Glory and the Lightning by Taylor Caldwell

paused, thinking. Finally she went to Cleo’s chamber and lay down on the bed. Exhausted with delight, she fell instantly asleep, but not before covering her hair.
    Before dawn she awakened, and went to her chamber and aroused Cleo. She whispered, “Do not speak. You have slept the night through, my dear one, and must return to your own chamber at once, for soon we will be called to arise.”
    Cleo’s eyes filled with disappointed tears, and Aspasia suffered her embraces and caresses for a brief moment, then again whispering a warning she removed the girl’s arms and forced her gently to leave, nodding promises for the future. She had hardly composed herself in her own bed when the guardians arrived to wake the maidens to another day.
    She was in her mathematics class when she received a summons from Thargelia. This was most unusual, and the girl paled with apprehension. Following the slave, she came to Thargelia’s chamber, to find the mistress of the hetairai in a cold rage. Never had she worn such a countenance before, pallid and tightened, her eyes glinting, and Aspasia thought, All is lost. I have been discovered. But, at Thargelia’s silent gesture, she seated herself and folded her hands on her knee. If Thargelia had not been in such anger she would have been curious as to the reason for Aspasia’s whiteness and the fear in her eyes.
    The mistress said abruptly, “Did aught disturb you in the night, Aspasia?”
    She is tormenting me, the girl said to herself. She wet her lips and mutely shook her head. While Thargelia stared at her implacably she prepared to speak and finally could do so. “I sleep very well, Thargelia. Little awakens me.”
    Thargelia played with her jeweled necklace and continued to stare at the girl. She said, “You are not one to betray a companion. I have discerned that before. But this is very serious. Did you not hear any furtive footsteps in the night or see a passing figure?”
    Aspasia returned her stare and some of the fear left her. “Nothing. I saw and heard nothing.”
    “You saw none of your companions in the hall?”
    “None. I slept through the night.”
    Thargelia did not remove her hard gaze. “One of the guardians looked into the chamber of Cleo, and discovered her absence. Very quietly, so as not to alarm others, the guardians searched the house, including the latrines. Cleo was not to be found. The guards outside and in the portico had seen no one. But one of some superstition swore that he had glimpsed a maiden in the moonlight, but when he pursued she vanished, and he is of the opinion that he had seen a nymph. He could not discern her features, but he swears that her face reflected the moon, and now he is convinced that he saw Artemis, herself.” At this Thargelia’s mouth writhed in scorn and fresh fury.
    ‘Oh, gods,’ thought Aspasia with new fear. Cleo! If she kept silent she would suffer terrible punishment, and be sent to work in the meanest of occupations. She was only a child, and therefore, in dread of such punishment she doubtless would tell the truth. Both probabilities were equally appalling. Aspasia said, in a shaking voice, “I have remembered something. Cleo, who is still a thoughtless child, came into my bed, whispering she had had a nightmare, and she was afraid. She remained for a while with me, while I comforted her.”
    Thargelia considered, while Aspasia gazed at her with strained eyes. Thargelia then said, “You are a poor liar, Aspasia, and it is possible you have never lied before. Why should you protect such as Cleo? I have seen no affection in you for the girl, and that you have avoided her. Yet you admitted her to your bed! A child, you say. She is but two years younger than yourself, and you are nubile. I will question her.”
    “She is about to pose again for Tmolus, Thargelia. It would not be well to interrupt his class.”
    Seeing that Thargelia was still studying her with reflection Aspasia continued: “Perhaps Cleo was