Chapter Thirteen – The Hospitality of Stylianos

Just as they passed the first row of houses, an old man passed pulling a horse-drawn cart, laden with jewellery, pots and tapestries.
“Excuse me,” Tony called out to him. “Do you know Stylianos?”
“Who wants to know?” the old man asked.
“Friends of Adelphos of Athens,” Kali replied.
“You are friends of Adelphos?” the old man asked.
Kali and Tony nodded in unison.
“Well, then you must be friends of mine too!” the old man said, his eyes crinkling up as his mouth pulled into a wide smile. “Come, I will show you to my house. It must never be said that Stylianos refused a friend of his brother.”

Kali and Tony dismounted and led their horses behind Stylianos.
“How do you know Adelphos?” Stylianos asked.
“He gave us a place to stay for the night,” Tony replied.
“Ah, old Adelphos,” Stylianos said. “I have not seen him for many years. The journey is a little rough for an old man.”
He turned the corner and stepped into a large courtyard where a single house was situated apart from the other buildings. It was a grander looking place than Adelphos’ and had people scurrying all over the place.
“Nikias! Origen!” Stylianos called out and two older slave boys came running out to greet him. “Take Faithful and her burden to the store house.”

The two boys nodded, one grabbing the reins and the other riding the cart, sorting out the goods as it started off around the side of the house. A smaller boy carrying a large bowl of water and some cloths over his shoulder came scurrying out and knelt at Stylianos’ feet. He poured some water over his master’s feet and towelled them dry before lifting it up so Stylianos could wash his hands.
“Nomiki, some water for our guests,” Stylianos said to the boy.
Nomiki nodded and poured what water was left in the bowl over Kali’s and Tony’s feet and hands. He dried them off with his cloths, bowed and headed back where he came from.
“Come, my friends,” Stylianos said, lifting his arm and directing them into the house. “Origen will take care of your horses.”
As soon as he had finished speaking, the slave boy from before came out, running towards the horses. He stroked them to show he would not hurt them, before grabbing the reins and pulling them behind him.

“You have a few slaves here,” Tony remarked, entering the house.
“Yes, and I call them all by name,” Stylianos said. “By referring to them by name they remain loyal to their master. To just call them ‘slave’ makes them resentful. See how they are all happy to work for me?”
Kali nodded but doubted that any happiness of the slaves was because he called them by name. They were probably loyal just through their pay and upkeep in such grand premises.
“I have to keep them happy,” Stylianos continued. “It’s important to have slaves that can be trusted when so much wealth is on display. I am careful not to take on outsiders who may exploit or steal.”
Kali definitely agreed with that. Stylianos was certainly well off. His house was grander and far better furnished than Adelphos’, with decorative amphorae and furniture adorning each room he showed them around. There were tapestries on the walls and blankets underfoot. A host of musical instruments lay abandoned on the floor of the symposium. The women’s quarters had dressing tables cluttered with small boxes of chalk, soot and dyes and a range of perfume bottles. There was even a tapestry room, complete with a loom, reams of dyed wool, and a pile of different coloured cloths on the side, waiting to be sewn up into clothes, blankets and furniture coverings.

Stylianos came full circle and led his guests back to the front of the house.
“You will wash before eating, yes?” he said to them.
He clapped his hands and called out for Takis and Adrianne. An adult man and woman appeared.
“They will show you where to go,” he said. “Please.”
He held out his hand to show them off and they obliged. Takis and Adrianne led the way but Takis suddenly took a sharp left.
“Guess I’ll see ya later,” Tony grinned, and off they went.

Kali continued to follow Adrianne back towards the women’s quarters. She was shown a small tin bath and hot water was poured in, the jugs leaving some soot on the floor where they had been in the fire. Kali was used to the unabashed attitude to nudity by now and allowed Adrianne to remove her robe and bathe her. Oil was rubbed into her arms, legs and face but she refused the application of chalk again. It had made her face feel tight and itchy and was sure that she had an allergic reaction. At her refusal, Adrianne made no protest and simply replaced the chalk onto the dressing table. She pulled out a white robe with a decorative belt and pinned it onto Kali. She fussed around the hem a little and then showed her back to the front of the house.

