own tongue began to move against the interloper, it was slower, less insistent. She wanted the kiss, but not the intensity.

Hypergamy responded instantly, her tongue slowing to match the other woman's rhythm. Zoravelina felt tears behind her eyes, even as she kissed. Her husband would kiss the way he fucked – to thrust and thrust and thrust until he was done. But this woman, this glorious, green-eyed woman … she actually listened. Zoravelina moved her head as she kissed and Hypergamy moved to accommodate her, the hands on her head sliding down to her shoulders. Zoravelina slowly pushed herself to a standing position, never breaking the kiss. She pressed her wet body against the other woman, slid her hands around Hypergamy and felt Hypergamy's hands and arms on her own bare, oily flesh. Their mouths and tongues continued to feed on each other. Zoravelina put her hand on the back of the other woman's head to steady it as, for the first time ever, her own tongue felt the inside of another woman's mouth.

And then … Hypergamy's tongue slowed. Her lips withdrew. The two women looked at each other, their hands still on each other's bodies. Zoravelina saw Hypergamy's look of relief and happiness and thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Hypergamy smiled sheepishly, as though she knew how transparent her feelings were.

'I'm sorry, Zora,' she said. 'I just couldn't wait.'

When Hypergamy decided to try and seduce Zoravelina, she had given a lot of thought to her approach. Just because a woman is starved of erotic love from her husband doesn't mean she will accept it from another woman. Besides, Zoravelina had nothing good to say about sex, referring to it as 'kind of disgusting'. But Hypergamy guessed that the object of her desire had never experienced an orgasm before and so she had suggested a bath and a massage as a way to lead her to that end. She had even prepared a few stories to whisper into the other woman's ear during the massage to entice her into letting Hypergamy touch her between her legs.

As it turned out, none of that was necessary. After the kiss, Hypergamy went back to giving Zoravelina her bath before Luna got back with the drinking water. When the bath was over, the lady of the house announced that she would skip the massage as she was still feeling unwell and wanted to go back to bed. Hypergamy spent a token few minutes helping Luna clean up, and then left. She had the forethought to go to her room and pick up a change of clothes and her sandals, but she didn't put them on. Instead, she carried them to the wing of the house where she knew Zoravelina's bedroom was. As expected, the lady was naked and waiting in bed.

'You took your time,' she said.

'Don't be rude,' said Hypergamy.

She closed the door, pulled the servant's chiton off over her head and walked naked to the bed. Zoravelina looked in wonder at the woman, then Hypergamy climbed onto her, body to body, and kissed her. She played the man, staying on top and kissing with mouth and tongue as she massaged the other's woman's breasts. Then she took Zoravelina's wrists in her hands, pinned them over her head, and kissed her face, her neck, her nipples, exploring her new lover. She discovered that the lady had sensitive ears that enjoyed the feel of her tongue, so she licked and teased them, as Zoravelina gave the most exquisite moans of ecstasy. While sucking her earlobe, Hypergamy reached her hand downwards and her fingers discovered a vagina that was slick and wet. As suspected, its owner had never before experienced an orgasm, and so Hypergamy introduced her to one. After that, Zoravelina was clay in her hands. The woman who regarded sex as 'kind of disgusting' ended up holding her own knees apart so that the other woman could reach her tongue deeper into her cunt.

But after an hour of lovemaking and several intense orgasms, Zoravelina hit a kind of wall. She lay on her back, her hand tight between her legs, staring upwards as though searching for answers on the ceiling. Hypergamy knew that look. It was the look of a woman who realises that she is not the 'nice person' she thought she was. Hypergamy recalled how casually Zoravelina had used the word 'degenerate' to describe a vase at the market that depicted two men touching each other. This could be tricky.

'Are you okay?' said Hypergamy.

'I don't know,' said Zoravelina.

Her voice sounded more dead than alive. Hypergamy moved onto her stomach, lying next to the other woman but not touching her. She rested herself on her elbows and looked down at Zoravelina's staring face. When Hypergamy spoke, she put a hint of mock sternness into her voice.

'Talk to me, woman.'

