The relief seemed to visibly pour over Daniil at Thea’s nod of acceptance. The most surprising thing about their interaction so far, was just how important it seemed to be to Daniil that Thea accept her gesture to join her. It was surprising, but not unwelcome. Thea was curious about where the appreciation had stemmed from, but it was certainly a useful tool all the same. If Daniil held Thea’s very being and opinions in such high regard, then that provided Thea with plenty of opportunities to play her games. Of course, the best games were slow building. Thea liked the journey just as much as the conclusion. She had no desire to rush, she was not an impatient woman.

The smile Daniil wore in response to Thea’s simple nod was unbridled and honest, Thea could tell by the way her smile reached her emerald eyes. There was something raw there too, like the expression was unfamiliar to her own features. To respond in such a way suggested that Daniil had expected to be rejected. Curious then, that despite her expectations, Daniil still chose to approach Thea. Perhaps she did not expect rejection until after she’d already spoken. Perhaps that was a self-depreciating defence mechanism the younger woman used to prepare herself for rejection. The blow was much easier to withstand when one already expected it.

That seemed to be the most likely explanation. Otherwise the other option was that for whatever reason, Daniil had found the opportunity to speak with Thea well worth the consequence of rejection. That sort of action would require Daniil to have reason to hold Thea in such high regard. Even if Thea was right in suspecting Daniil of being possibly attracted to her, Thea would imagine that there would still need to be more to prompt such a response. The potential reward had to outway the risk of what she assumed was inevitable, in this case, rejection. It was not an impossible scenario, but without knowing more about what drove Daniil, Thea was more inclined to read and respond to more immediate cues from the Marikas girl.

When Thea chose to speak, deciding to draw attention to Daniil’s sword, the response was almost instant. Passion filled words tumbled from her mouth, confirming Thea’s assumption that any topics close to the younger woman’s heart would both relax and comfort her. With how Daniil responded—with such exuberance and enthusiasm—Thea wondered if the simple gesture of speaking about something she was interested in was a rare occasion. If so, then Thea likely would not have a difficult time building a positive rapport with the girl.

’If you had wished to, you should! The marketplace is safe enough, to be certain, but I have always maintained that a woman should have the right to protect herself if need be. It is odd for me to carry a sword, yet if a man had done the same in this place, there likely would not be even a second glance cast his way. I carry this sword because I am versed in its usage, and any man in a station similar to mine would do the same.’

Well the puzzle pieces were certainly beginning to fall into place. With Daniil being the youngest of her siblings, it was likely that her conception was the last chance for Lord Pavlos and Lady Sera to birth a son. The pressure that would have put on Daniil was likely intense. How visible did her family make their disappointment? It was no secret that sons were the most highly coveted form of child. Sons passed on the family name. Sons ran households and all matters of business that the fairer sex were not allowed. One only needed to look at Nethis and her role compared to Dysius to see the injustice of it all. Dysius was no simple minded fool, but neither was he as calculated or talented as Nethis. He needed her to be as successful as he seemed in court. If Nethis had been born a male, there would have been no stopping her. But alas, the gods made the most competent child a woman.

The Thanasi and Marikas were not the only influential or powerful families to struggle with producing male heirs. The Leventi were a perfect example, as well as the Drakos. There was still a chance for Panos younger son to produce male heirs, but that pressure coupled with the already existing disappointment with Daniil and her sisters was likely palpable. So not only had Daniil been born into a family desperately wishing for a son, she had grown up to despise the societal expectations of both sexes. It was understandable really, though her views on what women should or shouldn’t be allowed to do in comparison to men was ironically not a popular one. As much as people in general did not like to feel the effects of the societal divide, they were mostly terrified of appearing to desire a change.

Well, not Daniil it seemed. Once she finished speaking, her hand returned to the owl pendant around her neck, a comforting tick then, meaning she was nervous again. The silence that fell after she spoke was full of expectation. Daniil was waiting for Thea’s response, likely racing herself for a reaction she must have received many times before. Truth be told, Thea did not particularly love the way in which the entire world would be served up to men on a silver platter, while women were expected to stand in the background and be happy about it. In saying that, she enjoyed using that very situation to her advantage. Men were easy to place with a few strokes to their ego. Some women were happiest when seen as the epitome of the perfect wife or daughter. Then there were some—the delicious few—who liked to fight against that. Those types were interesting. People like Daniil had experienced the bitter taste of disappointment, scrutiny and frustration, but still wore their heart and passions like armour. Daniil had made her passions known and now waited to see whether Thea was an ally or foe.

