“I’m not staying!” I interrupted before he said anything worse. Servants! I didn’t know what year it was, or how long it was before the Relocation, but I didn’t want to give up my life and live in Lucia deep in the past, nor was that where I wanted Alkippe to grow up. The thought was stifling, worse, terrifying.

“But you can be free here, without all that evil nonsense,” Kebes said.

“What nonsense?” I asked warily.

“Festivals of Hera, and Plato, and worshipping demons,” he said, with a glance at Hermes. “You could get married properly. You’re my family, and we can be together. You can help with our great work of rescuing and resettling people. And most importantly, you can come to know the true God. Yayzu can save your soul.”

“No!” I protested. “You know nothing about me, and you’re trying to take control of my life without any idea of who I am or what I want.”

Kebes drew breath to reply, but as he did the woman came back with a tray with the two jugs, the mixer, and three cups. Kebes kept quiet but otherwise ignored her, as if she were an animal moving about. She set the things down carefully on the table. I smiled at her, and she smiled uncertainly back. Kebes was reaching for a coin, but I was faster, pulling one out of the purse Hermes had given me, glad now that I had it. “No change,” I said. She thanked me profusely. I took hold of the jugs and mixed the wine half and half, as Plato recommends, and then added a bit more water, and poured it into the cups. The utensils were plain but sturdy and well shaped.

Kebes took a cup. Although I had paid for the wine, I didn’t want to drink with him and make him my guest-friend. I drew a cup towards me but did not pick it up. Hermes did the same, twisting the stem in his long fingers. The woman went over to the other table and answered some query they had.

The pause had given me time to think what to say. “I appreciate that you mean well, but I don’t worship demons. I am perfectly happy with Plato and festivals. I am a Gold, and this year I’m consul. I’m an important person at home. People want me to make decisions and sort things out. I spent a year as envoy to Lucia in my own time, and it’s thriving, but I was glad to go home again. I already know about Yayzu. We have Ikarian temples in the City; we have freedom of worship. I could marry at home, if there were anyone I wanted to marry. I have my own complicated life and you don’t know anything about it. I have no desire to be uprooted from it and come here.”