That cracked a momentary smile in the staring façade. It went back to bleak contemplation in a heartbeat, but Hypergamy was relieved to see it. Zoravelina swallowed and spoke in a voice that was hoarse and faraway.

'I was thinking about … Heracles,' she said.

'Heracles?'

'Yes. There's a part in the story … when Hera sends a madness that makes him do things he would never do normally. And, in that madness, he kills his whole family. I'm wondering whether I've just destroyed mine.'

Hypergamy wanted to say 'Of course you haven't!' but she stopped herself. Who knows? Maybe she had. So instead, she said:

'What we're doing isn't madness. In fact, I would say it's far saner than putting up with a man who doesn't love you.'

'And do you love me?'

The head with the staring eyes turned to look at Hypergamy. Hypergamy bit her lip and looked down.

'You're not answering the question,' said Zoravelina.

'I know.'

'Why not?'

'Because…' Hypergamy took a deep breath. 'Because I don't trust myself to know what love is. Not that long ago, I was with a man I thought I truly loved. King Eshmun and I would make love for hours and it was wonderful. But when push came to shove, I discovered that I would not sacrifice myself for his sake. And … and I would probably be the same with you.'

Hypergamy looked the other woman in the eye. Zoravelina continued staring back, her expression unchanged.

'Well…' she said. 'That's honest, I suppose.'

'Would you sacrifice yourself for me, Zoravelina?'

'I don't know.'

'You would for your children.'

'Yes, of course. But that's different.'

'Exactly. It's a different kind of love.'

Hypergamy took a chance and moved onto Zoravelina's chest, her legs curled to the side. They were touching now and Hypergamy looked right down into her lover's eyes. She secretly hoped that the other woman's fascination with her own green eyes would work its magic.

'Zoravelina, I may not love you in the way that you want to be loved. But I do desire you. Even now, I'm having to use all my willpower to stop myself kissing you.'

'Why?'

'Why what?'

'Why do you desire me?'

Hypergamy stared at her.

'Do you think I'm lying about wanting you?'

'I believe you want something from me,' said Zoravelina. 'I just don't know what. Maybe you're doing this to get back at my husband.'

'I think you're mistaking me for you.'

'How dare you!'

Hypergamy pushed away and got off the bed. She went straight to the chair where she had deposited her clothing. Zoravelina sat up and glowered at her.

'What are you doing?' she demanded.

'Getting dressed.'

'I haven't finished with you!'

'I'm not one of your servants, Zora.'

'Don't call me that!'

Hypergamy had put on her gown and was now tying its laces. When she was done, she went to the bed, pulled up the hem and knelt on the mattress, looking at Zoravelina.

'We both know,' said Hypergamy, 'that the moment your husband finds out about this, I'll be out on the street. I'm supposed to be his lover, not yours. There is nothing about this that works to my advantage.'

Her look was direct, candid, cut-to-the-chase honest. Zoravelina suddenly felt awkward. She looked away and covered her chest with her arms. Hypergamy took her chin and gently lifted it so they were looking into each other's eyes.

'There is one thing I can tell you,' she said. 'I like you, Zoravelina. I like you very much. And when I like someone this much and find them attractive, it feels very natural to be intimate with them. I make love to you, Zora, because I love to make love to you.'

Hypergamy took hold of one of Zoravelina's hands.

'But if you don't believe me,' she said, 'or you simply don't want this, then just tell me. I will give your husband what he wants, get my audience with the king, and then find somewhere else to live. The last thing I want is to bring more unhappiness into this house.'

'Hypergamy—'

'Not now, my darling. Think about what you want and let me know. I'll be fine either way.'

Hypergamy kissed the back of the woman's hand, then rose from the bed and went to the chair. She picked up her sandals and the discarded chiton, then left the room barefoot and closed the door behind her.

The city agora of Iolcos was a giant rectangle of paved stone, surrounded by buildings of varying magnificence. The most magnificent of all was the Temple of Poseidon, the south face of which looked out over a bay of glittering blue water, while its northern façade dominated the agora. Poseidon was the patron god of Iolcos, but as a city of merchants, its next most important deity was Hermes, God of Trade, whose temple stood opposite from Poseidon's. At the centre of the agora, in an iron bowl on a stone plinth large enough to roast a cow, burned the Flames of Hestia. And on the short ends of the rectangle were two smaller temples – the Temple of Apollo on the one side, the Temple of Hera on the other.