“As is your right,” Thea mused simply, making a point of considering a particular stall with an assortment of exotic herbs she had not seen before. In truth, Thea was more just being sure that her body language gave the impression that Thea was inclined to have the same sentiment as Daniil. If Thea had simply launched into defending the view with multiple examples of how she agreed, it could come across as superficial and forced. Because she spoke as if it was not only common place, but assumed, it would be more likely to placate the young Marikas.

Truth be told, men did not swing their swords around with their cocks, so the idea that women had little place in military roles was embarrassingly archaic. While Thea herself was not blessed with a single fighting bone in her body, she could appreciate that some women would be inclined to explore the military arts. Thea’s strength was her mind, so she was at peace with knowing she was as physically capable as a drowning kitten. That did not mean she could not pander to those ideals. One just needed to know what motivated other people to snake their way into people’s minds.

Turning back to meet Daniil’s gaze again, Thea continued, “there is little we cannot do.”

When Daniil’s hand fell away from her pendant, Thea knew she had said the right thing. When only a few words were said, it was much easier for people to fill in the blanks to suit what they wanted to hear. Thea had every intention to encourage Daniil to assume that Thea was a like minded individual. To be fair, what Daniil valued was not unreasonable, just unpopular. There would be little need to pretend on Thea’s end, for she had seen evidence enough within her own household that being born a male did not automatically make one better equipped than a woman. How many great women were shackled to the mundane role of producing offspring and maintaining a household? How many mediocre men were celebrated because they were simply that—a man?

However, the injustices of the world were not enough to rile Thea up of her own accord. She herself benefitted from many injustices imposed on others. However, Daniil had been looking for affirmation, which was easy enough to give in a mere four words.

When the silence drew on, Thea took command of it again, supplying the younger woman with the understanding that women were far more capable than they were given credit for. How many men—upstart guards, soldiers and aspiring barons to name a few—had Thea ruined for nothing more than to entertain herself? Men were nearly defenceless against a woman who wanted more than a life of producing children. That was probably the only true benefit of men assuming superiority; they never expected a woman to be able to bring them down, which made their fall and ruin all the more entertaining to watch.

The smile on Daniil’s face widened. The poor girl showed her emotions so easily. How no one else had seen the potential to create a weapon out of Daniil before now surprised Thea to some extent. With only a few words, Thea had managed to validate the girl, giving the impression that she was likely starved of positive attention. It made sense, as the youngest girl and child to one of the oldest families in Greece, Daniil would likely have had to spend her life trying to prove her worth. Thea had seen similar in Nethis. Although Nethis would have made the perfect heir if born a male, being a woman meant that she could never inherit the Thanasi household, even though it should be hers by right. Daniil likely had unobtainable expectations set upon her. If she could not reach those expectations, then her only other options were to either roll over and give up, or act out and prove her worth. The slightest shred of validation would have Daniil desperately looking for more. All she needed was some assurances that she was right, and Thea was certain the younger woman would be quite an interesting ally.

Perhaps it wasn’t that no one else had noticed the potential in Daniil, but simply that no one else had the same motivations as Thea. She understood that she saw the world through a different lens than those around her. Even her own family, with the reputation they wore proudly, even her family could and did feel love. Thea could see it in the way Nethis interacted with Mihail, or the way Mihail would jump to their defence if he thought his sisters’ honour was in danger. Thea saw it in the way Evras doted on her son, or even sought to spend time with she and Nethis, despite being happily married. Even her spiteful, decrepit father Dionysius showed love in his own way, for his days were surely numbered, yet he wanted nothing more than to see the success of his house for his children. Thea on the other hand did not feel so strongly. It took so much effort to feel anything more than constant emptiness. She did not see her siblings and feel warm and unwavering affection. When she looked at Nethis, she saw a person in a sea of nobodies that she did not wish to see fail. Thea preferred her family over everyone else, but she had to truly train herself to maintain the image of family love. Truth of the matter was, she simply did not care beyond not wishing to diminish the amount of people in the world she was willing to tolerate.