Stylianos was already there, drinking and reclining on the chaise longue.
“Come, you shall dine with us,” Stylianos said to her, motioning her to sit by his feet. “I would have left you to dine with my wife had she still been alive. May Hades have pity on her and not leave her to wander the Underworld alone. She was a good woman, a worthy woman of the Elysian Fields.”
“What was her name?” Kali asked.
“Ariadne,” he replied, “and just as beautiful as the one she was named for. But come, I do not know where you have travelled from. You are certainly not Greek, yes?”
“We are from a kingdom, far north,” Kali said, reeling out the same old story they had been telling everyone.
“A kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“And what brings you to Delphi?”
“Adelphos said that you have a museum.”
“Ah, yes, I stopped working there long ago, when my wife died. I still collect items though, from the people to display. Most are in my store house.”
“Does the museum have any old chests?”
“It has some chests, yes. Is there anything you were looking for?”
“A chest was given to me by a benefactor and it was stolen. It’s reputed to be the chest of Odysseus.”
“Now that is an interesting thing,” Stylianos mused. “Is much known about this chest?”
“Only that it is the one reputedly presented to him by the Phaeacians in the Odyssey. It was tied with a rope said to be bound with a complicated knot taught to him by the goddess Circe so that only he could open it.”
“Homer’s tales are well known in Delphi. I will call Urias to come after we have had food and wine, and he can entertain us with the reading of that chapter.” Stylianos motioned a slave over, whispered in his ear, and the slave nodded and went running out of the room.

Tony now entered, wearing a fresh robe like her, except it was a pale orange and came only to his knees. Stylianos motioned him to another chaise longue next to him.
“Thanks for the scrub-up,” Tony said, pulling the hem of his robe down as far he could before sitting. He was clearly conscious of the shortness of the robe.
Stylianos clapped his hands and various slaves appeared with pitchers of wine and plates of meat, dried figs, bread, olives and grapes. Stylianos motioned at them to eat and they tucked in. As they ate, three boys came into the room and picked up the abandoned instruments in the corner. They nodded at each other and started up a merry tune with the flute, lyre and tambourine. Adrianne came in and started to dance, spinning around in circles and then hopping foot to foot up and down the room, tapping her tambourine in time with the music.

The food was starting to clear and more wine was brought over. It was heavily watered down and was not the strong, cheap stuff they had drank at Adelphos’ home. Stylianos saw Tony’s face when he realised that he wasn’t as drunk as he should have been.
“Dear boy,” he said to his guest, “don’t look so surprised. You want to be drunk, yes?”
“Well, yeah,” Tony admitted. “I mean it’s never my intention to get slaughtered but yeah, was kinda hoping for some tipsyness at this point.”
“Slaughtered?” Stylianos looked puzzled. “Why would you want to be slaughtered? Are you an ox in disguise?”
“It’s a local way of saying ‘drunk’,” Kali intervened, notching her eyebrows at Tony for being so careless with his speaking.
“A strange manner of speech,” Stylianos mused, not sure what to make of this new phrase. “I was merely going to say that I do not approve of the rowdiness and behaviour that usually accompanies drunkenness so I merely water down the wine. That way it can be enjoyed without the taste being impaired and I avoid the unpleasantness that too much wine can bring.”
“It is a most fine wine,” Kali praised, lifting her cup and drinking as if to show her approval.
“I have my own stores near the stables,” Stylianos said. “I haven’t made any wine for at least two years but I have enough fermentation to last many dinner parties before I need to make any more.”

As the last food plates were cleared away, another large pitcher of wine was brought in by two young slaves, followed by an elderly man. He was dressed in a long, dark blue cloak, tightly wrapped around him and had a long and wispy white beard floating down from his chin. The slaves left and the old man stayed in the room, bowing low at Stylianos.
“Ah, Urias, my friend!” Stylianos greeted the man, clasping his hands and shaking them.
“Dear Stylianos!” Urias greeted his host, pulling him into a hearty embrace. “It has been a long time.”
“We must not wait until I next have guests before we meet again.”
“You called for me.”
“You must entertain us with the tales of Odysseus. My esteemed guests request chapter eight.”
“I would be happy to oblige.”
Urias unwrapped his cloak to reveal a dark floor-length tunic and settled himself down on a large cushion next to the musicians. He took up a lyre and started to deftly pluck at the strings. The other musicians listened to the tune and picked up the melody, a slow but light hearted tune, well suited to the nature of the requested chapter.

