Steady…...steady……..The six year old licked her lips intently, staring at the peculiar looking insect perched on the stalk just beneath the flower of one of the many colorful blooms around the gardens of the Palati. It was protracted work, to stalk and study the countless types of creatures that seemed to flourish in the macro world, so easy to miss entirely if one wasn’t looking closely. And for the little princess, Gianna, it was an obsession. Even in her opulent little gown, modest accessories, and sandals made of braided hide, the royal was without hesitation when it came to scouring the gardens as if on safari. And today, her many long hours of reading and creeping about the vast grounds had yielded quite the find. This insect had an elongated body, with a curled tail of sorts, and a set of lacy wings. It was pretty to Gianna, and she dutifully sketched it on a piece of parchment before setting invoking the most stealth she could conjure in order to catch it. The notion of it being a potential biter or stinger was lost on the child entirely.

For a moment, she held her breath, small hands moving ever so slowly towards the flower stalk. Can’t rush….must go slowly….eeeeaaasy now…..and those fingers closed gently around the stalk, and its captive. With a squeal of excitement, Gianna gently pulled her fingers away, plucking the tiny creature from its perch. Drawing it close, she squirmed, opening her fingers just enough to catch a glimpse of the lovely little bug in its makeshift enclosure. Large round eyes must have been bewildered, staring out from the dark enclosure it now found itself in. Six year old Gianna worked hard to study the insect, ensuring she’d accurately captured it in her drawing of the insect. So preoccupied with her keen study, she’d missed the small caravan arriving at the palati. The clop of horse hooves on the cobblestone and lift of voices finally drew her focus from the little insect she held, her head naturally following the sound. The curiosity getting the best of her, even more so than her fascination with the small animals with hard shells that flew and crawled and scurried at every turn, Gianna rose from where she squatted down at the edging stones of the garden, and hurried towards the terrace, ascending the steps and pressing her face to the metal gate where she observed a convoy arriving. She could tell instantly who and what they were; new slaves and attendants. One by one, they were trotted out, and lined up, as the head of staff paced along the lines.

Gianna watched the proceeding, still carefully holding her precious cargo, the little lace-winged insect. The collection of new property ranged from a few items, to a string of people, slaves, of various ages. Gianna’s eyes instantly sought out the smallest of the group, a girl not too dissimilar from herself. Gianna’s little head canted, nearly upsetting the golden circlet atop her head. The girl had dark hair, and eyes that slanted, different from her own. Gianna had never seen such a girl, with distinct features.

Scurrying from her makeshift observatory, Gianna fled the terrace, back through the gargantuan estate that was the palati, little feet pattering across the shined floors, from one end of the palace to the other until she emerged from the front. One of the guards attempted to stop her, only to have her scowl at him, complete with lower lip protrusion. As if he’d realized the error of his ways, attempting to restrain one of the princesses, the guard reluctantly retracted his hand, allowing the child to pass.

Of course she stood out like a sore thumb, as the heads of staff and attendants and slave masters scattered about, sorting through the newly acquired chattel like one would sort produce. Upon seeing the princess, several of them were a mix of paying respect, and balking that a child should be allowed to interfere with the household proceedings. But Gianna ignored them all. She floated past them, clean, pristine, glimmering little peplos standing out against the palette of earth tones worn by the lower classes.

“Your Highness, this is no place for children, nor for princesses,” one of the adults attempted to placate her. Only for her to point to the girl with the slanted eyes.


“But I want to play with her,” she stated.

“Highness, she is to be assigned to the kitchen, with all the others, and - “

“I said I want to play with her,” Gianna all but stomped a little authoritative foot, having no part of being declined. The frustration of those around her was evident, but they dare not utter a word in opposition to the little princess. The master of quarters merely inhaled steeply, and motioned to the slant-eyed girl that Gianna had chosen. One of the guards stepped forward and put a brawny hand on the girl’s shoulder, pulling her from the line up and directing her towards Gianna. The guard wrenched the slave girl to a stop and shoved her down onto her small knees.

“Kneel before royalty, slave,” he issued the command, without vitriol, without care, as if speaking as casually as one would about dinner bread or fresh olives. Gianna found it tedious to always lord one’s self over others. It was obnoxious and unnecessary to a child, which she ignored as her deep cocoa doe eyes settled on the little girl cast at her feet.

As the world was viewed considerably differently through the lens of a child’s eye, so did Gianna extend her free hand to the girl, oblivious to the vast differences between them. “I’m Gianna. What’s your name?” she asked, keeping her hand extended towards the crumble of rags, a friendly smile on her face.