It was mid-afternoon and the statues of heroes on the agora were casting longer and longer shadows. Zoravelina walked quickly across the flagstones, accompanied by Yiorgos who was keeping up with long strides. When they reached the foot of the steps to the Temple of Hera, she told him to wait and then went up alone. The pillars loomed up before her and, as the sun was above the temple, it looked dark inside. Zoravelina was wearing a shawl covering her head and she wrapped it tighter under her chin and went in.

Upon entering the great temple chamber, the sounds from the outside world seemed to become distant and muted. Zoravelina paused to get used to the dim light. There were the hunched shapes of women kneeling in prayer, while the priestesses in white seemed almost ghostlike and ethereal. Zoravelina took a deep breath, then turned her attention to the figure of Hera, Queen of the Gods, which stood bathed in the orange light of the flames in the iron braziers. The statue was twice the height of a normal human and depicted Hera as a stern-looking woman with a queen's diadem on her head. She wore a peplos—a long garment that went from her shoulders to the floor—while holding a staff in one hand and a small libation bowl in the other. She seemed to look down upon the praying women in vague disapproval, as though suspecting them of sleeping with her husband, Zeus. Zoravelina walked forwards nervously, found a place on the marble floor, and went down carefully to her knees. She closed her eyes, bowed her head, and began to mutter into her clasped hands.

'Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me,' she said.

She felt terrible, awful, torn into pieces. She had done the very thing she condemned her husband for doing. And she had done it with another woman! What kind of degenerate was she? Zoravelina had always seen herself as a highborn woman, a moral woman, a lady of breeding and character. It was a shock to realise that she could fornicate like a Dionysian nymph. Part of her was terrified that the ground would crack open beneath her and send her tumbling into Tartarus, where eternal torments awaited her.

But this terror fought with an opposite but equally appalling terror. It was the terror of never sharing a bed with Hypergamy again – of never feeling her embrace, her lips, her hands on her body. Of never again experiencing that loving bliss, that ecstasy. Zoravelina felt like the gods had shown her Elysium, only to casually toss her back into her old life and maroon her there. She was doomed to live the life of a faithful wife and it felt like a punishment. Syphon was right: marriage was hell. And there was no way she could divorce him without losing the children. The laws of the city were so weighted in men's favour that it was pointless to even try. The last time Zoravelina had consulted an advocate, he recommended that she move back into her husband's bed so that Syphon didn't divorce her. Men! Selfish bastards, the lot of them!

'Oh, Goddess,' murmured Zoravelina, her eyes tight shut. 'Please show me what to do.'

There was silence in her mind. No feelings of comfort, no sudden insights. Zoravelina's shoulders slumped. What was she expecting? She had broken the very laws this goddess stood for. Why would Hera care about one mortal woman's happiness?

Zoravelina opened her eyes. Tiredly, she got to her feet and began to make her slow way towards the pillars through which she had entered. The agora in the sunshine was visible between the pillars, but although the temperature in the temple was cooler than outside, Zoravelina had the feeling that she was leaving a warm place to go back to a cold and empty life.

'Zoravelina?'

The voice was hushed and warm, a woman's voice. Zoravelina turned and saw a priestess walk up to her. The priestess was a little older than her—a little bulkier too—but she carried herself proudly in her white robe. Her wide brow and straight eyebrows gave the impression of strength and intelligence, and she wore a smile of studied kindness. Zoravelina did her best to return the smile.

'Matrimonia,' she said, with a nod of the head.

The priestess took her elbow and walked her to the side of the temple, away from the praying women. She turned and looked at her.

'How are you?' asked the priestess.

'Oh … fine, I suppose.'

'And your two children?'

'They're fine. Thank you for asking.'

'And do you still live in that beautiful house?'

'I do, Matrimonia, yes.'

'Good, good. And, um … how's married life treating you?'