“As soon as Dawn appeared, fresh and rosy-fingered,” Urias began to sing, his voice strong and confidently pronouncing each word as if the text was etched on his memory. Kali was delighted. She had never heard a sung version of The Odyssey and was enjoying the melodic voice of Urias. He sang of how Alcinous granted Odysseus a safe passage home, even though he did not know who he was or where he was from. The king ordered a feast for all the princes at his palace in honour of his guest. The bard Demodocus sings of the quarrel in Troy between Achilles and Odysseus to entertain the people during dinner which upsets Odysseus. Alcinous notices this but says nothing, instead ordering that sports be played by the guests and so games are organised. Various sports are played and Odysseus excels. Demodocus afterwards entertains them with the story of how Aphrodite and Ares were caught making love by Aphrodite’s husband Hephaestus. When Odysseus gives praise to Alcinous’ dancers, the king is pleased and demands that everyone there gives Odysseus a parting gift as appropriate.

Kali listened intently as this part of the chapter was sung. She knew that every detail would matter.

“Meanwhile,” Urias sang, “Arete brought out from the inner chamber a fine chest for their guest, in which she packed the splendid gifts of clothing and of gold which the Phaeacians had made him. To these, on her own account, she added a cloak and a tunic of fine quality, and then addressed Odysseus with words that flew.
‘See to the lid yourself, now, and tie the knot, so that you may not be robbed on your journey home when you‘re enjoying a sweet sleep later on as the black ship carries you along.’
Noble, much-enduring Odysseus took her advice and fixed the lid on at once, fastening in neatly with a complicated knot that the Lady Circe had once taught him.”
“That is what I wanted to hear,” Kali told her host. “But there was no description of the chest. I cannot tell whether the one given to me was truly that of Odysseus or not.”

Urias continued to sing of how King Alcinous of the Phaeacians finally demands the name and home country of his guest and what has happened before he landed on the shores of their country. The chapter ended, Urias stopped singing and plucked a little more at the lyre to signal the ending of his song. Kali applauded and Stylianos and Tony joined in with her.
“That was wonderful,” Kali told Urias. “I adore the Homeric tales.”
“I am happy to have pleased you, madam,” Urias replied, getting up and wrapping his cloak back around him tightly.
“I will have Adrianne give you some food and a skein of wine to take with you,” Stylianos said to Urias. Adrianne acknowledged the order and left the room immediately.
“He’s leaving already?” Tony whispered to Kali.
“Yeah, he literally has to sing for his supper,” she replied. “Bards memorise all the old tales and then recount them for the entertainment of others. In return they are offered food, wine, blankets, gifts. It’s not a bad way of making a living, provided you have an excellent memory.”
“I once read a story that had a character with a good memory,” Tony said.
“You read a book (?)” Kali said with mock-sarcasm.
“Ha ha (!)” Tony replied with the same sarcasm. “I do read books, just not very often. Anyway it was one written by a mate. This monk, yeah, had memorised every word from a monastery’s library of books. I dunno how big a monastery’s library is but it’s probably massive. That guy would have been a good bard. It was a good read, actually.”
Urias was now given some food and a skein of wine wrapped in a blanket and he embraced Stylianos and thanked him for the gift. He then turned and hobbled slowly out of the doorway.

Stylianos sat back down on his chaise longue and poured himself another cup of wine. “We shall go to my museum tomorrow, if you wish,” he said to Kali and Tony. “We can look through the chests and see if you can find the one you are looking for.”
“That would be good, thanks,” Kali replied.
“Now my friends, if you will excuse me,” Stylianos said, getting up and stretching his arms. “I have had a long day and my body does not stay awake during the night like it did in my youth. I will retire to my bed and see you tomorrow. Takis will show you to your room when you are ready to retire.”
“Thank you,” Kali said.
“Yeah, thanks,” Tony added. “It’s been a good evening.”
Stylianos gave a wide smile and bowed very slightly before turning and leaving the room.
“That was a nice thing to say,” Kali remarked to Tony.
“Well, it has been a good evening,” he replied. “And I think I’m getting the hang of this dinner party stuff. Just eat, drink and praise your host all the time.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much it.”
“Well, I’m bushed!” Tony stretched his arms upwards and yawned. “It was a long night and the heat today has been exhausting.”
“I agree,” Kali replied, trying to stifle her own yawns. “We should ask Takis to show us to our rooms.”
As if he heard, Takis entered the room and said to them, “Stylianos has asked that you be shown to your rooms when you are ready.”
“We are ready now,” Tony said, getting up and holding out his hand to help Kali up as well. She took it and he hauled her to her feet smoothly.
“Please follow me,” Takis said and turned.
They followed him and they diverted off to a sharp left.
“We’re going back to the men’s quarters,” Tony whispered to Kali. “This is where I went earlier. There are a lot of perfumes in the men’s rooms. A bit worrying if you ask me.”
“Not really,” Kali whispered back. “They don’t have soap so need smelling things to cover up bad odours.”
“I guess,” Tony shrugged. “Still a bit worrying though.”