Thea understood loyalty, she knew that she wanted only success for her house, nothing less. All other houses around her could crumble and she wouldn’t care for them. That was why she did not wish to be married. She already had to give the impression she was not an empty void with her own family. She would not put effort or energy into another house.

There was a time when Thea’s apathy towards the world had scared her to a degree. As a child on the cusp of womanhood, Thea had wished to be able to feel honest affection for her family, but could not. At some point, Thea came to realise that even if she did not feel strongly, she could still act as if she did. She had spent her life observing those around her, she knew what was expected of her as a daughter, sister, lady. She could act accordingly while simultaneously owning her difference to the rest of the population. That was all the encouragement Daniil would need to be made into a weapon. She just needed the ability to own and embody her differences to the rest of the world. Thea could potentially help her with that, and in turn, earn herself an ally from within the Marikas house. What secrets could Daniil uncover? How much could she be turned against her family? Thea was not so delusional as to assume the girl had no family loyalty whatsoever. If she did not, then she would not have stayed, only to put up with whatever expectations Panos and Pavlos set upon her. Despite Daniil’s hunger for affirmation, Thea would assume that Daniil would be happiest if accepted by her family.

’There is nothing we cannot do. Whether it be defending our home, representing our interests in the Senate, or wearing a crown without the need for a man beside us. The expectations forced upon our sex for millennia are unjust, and so long as they continue, Greece is unjust.’

It was nearly refreshing to hear Daniil’s views. Beyond enjoying the way prideful men could crumble, Thea did grow tired of hearing the benign complaints of her male targets. How revolutionary their own ambitions were, how difficult it was to manage their workloads, how unlike ‘every other man’, they were ‘different.’ In Thea’s experience, they were all quite similar.

“If all women thought like us,” Thea began calmly, her gaze absently raking over the assortment of goods on display, “then men would have been thrown out of power long ago.”

Even while it was not uncommon for many women to want more from their place in life, not many were willing to speak up about it, not in any way that truly mattered. Most women of the court were happy with their place in life. Ophelia of Condos was a prime example of a woman who’s greatest goal in life was to find a husband. Truly, it was absurd that most women refused to see their own worth and value outside of which man they married. Still, a revolution would be incredibly difficult to arrange. Passion towards a cause was one thing, but logical acceptance that there was little one person could do to completely overhaul the societal system of Greece was a whole other beast. Thea herself didn’t pick battles she could not win of her own volition. While she could not single handedly change the way Greece as a whole worked, she could run her life how it suited her. She cared not what others thought of her, in fact she welcomed the rumours and gossip. The more people were wary of her, the more licence she had to be herself. What Daniil would do if she learnt to do the same could be very interesting indeed.

’I. . . quite admire the fashion in which you have commanded respect from male peers, Thea. M-May I call you Thea? I find the titles of nobility and grandiose manners in which they must be adhered to forced upon us to be tiresome and insulting.’

Interesting. Thea wondered if Daniil knew what it would be like to live as a commoner. Thea herself enjoyed the comfortable lifestyle of being a Thanasi, even if she didn’t relish in it the same way as Mihail, or even other high born women. Still, learning a little more of what it was that made Daniil think so highly of Thea was pleasing. Perhaps Daniil wanted to learn more on how to hold herself around men. Was she intimidated by them? Jealous? Resentful? All of the above? Thea was sure she could find out, but all in good time. There was no point rushing a conversation.

“So long as I may call you Daniil,” Thea replied, glancing towards the younger woman to gauge her reaction. As for her comment about men, well Thea had a couple of options. She could hint at revealing how she demanded the respect of those around her. Thea assumed Daniil would respond quite well to that, given her views on the world, however it would also mean revealing her methods to another. Thea would need to be sure Daniil was a worthy investment if that was the case.

The other option would be to pander to the girl just a little. A bit more validation and something to humble Thea’s own endeavours. If she could make Daniil feel what Thea had that she wanted was attainable, she would surely make steps towards making it happen.

