Twisted Mythology: Ariadne by Ashleigh Matthews

Chapter 1
     
    Sunlight pouring in from the window behind her onto her loom
let Ariadne know that the noon hour had arrived at last.  The princess set her
shuttles aside to inspect her progress.  The scene depicting an Athenian
tribute being sent down into the Labyrinth was coming along quite nicely.  Her
work could not compare to anything that Athena might produce herself, but
Ariadne had a feeling the quality of her design and her technique would impress
the goddess.
    She let out a sigh the shadows from the shrine’s main doors
shifted.  The princess turned her eyes to see the two servants who tended the
shrine with her entering with a platter of food and a jug of wine for the three
of them to share.  She came to her feet and followed the two young women to the
apartment they shared located near the entrance to the Labyrinth.  She thanked
the gods that these two women were not as stupid as the previous pair.
    Ariadne watched the taller of the servants serve the wine
while her companion set the platter closer to their mistress’s preferred seat. 
They learned at a faster pace than their predecessors.  She would pay them a
compliment if she could find the words that would not make it come out as an
insult.  She took a seat and accepted the goblet extended in her direction. 
Her stomach growled as the aroma of seasoned meats and vegetables reached her
nostrils.  Had it truly been that long since she had eaten the morning meal? 
Surely it hadn’t.  Other than her weaving, she had little to occupy her time
this day.
    Neither servant took a seat nor poured wine into their own
goblets until Ariadne had taken several bites of food.  And once they had taken
their spots at the table, they stared at their hands in silence.  Their
obedience would please the gods and make their parents proud.  When she had her
fill, she pushed the platter away.  The two women would sit there until she
gave them permission to eat.  A part of her sometimes wondered how long she
could make them sit there.  She had heard stories of master being so cruel. 
But she was not that cruel plus it displeased the gods, and the judges would
hold it against her when she stood before them in the Underworld.  Yet before
she could allow them to enjoy what she had not eaten, she had questions to ask
and job assignments to hand out.
    “Do you have any messages for me?” she asked.
    “We were told a messenger from the King, your father, would
be coming down an hour past noon, your Highness,” the taller of the two
informed her.
    “Did my mother send down any instructions with you?”
    “Only that you join her and your sisters for the evening
meal at sundown.”
    Ariadne nodded.  She hoped the action would keep the groan at
the back of her throat from reaching her lips.  She joined her mother every
evening for dinner unless her father wanted to parade her in front of his court. 
It had not changed since she was still a babe in her mother’s arms.  Not once
had she missed the meal, even when the tributes had arrived later in the day than
expected.  Did her mother think her as stupid as most servants?  Ariadne hoped
that when she became a mother to a daughter, she would have more confidence in
her child’s ability to remember to do something without being reminded.  She
could almost hear her mother ask her what she possibly knew about mothering
children.  She snorted.  If she hesitated any longer, no doubt the servants
would die of starvation.
    “After your meal, head into the tribute dormitory and give
the place a thorough cleaning,” she commanded.  “We have to assume that the
messenger His Majesty is sending down will be announcing their impending
arrival.  We want the Athenians to know that Crete respects the sacrifice they
are making on behalf of their polis.”  Her lips curled into a smile.  “Take
time to enjoy the food and the wine.  It would be a shame to let the flavors go
unappreciated.”
    She finished the last of