This was code for 'Is your husband's philandering especially egregious right now?' Usually, Zoravelina would enjoy the chance to talk about what a bastard her husband was and how miserable he made her; the priestesses were a good audience for that. But right now, Zoravelina didn't know what to say. Fortunately, the priestess took her silence to mean 'worse than usual' and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'I'm sorry,' said the priestess.

'It's okay.'

'Of course it's not okay. But we must learn to bear it with dignity.'

This was not the first time Zoravelina had heard this advice, but now something about it infuriated her. She stared at the priestess, thinking, 'Is that the best advice you have to offer?' Once more, the priestess misread her expression and drew Zoravelina into a sisterly hug.

'It's hard, I know,' said the priestess. 'But you are not alone, my dear. We will always be here to support you.'

Yeah, thought Zoravelina. So long as I follow your rules and row the ship in the same direction. Just like Hera 'supported' all those women that Zeus pursued and even raped. Zoravelina allowed the hug to come to a natural end, then looked at the maternal sadness on the other woman's face. She saw sympathy there but also pity. Matrimonia saw her as pitiful. And, in that moment, all of Zoravelina's confusion about Hypergamy's invitation vanished. She gave a small nod, mostly to herself, and looked at the priestess.

'Thank you,' she said. 'This has helped more than you know.'

'That's why we're here,' said the priestess with a smile.

Zoravelina returned the smile. Then she turned and left the temple, walking down the steps with a straight back and a clear gaze. She saw Yiorgos waiting in the shade of a statue of Jason, and she headed towards him.

It was time to go home.

After leaving Zoravelina's bedroom, Hypergamy had got dressed and left the house to go for a long walk. She had been accompanied by one of the house guards, something she disliked doing, but which was prudent under the present circumstances. Syphon had warned her that without official recognition as a citizen, she was a stateless person; a man could kidnap and sell her without technically breaking the law. Hypergamy thought he was exaggerating to try and scare her, but Zoravelina confirmed it. She knew almost as much as her husband about city laws, especially those which pertained to women and their freedoms. 'With no family to vouch for who you are,' she had said, 'you need the king to declare you a citizen.'

So Hypergamy had gone for a long walk, accompanied by a guard. She explored the streets, went down to the docks, and even found a small pebble beach past some fisherman's huts. She kept apologising to the bodyguard, but he didn't seem to mind. During their wandering, she asked him about his employer, Syphon, and was surprised to find out that other men respected him. Apparently, Syphon was a capable swordsman who would fight side-by-side with his bodyguards rather than hide behind them. He was also known as a man of his word, especially when it came to money. But the guard was silent on Syphon's reputation as a womaniser and Hypergamy avoided the subject.

It was early evening when Hypergamy and the guard returned to the house. Yiorgos opened the front door and stepped aside to let them in. The guard bid Hypergamy good evening and went off to attend to his duties. She turned to Yiorgos.

'Sorry about that,' she said.

'Sorry for what, ma'am?'

'Well, for borrowing one of the guards without letting you know.'

'My authority is over the household servants, ma'am. Not the house guards.'

'Oh.'

'Besides which, you are at liberty to ask the servants or guards for whatever you wish.'

'That's very kind of you, Yiorgos.'

'It's not kindness, ma'am,' he said. 'The lady of the house has given specific instructions that you are to be treated as a member of the family.'

Hypergamy felt her breath catch in her throat.

'My goodness,' she said. 'When did she say that?'

'This afternoon, ma'am. As we were returning from the city.'

'I see.' She frowned. 'Will this not have to be, um … "approved" by the master of the house?'

'Of course, ma'am,' said Yiorgos. 'But a messenger arrived to say that the master will not be home until tomorrow night. And besides, when it comes to satisfying the wishes of both the master and the lady, this household has learned to be … diplomatic.'

The man continued to wear his solemn expression, but Hypergamy fancied she saw a glint in his eye. The man raised his hand, gesturing to the doorway.

'The family are taking supper outside in the atrium,' he said. 'If you would care to join them?'

'That would be lovely, Yiorgos. Thank you.'

