Chapter Eight – Dinner with Adelphos

The sun was starting to set and Kali made her way back to Adelphos’ stall. Tony was already there, chatting about the rules of football.
“This offside rule is too complicated,” Adelphos was saying as Kali approached.
“It’s not,” Tony insisted. “Look, it’s just a matter of timing.”
“And what have you been doing all day?” Kali interrupted as she got closer.
“Stuff,” Tony replied, “what’s it to you?”
Adelphos looked shocked. “This how you treat women from your country?”
“Our country?” Kali asked.
“You are obviously not from around here,” Adelphos smiled, eying her light brown-blonde hair. “Your husband tells me you are from a kingdom.”
“Yes, the United Kingdom,” Tony said. “Of course it’s split into different countries and stuff… Ow!”
Kali nudged him. “Stop chatting to Adelphos,” she scolded, “he’s trying to pack up.”
“No, I like to hear you talk,” Adelphos said. “Of course, I knew you must be from a country with a king, for how else would you have a blessed object if you were not from a kingdom?”
Adelphos finished packing up his stall and loading his goods onto the back of his donkey and cart. He pulled at the rope around the donkey’s neck. It brayed but obediently followed his master’s footsteps as Adelphos led it away into one of the side streets.
“What have you been saying?” Kali whispered to Tony. “If you give away too much we’ll look like nutters.”
“I said we were from the United Kingdom. How is that bad?”
“They think the north of the world is Turkey.”
“You’re joking me.”
“I am deadly serious.”
“Well, he seems happy enough with where we’re from.”
“I guess we haven’t too much to worry about. It’s not even called that yet.”
“It’s probably not even got people!”
“It’s not quite the Ice Age!”
“I’m just sticking with what I know.”
“Like football?”
“I can’t believe he doesn’t understand the offside rule. I’ve explained it tons of times.”
Kali rolled her eyes and walked along silently. The quicker all this was over the better.

They approached the doorway of a narrow dwelling and Adelphos called out for Jason. A small boy came rushing out and took the rope from Adelphos, pulling the donkey to the side and tying it up. Adelphos motioned them inside and immediately another small boy came out with a bowl of water and a cloth.
“Some water for our guests,” Adelphos ordered. The boy complied and came out moments later with two bowls and more cloths.
Adelphos began to wash the dust and dirt off his hands and feet. Kali and Tony followed suit. Jason now appeared and both slaves began to wipe their feet dry.
“Angela!” Adelphos called.
A young woman appeared and knelt at Adelphos’ feet.
“My wife,” Adelphos said. “This is Tony and Kali. They have travelled far from a kingdom and request a room in exchange for a blessed object.”
“But of course,” Angela said, bowing slightly at them. “Come!”
She held her hand out to Kali and she took it. Tony went to follow but was stopped.
“No, Tony,” Adelphos said. “We drink.”

Kali was led out of the room and into the back where the women’s quarters were. Here was the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, setting up a basic meal of bread, olives, meat and wine. Angela opened up an intricately decorated chest and pulled out an embroidered robe.
“You must wear this for dinner,” she said.
Kali held it up against her. it was of far better quality than the cheap robe she took from the Parthenon. Angela clapped her hands and two girl slaves appeared.
“They will bathe you,” she said.
“Oh, no,” Kali said, trying not to look horrified. “I will bath myself.”
“Oh, but you must!” Angela said, shocked. “I would not have you think of me as ill-mannered.”
“In my country we bath ourselves.”
Angela looked perplexed.
“It’s a privacy thing?” Kali offered.
Angela still looked confused.
“In my country we would not have others look upon ourselves in a naked state.”
“Oh!” Angela said, finally realising that it wasn’t rudeness but still a bit confused. “Well, I will leave the amphorae for you by the back, yes?”
“That will be fine. Thank you for your kindness.”
“I will take my leave,” Angela said, bowing slightly again and leaving the room, the slave girls following closely behind. They reappeared moments later with two large amphorae and placed them by what looked like a small tin bath in the back. They bowed and took their leave.