“I don’t do anything extraordinary,” Thea stated as she moved onto the next stall. “Pick your battles. Men are quite clueless,” Thea added, glancing towards Daniil once more. She was still curious to test if her theory that Daniil was attracted to women was true or not, but she dared not push too much. If Thea was right in her assessment, then it was likely that Daniil was trying to ignore that part of herself, assuming she was aware of it to begin with. If on the other hand, Daniil was confident in her sexuality and had found Thea attractive, she likely would have acted upon that attraction already, whether it be through harmless flirting to evaluate how Thea received the attention, or subtle glances or looks of appreciation.

For Daniil to act on her attraction, Thea would likely need to first give the impression that she would be receptive to female affection and attention. Even then, Daniil would need to feel so truly confident that to act upon her desires would not only be accepted, but well received. That would take some setting up, but all good things were worth the wait.

’And should such a chain of events taken place, Greece would be a just region in which none should be afraid to be who they are.’

And there it was. Daniil’s honest desires. So, she was a woman who wanted to be seen for who she was. It made sense, politically, she was the third born daughter of an ancient, royal bloodline. There was a time when the Marikas ruled Athenia, but even without the crown, the family was old and well respected. Even with the desires for a male heir aside, it would be expected that Daniil take up the mantle of a proper royal lady. Just by looking at her though, it was clear that Daniil saw herself as anything but, with her short hair, tunic and the sword on her hip. It was one thing to defy expectations others had of one’s self, it was another thing entirely to be accepted for their differences.

From what Thea had observed, humans were generally quite afraid of change and differences. On a whole, they put far too much trust in societal norms and rebuked anything that challenged their views. It was why Thea enjoyed toying with people so much. Once she figured out how they ticked, it was then a matter of finding the most satisfying way to break them. Daniil wanted to be accepted, no doubt most by the people closest to her. Thea was not her family, so she would need to fan the coals of Daniil’s deepest desires before snuffing them out entirely.

Thea turned her icy gaze back to Daniil, noticing the sudden snap of her gaze back to Thea’s, as well as the nervous clearing of her throat. Had Thea caught Daniil’s gaze roaming. Thea certainly hoped so, that would only serve to make the game more fun. Acting as if she’d not noticed anything untoward, Thea allowed the slightest of smirks to pull at the corner of her lips, “make them afraid of who you are.”

Although Thea was sure that she did not feel as strongly about the issues that drove Daniil, Thea also preferred not to have to keep up appearances, especially in more casual settings. Thea could appreciate that the court and politics were as deadly a game to play as war, and understood that donning those customs and procedures was no different to wearing plated armour. Beyond that though, Thea preferred to blend into the crowd; there was so much more to see when no one thought anyone was watching. Having Daniil request to address Thea without her title was truly of no consequence to Thea. It clearly meant a lot to Daniil though, especially when Thea requested the same treatment. The younger woman looked as if she were trembling. Stunned, or perhaps in awe. It was curious that the girl put so much weight into what Thea said or thought about her, given that they had never spoken so many words to each other in the past. It was somewhat like a treat, to find a new toy in a person who Thea would not have expected to be willing to play.

’I-I would like that. I would like that very much.’

There was the light stutter again—Daniil’s words were practically dripping with gratitude. Was she truly so starved of attention? What of her sisters? Were they as starved of attention and acceptance as Daniil? Or did they receive a lesser sentence for playing the role that was expected of them? Individuality came at a sharp cost, but it was not impossible to turn it around. Not caring about anyone else was the key.

In response, Thea gave a small nod of affirmation, cementing the detail to memory. Dropping the titles had the added benefit of making the address seem all the more close or intimate. Thea did not address her siblings by their titles, nor did she expect it from them. They grew up together, there was no need for the formality. With Daniil however, agreeing to call each other by only their names was an unspoken acknowledgement of equal acceptance. It was clear Daniil seemed to think quite highly of Thea, and it did not hurt for Daniil to think Thea thought the same of her.