Takis came to a doorway and stopped. “This is your room,” he said. “I bid you a good night.”
He turned and left. Kali and Tony looked at the door, at each other and then back at the door.
“We’re in the same room?” Kali asked.
“Looks like it mate,” Tony replied, pushing it open.
The room was fairly large and decorated like the rest of the house, with blankets spread across the floor and pots placed in areas to make the room look inviting. Some beeswax candles lined the dresser and there were two chairs and a pile of cushions on one side. In the middle was a large bed made up of hay and two thick blankets on top.
“Bagsy the left,” Tony said, and jumped onto the bed. It was surprisingly springy.
Kali cautiously approached the right hand side of the bed and quickly lay down, her back facing Tony, looking out to the dresser.
“Don’t I get a goodnight kiss?” Tony asked playfully, giving her a push.
“Leave off,” Kali replied. “Thought you were tired?”
“I am.”
“Well go to sleep then.”

Kali closed her eyes and drifted off almost immediately. She dreamt of her home. She could see the big red couch inviting her to sit on it. She sat down and was engulfed by the soft material. Her cat, Mittens, came and sat on her lap, curling into a ball. She stroked Mittens’ head and she purred softly in return. Kali could swear that Mittens had the ability to smile. Her cat was cute; a jet black coat with white fur on her paws gave her the name. She lifted Mittens off her lap and dropped her gently onto the floor. She walked around the coffee table and the corner jabbed into the back of her leg. Suddenly she could see Erebos glaring at her and felt him grabbing her around her waist and pulling her onto his horse. She kicked out and fell onto the floor with a thump.
“Aah,” she yelled out, suddenly awake and lying on the floor of Stylianos’ guest room.
“What happened?” Tony yelled, coming over to her side of the bed. He leaned over and looked at her spread out over the floor.
“I fell off.”
“Obviously,” he said, holding out his hand. She took it and he hauled her up to a sitting position so she could get back into bed. She sat on the edge, her legs over the side. Tony swung his legs over too and sat closely next to her.
“I had a nightmare,” she admitted.
“Wanna talk about it?”
A pause.
“I dreamt Erebos had kidnapped me again.”
Another pause.
“You okay?”
Kali looked up at Tony. She could feel the tears starting to creep into her eyes.
“I was so scared,” she half-whispered. “I didn’t know what was going to happen to me.”
Tony pulled Kali into a hug as she suddenly broke down and cried. He stroked her hair and gently rocked her. She finally pulled away and studied the wet patch she had left on Tony’s robe.
“I will not let anything happen to you,” Tony said, lifting Kali’s chin so she faced him.
She looked him in the eyes and saw the seriousness. She believed him. She nodded and wiped away the wetness on her face. Tony lifted a hand and brushed an imaginary tear away with his thumb. Kali felt goosebumps rise up on her neck and looked at Tony’s lips, moving slowly towards him and brushing them with her own. He pulled back a little, looked at her, and then came back towards her. This time the kiss was stronger, their lips slightly parted, each slowly savouring the taste of the other. It grew more intense and Kali moved her hands towards Tony’s torso. He suddenly pulled away and held her hands still.
“No, it’s not right,” he said, placing her hands on her lap.
“What do you mean?” Kali asked, confused.
“You’re highly emotional. I don’t want you doing something you will regret later.”
“Since when did you care about consequences? You’ve stolen food, been drunk, spoken about modern football rules and said modern phrases out loud. All these things could have gotten you into trouble and you’ve never given it a thought.”
“This is different,” he insisted. “I don’t have to stay in the company of any of the people I stole from or said things to. I do have to stay with you. And…”
He paused, not sure how to phrase what he wanted to say next.
“What?” Kali asked.
“I care about you, okay?” he said. “What you said the other day, about me needing you? You’re right. I wouldn’t last a day on my own. And when I saw you being taken away I didn’t only think of myself. I thought about you. I was genuinely worried for you. You could have been raped or murdered or anything.”
“So why won’t you let me kiss you?”
“Because you might think differently about me in the morning.”
“Isn’t that my decision to make?”
“Do you have protection?”
Kali shook her head.
“Me neither, and I can’t see there being a pharmacy around the corner, can you?”
Kali shook her head again.
“Just sleep, okay?”
Kali laid down, lifting her legs back on to the bed. Tony got up and walked around the other side and laid down too. He placed a hand over Kali’s and closed his eyes. Kali interlinked her fingers with Tony’s and fell asleep too.