Taking up the cushion she held it to her and fell asleep once more, waking with the dawn. Beyond the kitchen Cleo had filled a bath with heated water and Thetis climbed in, soaking her skin and washing her short, thickly curled red hair. When she stood Cleo wrapped a warm towel around her, patting her dry. Then the servant smeared perfumed oil on Thetis’ body, scraping it clean with a round-edged knife of bone.
Thetis put on an ankle-length chiton of blue-dyed linen and wandered to the courtyard. It was long and narrow, but caught the early-morning sunshine. Beyond the gates she could hear people moving on the streets, and the distant hammering from the forge of Norac the smith. She sat in the sun for an hour and then walked inside, taking up an embroidery she had begun three years before. It was a series of interwoven squares and circles, with shades of green, brown and yellow. Working on it calmed her mind.
Cleo came to her. ‘There is a man to see you, mistress.’
‘A man. I know no men,’ she answered, realizing as she said it that it was the truth. She had coupled with hundreds, perhaps thousands of men, and not one did she know.
‘He asks to speak with you.’
‘What is his name?’
The girl blushed and ran to the courtyard, returning within moments. Tarmenion, mistress.’
Thetis took a deep breath, composing herself. ‘Show him in,’ she said, ‘then leave us.’
‘Leave you, mistress?’ queried Cleo, surprised.
Thetis smiled. ‘If I need you I will call out.’
Thetis returned to her embroidery as the girl led Parmenion to her. She glanced up, her face stern.
‘Please be seated,’ she said. ‘Cleo, fetch some water for our guest.’
That will not be necessary,’ said the man, seating himself on the couch opposite. They sat in silence until Cleo had left, pulling the door shut behind her.
‘I do not welcome uninvited guests to my home,’ said Thetis. ‘So, I would appreciate it if you would state your business swiftly.’
‘I came to apologize,’ began Parmenion.
‘For what?’
The man suddenly smiled sheepishly; it made his face more boyish, less stern, she thought. ‘I am not sure; but I know it is necessary. You see, I did not know it was you who brought me back that night.’
‘I was paid for it,’ she snapped, battling to control an anger she could scarcely understand.
‘I know that,’ he said gently. ‘But I felt . . . feel … I have caused you pain. I would not wish that.’
‘You would like to be friends?’ she asked.
‘I would – very much.’
‘My friendship cost forty obols,’ she told him, rising and tossing aside the embroidery, ‘but no longer. Now, please leave. You can find many friends at the Temple, and the price remains the same.’
‘That is not what I meant,’ he said, pushing himself to his feet. ‘But it will be as you say.’ He walked to the door and
turned to face her. ‘I value friendship highly,’ he told her. ‘Perhaps it is because, in my life, I have very few friends. I know you were paid for what you did, but even so you saved my life. That is a debt I will carry. Should you ever have need of me, I will be there. No question. Whether you wish it or not, I am your friend.’
‘I do not need friends, Parmenion, but if ever I am short of forty obols I will think of you.’
After he had gone she sank down to the couch and lifted the embroidery. Cleo came to her, kneeling at her feet. ‘Your hands are trembling, mistress.’
‘He is not to be allowed in here again. The next time he calls, you will stop him at the gate. Do you understand?’
‘At the gate. Yes, mistress.’
But the days passed and Parmenion did not call again, and for some curious reason this only served to make Thetis more angry with the young Spartan.
As spring progressed Thetis found her new life increasingly oppressive. When a priestess she had been able to walk the streets day or night. But no Theban woman of quality would ever be seen unaccompanied save at the market-place, and the house which had been Thetis’ dream fast became a comfortable prison. Cleo brought news daily, but mainly her conversation revolved around the latest clothes, or perfumed oils, or jewelled necklaces. The girl took little notice of the movements of the Spartan army as it entered Boeotia. All Thetis could gather was that the Spartan King, Agisaleus – having forced a passage for his troops through the passes of Mount Cithaeron in the south -was ravaging the countryside, and that Epaminondas had fortified a ridge outside Thebes with 5,000 Athenian hoplites and 3,000 Thebans.