’Oh, but you do, Thea! I think you are quite extraordinary. Every man in my life has been careless and filled with pride, but you are not like that at all. I find your company to be quite pleasurable-’

If the particular word choices Daniil made weren’t interesting enough, the way she suddenly stopped and flushed with colour certainly was. Almost instantly, her hand flew back to her pendant. Thea wondered if she was aware of how easily she gave herself away by reaching for the owl around her neck for comfort. Clearly, in her enthusiasm, she had revealed more than intended. Thea enjoyed those moments when it happened. It was amazing how much people spilled when excited or comfortable. Daniil had called Thea extraordinary, which while it was true that Thea wasn’t exactly ordinary in the way she conducted herself or viewed the world, Daniil had said it in awe. The very next phrase Daniil made was to bring up the men in her life and how they’d treated her. Curious, that men should be the first comparison to make after showing her admiration for Thea. Fitting though, when considering the expectations of a daughter born to a powerful and well respected house; at some point, she would be married off, and clearly the men that Daniil knew—family or otherwise—did not leave a good impression on her. Thea could relate to not wanting to be married off to some testosterone filled gnat with an overbearing need to demonstrate his masculinity.

Then finally, Daniil stated that she found Thea’s company pleasurable, before suddenly halting her words. Thea was feeling more and more confident that the girl was attracted to her, though Thea was wary of ‘reciprocating’ too early. If Daniil truly was so starved for attention—let alone affection—then any suggestive advances could make her recoil. It would be better for Thea to let herself seem open to anything Daniil felt, and allow the girl to come to her.

’I-I apologize, Thea. That was too forward of me. I did not wish to offend you, I am not sure what I was saying. I am just attempting to tell you how. . . how much I enjoy your companionship in our admittedly brief interaction,a-and I wish that it may continue.’

So far, it seemed that Thea had successfully managed to say just what Daniil needed to hear. Now, it was time to begin encouraging Daniil to act on her thoughts, even if only slightly. Thea was in no rush, but she knew that the more comfortable Daniil felt around her, the easier it would be to have the girl confident enough to confide in her. To reach that stage though, Thea needed to appeal to her and banish her fears, at least for the time being.

Turning to face Daniil completely, Thea paused and considered the younger woman thoughtfully, her head tilted slightly to the side. Daniil’s knuckles were white from how hard she gripped her pendant.

“I’m not so easily offended,” Thea said easily, another small, seemingly secret smirk pulling at her features. “But I am enjoying your company,” Thea added, holding the gaze for a moment, before turning back to the stalls around them.

“Don’t apologise for being forward,” Thea began calmly, her gaze drifting from stall to stall, “men certainly don’t.”

If thea were still in her teenage years, she may have seen the vulnerability in Daniil’s posture and expression, and decided to act then and there. Already, Daniil seemed utterly captivated, yearning for Thea’s acceptance and approval. While it would no doubt be satisfying to see her expression shift from hopeful to crushed, it would be a waste. If all went as Thea hoped, she would have Daniil totally wrapped around her finger, utterly dependent on her for appreciation and attention. The best games were always the ones that took time to play, and Thea was seeing so much more potential for such a game in Daniil than she would have thought even a day ago.

No, it was too early to take from her yet. Daniil needed to be conditioned further to know that she could trust Thea to provide all that she desired. Once that dependence was established, Daniil would be as hooked as the average opium addict. Then, Thea could begin to twist the younger girl. For now, Thea would indulge Daniil and learn all she could that could be exploited later. How she hoped to make enough of a lasting impression to be able to convince Pavlos to allow Daniil a visit to Colchis upon her invitation. The particulars of that were yet to be figured out.

The girl was practically blushing, her hand wrapped so tightly around her pendant, her knuckles were white with the exertion. Almost instantly after Thea spoke however, the relief that Daniil showed was nearly palpable. Thea caught the way Daniil leaned against the stall, as if honestly taken aback. Her eyes were wide, but not in fear. Truly, the girl must have been severely starved of positive attention, cruelly so. It made the game all the more interesting for Thea, for she was sure it would not take long to completely and utterly wrap Daniil up in a false sense of security and belonging.