Hypergamy followed the man in the long grey chiton outside. The air was warm and fragrant, and stepping onto that courtyard full of greens and whites felt like stepping into a tapestry. Cushions and low tables had been brought outside, and the food being served was fish and salad and bread, with dishes of olive oil. There were half a dozen people present: two servant girls with plates and a water jug, Sophia on a stone bench with the two children sitting on cushions on the floor in front of her … and on an adjacent stone bench, with her own table of food before it, sat the lady of the house.

Zoravelina was watching her children eat, smiling and relaxed, looking elegant in her blue gown. Then she turned her head, saw Hypergamy, and the radiant smile that broke across her face made Hypergamy want to run over and throw her arms around her.

'Hypergamy!' cried Callista.

She was on her feet before Sophia could stop her, running over to the new arrival. Hypergamy accepted a hug around her waist and the little girl took her hand.

'We laid a place for you!' she said proudly.

Hypergamy was led by the hand towards the third stone bench, with cushions on top and a small table set before it, as yet without food. As she passed Zoravelina, the two women exchanged a glance. Hypergamy felt her face grow hot and she turned to the bench to distract herself.

'I don't want to sit here,' she said to Callista. 'I want to sit with you and Castor.'

'But how?'

'Well, if we move this table next to yours, it'll make one big table. Then I can sit opposite you and your brother.'

'But you'll be sitting on the floor!'

'We'll move the cushions there too.'

'But you're a grown-up! You're not supposed to sit on the floor!'

Hypergamy bent low so she was eye level with the girl.

'Can I tell you a secret?' she said quietly.

The little girl nodded excitedly.

'I don't care what grown-ups are supposed to do,' said Hypergamy. 'I want to do what I want to do.'

Callista's eyes looked like they would pop out of her head. Hypergamy put a finger to her lips, then slowly rose to her feet and turned to face her hostess.

'Zoravelina,' she said. 'Can we move my table and cushions so that I can sit and eat with the children?'

The two women looked at each other for a long moment. Then Zoravelina smiled.

'Why not?' she said. 'In fact, I think I'll join you.'

Callista's mouth dropped open. Mummy was going to sit on the floor? Yes, that was her mother, standing up and gesturing to the servant girls, who put down their trays and went to move Hypergamy's low table. As they busied themselves making one large table, Hypergamy bent down to pick up the cushions on the stone bench. Callista grabbed the skirt of Hypergamy's gown and gave it a tug.

'We have to let the servants do that,' she said in a low voice.

Hypergamy hesitated, then put the cushions back. She had probably broken enough household routines for one day. She gave the little girl a nod, then the two walked hand-in-hand to wait near Zoravelina as the servants rearranged the supper table.

'Callista, darling,' said her mother. 'Would you go and sit next to your brother? I would like a private word with Hypergamy.'

'Is it grown-up stuff?'

'Most definitely.'

Hypergamy felt her stomach flutter. But she kept her gaze on the little girl as she made her way around the table and knelt on the cushions. A moment later, she felt Zoravelina next to her, their bare arms lightly brushing against each other.

'I've been thinking,' said Zoravelina in a low voice. 'Your audience with the king will probably take more time to organise than anticipated.'

'You could be right.'

'So, in the meantime, I was wondering whether you would be more comfortable sleeping in the spare guestroom?'

'That's the room next to yours, is it not?'

'It is, yes. I know I said earlier that—'

Hypergamy took a step forward and turned to look the other woman right in the face. Zoravelina saw the look in those green eyes and went silent. Hypergamy kept her gaze locked and said:

'The answer is yes.'

She paused long enough to see Zoravelina's chest expand and her cheeks go pink. Then she turned and went to sit at the table, drawing up her gown so she could sit on the cushions laid down on the floor for her. Callista began describing the various dishes, with Castor butting in to state his own likes and dislikes.

Zoravelina watched the scene, feeling like someone in a dream. It was done. She had a lover. A beautiful female lover. It was the last thing Zoravelina had ever expected to happen, yet as she watched the woman share a joke with her children, she found herself not asking the gods for forgiveness, but sending up a prayer of thanks.

A servant girl approached. Her place was prepared. Zoravelina gave the girl a formal nod, then went to take her seat and join the gathering.