Just Myrto Read Online Free PDF Page B

explained. Iris stood close beside her nodding her head.
    â€œKorinna! Iris!” a voice called from the hallway. Both girls froze.
    â€œYes, Mama Leda,” they responded in chorus.
    An older woman shuffled through the door and put a hand on each girl’s shoulder. The sun had darkened her hands and given her many wrinkles.
    â€œGood morning, Mrs. Myrto,” she said in a voice that carried a soothing song through each word. “Did you sleep well?” Her eyes drifted to the bed and stopped briefly on the stained bedding.
    I nodded.
    â€œWe’ll be washing the coverings and anything else you like, ma’am,” Mama Leda said, gathering up the blankets from the bed. “Is there anything else you want washed?”
    I glanced around the room before shaking my head.
How can I ask you what I really want to know? What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?
    â€œIs everything to your liking, ma’am?” Mama Leda asked.
    I nodded again and struggled to find the right words. “Mama Leda,” I stopped. “Should I call you Mama Leda?”
    â€œYou call me whatever you like, ma’am.”
    I again tried to work out the right questions to get the answers I needed. “What does Socrates call you?” I asked at last.
    â€œMr. Socrates calls me Leda,” she responded. She seemed to sense my true predicament, and shooed Korinna and Iris out the door with the bedding. “You girls go on. Get started on the wash now.”
    Once they were safely out of earshot, Leda turned her attention back to me. “Mr. Socrates told me to show you around the place, answer all of your questions, and make sure you have everything you need until he returns.”
    I walked around the room, running my hands along the chairs and table. “When will he be back?” I asked.
    â€œThat’s hard to say, ma’am. Usually by sunset, but sometimes not until closer to sunrise.” She paused to see if I had another question. After several moments, she broke the silence. “Let me introduce you to Zoe the cook. Then we’ll see if we can find Praxis. He does most of the farming and the buying and selling at the market.”
    And so I allowed Leda to extract me from the safety of Socrates’ chambers and lead me into the fearsome house of Xanthippe.

6
    L EDA WALKED ME through the common rooms of the house and into the courtyard where Xanthippe lay in wait. Again I heard her before I saw her.
    â€œSo, this is the soil of Aristides the Just where Socrates wants to plant his seed!” Xanthippe roared. I spun to face her. Her dark brown eyes pierced mine with a jolting force. My body wrenched backward. I steadied myself and fixed my eyes upon her leather sandals.
    Leda stepped between us. “Yes, ma’am,” she mumbled.
    â€œWell, forgive me for not celebrating when the old goat tracks dirt into my house.” Xanthippe spat on the ground in my direction. My face flushed and my ears burned as Xanthippe continued her tirade.
    â€œSocrates can keep all the filth he likes in his own bed chambers. I’ll never set foot in there again; but you, Miss Myrto, will do well to get it into that pretty little head of yours that this is my house, and you best not set foot in it unless you intend to do exactly as I say!”
    Anger seized my chest, and tears began to sting my eyes. Before a sound could pass through my quivering lips, I retreated to Socrates’ room and hurled myself on the bed. Arms wrapped around mystomach, I shook violently from head to toe. “Oh, Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, what am I to do?” I cried in quiet whispers. “Surely I cannot win a war against Xanthippe!”
    My mind returned to my garter.
I should have ended this before it ever began. Perhaps it’s not too late.
I sat up and dried my eyes. The wine on the table called to me, and I answered, hands trembling as I poured the first cup.
Would I be