When Thea turned away, she was purposeful with her choice of words. Men certainly did not apologize for their forwardness, but Thea really was simply encouraging Daniil to act upon her desires. The more Thea pandered to Daniil’s values and beliefs, while encouraging her to take steps she might have otherwise considered, then Thea would be setting Daniil up for a delicious fall in time. While satisfying, the end was only part of the fun. The journey was Thea’s favourite bit. She liked to see how far she could push a person, before coaxing them back from the edge, only to do it again later. She liked watching the confusion in one’s eyes as they struggled to understand her flippant attitude towards them, or the inner conflict that threatened to tear them apart. The things people were willing to do to get what the desired most from another person had always been a delightful source of entertainment.

’No, they certainly do not, Thea. In that case, perhaps you would not object to my asking you to find some time to engage with me somewhere more private, before you leave for Colchis?’

Oh good, she was being bold already. Thea could have smirked at that moment, but instead, she simply turned around with a plain yet content expression. “I should be happy to do so,” Thea agreed without any hint of doubt or undue consideration. Truth be told, Thea was curious to see just what it was that Daniil hoped to explore in private, for Thea was not one to shy away from an opportunity.

If Thea was correct in her assumptions that Daniil fancied her, then perhaps Daniil wished to be away from potentially prying eyes and ears. Would she act on such attraction so soon? Thea was doubtful, but wouldn’t rule it out. Thea would not be in Athenia for much longer, so Daniil could be warring with a sense of urgency. If Daniil did approach Thea as such, well then Thea would encourage it of course. Love and attachment was a powerful tool to use against a person. Should Thea be incorrect however, then that was perfectly fine too. Plenty of people found solace and comfort in platonic relationships, one did not need a sexual relationship to be close. Thea could work with whatever it was that Daniil felt.

Thea did not think she was wrong though. Although unsaid, there was a certain point made about the brazen nature of men. For Daniil’s request for privacy to carry on the very back of that comment was potentially rather telling. It pleased Thea that Daniil had a flare of fire in her already. Confidence could be fanned into a beat utterly difficult to control without dousing it completely, and Thea was not afraid to get close enough to that fire to do so. It would have been too easy and boring if Daniil was a simpering, demure little thing. No, that defiance to be seen for who she was, not what was expected of her sex and that bold confidence to grasp at an opportunity was exactly what Thea wanted to see.

“Do you have any place in mind?” Thea asked casually, before glancing to her left at a curious display of powdered mandrake. Thea rather adored her arm band with the hidden mandrake crystal eyes, which gave her an added appreciation for the plant in general. As if content with her browsing, Thea turned her icy gaze back towards Daniil expectantly.

It was pleasing to see Daniil meet her gaze with more vigour than before. Although starved of genuine affection and appreciation, Daniil did seem to be quick to bolster. This new reimaging of Daniil that she was presenting was honest, but fragile. All it would take to shatter the faux confidence, would be a chide or some off hand comment of displeasure. Daniil seemed to be testing the waters, as if she felt somewhat safe that she would not be in true danger of being cut down. While this was true for the time being, the same could not be said for later. No, for now, Thea would indulge the youngest Markias; allow her taste the sweetness of being valued, enough so that she would learn to crave it. Then, Thea could see how much Daniil was willing to do to sate her cravings.

Interested to test her theory on Daniil’s inclinations towards herself, Thea turned her attention absently towards a display of mandrake powder, allowing Daniil time to compose her thoughts without the added pressure of an expected, lingering gaze. Sometimes pressuring a target into spluttering their first thought was ideal, but in this instance, Thea intended to let Daniil think it over, allowing her the impression of shared control of the whole situation and dynamic. They had been discussing the injustices of the fairer sex after all, it would be hyporcritical for Thea to allow it seem she was controlling the conversation, even if it was true.

It seemed the young Marikas was utilising the time well, as she did not blurt an answer right away. Thea could also confirm that Daniil was acting on spur of the moment courage, for she’d made a request without already having a pre-planned destination in mind. This was all good news to Thea.

’There is a tree, not far outside the limits of the city, on the top of a hill. It is surrounded by fields of wheat, and is only visited by one woman: me. No one would bother us there.’