Kali looked at the beautiful robe she was meant to wear and then at herself. Oh what the hell, she thought, and pulled off her robe and underwear. She stepped outside into the back and felt the warm air on her skin. She tentatively dipped a finger into an amphora. It was lukewarm water. She stood inside the bath-like object and poured the water on herself, rubbing her skin with her hands. She dipped a finger into the other amphora. It was warm oil. She dipped her hand in, scooping up some oil, and rubbed it into her arms and legs. It was smooth and didn’t feel all that greasy. She was careful not too put on too much; she didn’t want to literally cook in the hot sun. Even though evening was approaching fast, it was still incredibly hot. Oiled and dressed, she made her way back inside and Angela was by a dressing table, smearing her eyebrows with soot. She clapped and a slave girl picked up some chalk and started on Kali’s face. She knew the ritual and kept still as they made her face and neck white, coloured in her eyebrows and lips, and pinned her hair up, twisting and plaiting the strands. All ready, Angela took Kali’s hand and led her back to the front room.

Tony and Adelphos were already seated on a chaise longue, drinking wine out of cups and laughing. Tony was laughing a bit too loud and looked like he’d had enough already.
“Whoa, what happened to you?” he said, seeing Kali’s white face.
“They’ve dressed me in some beautiful clothes,” Kali replied, trying to keep it normal.
She sat down next to Tony and was handed a cup by the slave boy who wasn’t Jason.
“How many have you had?” she hissed to Tony, drinking demurely from the cup. “This stuff is unwatered!”
“Great innit?” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “Cor, dancing girls!”

Kali looked up and it appeared the entertainment had already started. Jason and the other boy slave brought in the various dishes for the meal and a lyre player settled himself against the wall. He plucked at the strings and the two slave girls now started dancing. Tony was ogling them and practically drooling. Kali elbowed him hard in the ribs and he exclaimed, rubbing his chest frantically, giving her a dirty look. They took the lead of their hosts and began to eat, picking at the food with their fingers and then dipping them into small water bowls to keep them clean. The dancers were joined by the boy slaves and they all started singing a tune as they danced around the room. Tony got up and started dancing with one of the girls. Adelphos laughed and started to clap in time with the tune. More wine was produced and it flowed heavily. Kali tried to keep a lid on the amount she was being given. The last thing they needed was one of them to slip up and mention anything futuristic and they’d be chaos.

The food had barely been finished when Angela stood up.
“I must see to my children,” she said and left the room.
“You will go too,” Adelphos said, “and Niobe will make up your bed.”
Kali left the room, hearing the lyre player pick up speed as she left. The two slave boys now rushed around the room to clear up the empty bowls. She walked into the women’s quarters at the back and saw one slave girl making up a bed.
“Thank you Niobe,” Kali said to her.
Niobe smiled briefly and bowed before leaving quickly.
Kali took off her robe and put on the one she had before. She laid down but couldn’t sleep. She didn’t know if it was because she wasn’t tired or because she was in a strange place. She saw Angela walk past and heard her say something about food for the next morning. She then walked past again, obviously to retire to bed herself.

Kali got up and crept back to the front room. She peeked around the wall and saw Adelphos starting to feel up Niobe, who was now clearing the empty wine cups away. The girl obediently put down the cups and unpinned her robe, letting it fall to the floor. Adelphos started to caress her naked body and said to Tony, “Either one of them you desire shall be yours.”
Tony was delirious with delight as he looked keenly at the other slave girl he’d been with all evening. Adelphos nodded at her and she unpinned her dress, letting it fall to reveal herself to her. As she went to lift his robe over his head, Tony looked as if all his Christmases had come at once.
Kali quickly pulled her head back and ran back to her bed. She didn’t need to see or hear any of that! She laid down, screwing up her eyes and clamping her hands over her ears, hoping she would fall to sleep before they made any real noise.