Thea paused as she considered Daniil’s words. She chose to describe the desired location quite favourably, as to be expected. If one wanted to convince someone to go somewhere, they would make the destination seem desirable. That was innocent enough. The admission that it was only visited by Daniil herself was an interesting addition though. It promised privacy, which could be taken deeper than a place to talk freely. Mentioning that only she went there though, suggested that the place was of some import to the youngest Marikas girl. She knew it was not frequented by others, so for someone so used to being starved of attention, it could be one of—if not her only—safe haven. Offering to take Thea there suggested a great deal of trust, or potentially desire, if not both. Trust was easy enough to throw to the side when desire was at play, but the two together were a juicy combination to mold and form to one’s will. Privacy in a precious place would be quite sinful between a man and a woman. Two women though, as far as society was concerned, was quite fine. How advantageous for them then, that prying eyes should not have much concern for two royal women spending time together.

’No prying eyes could oversee, nor curious ears overhear.’

Well that sounded much less innocent. Thea was inclined to think she need not worry about being careful of coming on too fast and quickly. If she could utilise Daniil’s apparent attraction, that would present even more opportunities to twist and test Daniil.

“Sounds perfect,” Thea responded, glancing over her shoulder with the faintest hint of a smirk. Turning back around, Thea cant her head to the side as she considered the younger woman thoughtfully. They were of similar height, though Thea was most certainly Daniil’s senior. Thea could not recall exactly how many years Daniil had seen, but would guess that she was perhaps in her late teen years or early 20s. Age did not deter Thea at the best of times, and apparently did not seem to bother Daniil either.

“I should like to visit this place with you. It is much easier to connect comfortably when not worried about what others may think,” Thea agreed simply and innocently enough, though the intent look in her icy eyes and the knowing smirk that pulled at her lips were anything but.

Despite the general din of the markets, Thea did not miss Daniil’s slight intake of breath upon hearing Thea’s words. Beyond that, Daniil was maintaining her emboldened confidence rather well. She’d gone out on a limb, so Thea was willing to reward her for that, even if it were to serve her own gains in time. Truth be told, Daniil was being a lot more forward than Thea would have initially expected, but Thea welcomed it all the same. Anything that surprised her was only a benefit, not a hindrance, no matter the scale.

’Yes. It is much easier to become truly aware of each other in all facets, and to be away from the society that constrains us, and the choices we might make in company, and even to the nature of that company.’

Oh she did not disappoint. Even despite her flushed complexion and wide eyed state, Daniil was quick of wit and willing to go all or nothing. She truly was forming into the perfect play thing’ Thea would be disappointed to have to leave her new toy behind once she returned to Colchis. However, if she played her hand right, perhaps she would be able to coax her new toy back to Colchis too. It was rather a shame Thea had not realised the potential when the Marikas stayed with them back in Colchis for the Peace Festival.

To encourage Daniil, Thea let her smirk shift ever so slightly into a coy, yet mischievous expression. Thea was curious to see what choices Daniil would make with Thea away from the prying eyes of the public and the rest of her house. “Having that freedom can be quite liberating,” Thea agreed, her tone calm and innocent enough, same as before, but her gaze was anything but. “If only we could be accepted more readily for the choices we desire, but at least there is comfort and trust in another kindred spirit.”

Hold it... Hold it...

The words rang through Leo's head like a drum beat. They had synchronized with his steps. Right foot... Hold... Left foot... It. He could feel the heat in his cheekbones, the glaze forming over his eyes. His resilience did no good. In the split second between one foot and the next, the sneeze broke free and had his tall frame bent double with its strength. His fingers white-knuckled upon the shaft of his halberd to keep him upright and he wiped away a little moisture from the corner of each eye. He sniffed.

Dammit, but whatever the traders had brought with them from the east, it was in the air and running rampant up his nose. He'd been sounding off like a rooster with every passing breeze and his left hand, duty-bound to rest upon the hilt of his short-sword, had spent more time rubbing at his nose.

With a palm abraded from military training and turned rough with a manual lifestyle, Leonidas scrubbed at his face with a heavy hand. He sniffed. He winced. He cleared his throat. And then he drove his fingers through tufts of light hair to continue his pattern of wakefulness over his crown and down his neck. The hair itself was left standing in awkward spikes that were oddly charming. A skew-whiffy crown of hay.

Leo was quick to make a scanning look about the alley of stalls, his gaze moving over canopies and between spear and pole structures. Whilst they were annoying as all holy hell, it wasn't the sneezes that had him so frustrated, but the blurry eyesight that followed. It was his duty to keep watch. Quite literally. He was part of the Watchmen unit circulating the trading event that day; ensuring peaceful transactions, tending to injuries or issues as they arose. Chasing down thieves.

It was hard to watch when you couldn't see.

Not that it had hindered Leonidas' performance so far. That morning, his uniform had been served proud by the capture of three pick-pockets, a reprimand to a woman for her state of undress and the escorting-away of a man too drunk to realize that the clipping sound he was trying to run away from in a panic was, in fact, his own boots.

Congratulations, Leo surmised with a long inhale and a heart-felt exhale. What a hero you are, little guard.

The words weren't his own. They were his brother's. Well... his half-brothers. Rarely had Leonidas risked visiting any part of the city that was bound to the Antonis name. It had never been worth the risk. Too many times had he been turned away or shunned for that which he had no control over. Leo was a lot of things but a glutton for punishment was not one of them. On occasion, however, he found himself following paths that were wiser left untread and had been brought into the company of the men he most detested. Each time had been theatrical in its own way with words spoken and globs of saliva spat to the floor.

Little guard...

That's what they liked to call him. As if to emphasize his lack of progress in the forces over their ranks of General and Commander. Leonidas was a Lieutenant. The second-highest rank within the Guard, given Diomedes held the role of Captain. In that, he was proud. When he wasn't haunted by the words spoken to him through barred gates.

Go home, little guard... There is nothing for you here.

Snapping his attention back to the present, Leo turned right around a large, circular stall with pieces of crystal and trays of foul-smelling weeds before making his way back around the route he had been assigned. Setting the end of his halberd into the ground and out of the way for a woman to pass by, Leonidas turned towards the sound of horns. Someone of royal blood had arrived to sample the wares. Hefting the weapon back in hand, Leo paid it little mind and continued on his way. Duty above curiosity had always served him well before. It would serve him well ag-

A blaze of flame caught the corner of Leo's eye!

"What the-?"

Startled, he flung his head back and almost over-balanced himself as a crash split the air and cries lit up around him. His vision a mass of white, Leo felt a force collide with his side and then another his back. He was thrown about like flotsam on the sea until he could brace his feet, plant his staff and blink his vision free of bright splotches. What he saw, drained the blood from his face and sent heat rushing to his muscles.

The flaming orb that had passed by his head had been exactly that; a knotted ball of cloth and oil and - from the smell of it - dung. Set alight and then catapulted into the sea of stalls and people. It had shot just past his face and smashed into one of the beams supporting a nearby stall. The roof had collapsed, the canopy had come down. Within moments, the entire sheet was alight.

Then the real danger set in: the crowd. As they ran in every direction, stalls were trampled, poles of wood holding shelves and hanging baskets of good went crashing to the ground. Round fruits fell underfoot and tripped those who were blindly fleeing in any and all directions. Trays of powder and incense had been knocked left and right, the air was putrid with it and set Leo's eyes burning.

There would be no safety until the madness was contained.

Halberd in hand, Leo unsheathed his short-sword with a single pull and then flipped it so that the blade pointed down, the hilt in hand. No need to risk the safety of innocents.

"This way!" he tried to call above the chaos. He spotted three more orbs of fire raining down over the crowds. They were small. Small enough to be thrown from something as simple as a slingshot. And yet they did damage enough to induce panic. And panic in large crowds could be deadly.

"Citizens!" Leo tried again, clashing the bronze of his sword with that of his halberd. The keening of the metal was sharp and caused several to reach and grab at their hands. "To the outer wall! To the Outer City! Do not stop but do not run! Move quickly and with-"

Apparently, someone wasn't listening because a human-sized force slammed into the back of him. Taken off-guard, Leo went down to the ground. His sword skittered out from under his fingers and went spinning away across the floor, Leo's face was forced to meet the ground and he felt a hard smack and a rush of wet warmth over his face.

Dammit, but broken noses were always a pain, he thought, trying to scramble back to his feet. On the bright side, the blood blocked his sense of smell so he couldn't sneeze over the clouds of spice and dust that were flooding the air.

On the downside, it was raining fire...