The sun was at its zenith, mercilessly hot, uncaring for the bustling crowd which filled Athens’ market that day. Unlike the good wives and daughters of the city that came to fill their shopping baskets accompanied by husbands, fathers or brothers, Eirene came with one of her female slaves. She planned on attending the Thargelia festival  at Apollo’s temple later that night and for that occasion a new stola was required. She was now wearing a linen chiton of very good quality, befitting her status. It  was a very long and very wide rectangle of fabric sewn up at the sides, pinned at the shoulders, and girded around the waist. Her chiton was wide enough to allow for sleeves that were fastened along the upper arms with pins. It was a floor-length garment and under it Eirene worn a soft band, known as a strophion, around the mid-section of the body.  The fabric was intensely colored by natural dye and decorated with an intricate design of red and white.<br/><br/>The tailor she was seeing had his house at the end of the market on a relatively secluded street. The hot and humid air, the bustling streets and the fact that she left the task of acquiering a new stola on the last day added to Eirene’s irritation.  There was nothing in particular she looked forward to in that day. The celebration was attended by most of Athens’ citizens, especially by men and they rarely took their wives or daughters with them. Also, the first day of the festival featured the cathartic rite of the pharmakos (scapegoat). One or two persons, male or female, were selected to be a scapegoat. They were usually criminals or outcasts, but occasionally an important person would sacrifice himself or herself for the city. The scapegoat was fed, led through town, then expelled from the city. In times of severe calamity, the scapegoat might be thrown off a cliff, cast into the sea, or sacrificed on a funeral pyre. The rite of the pharmakos cleansed the town and prepared for the new harvest.<br/><br/>It was in such a dry day that Eirene happened upon the most beautiful creature she had ever seen in her life. Daphne’s golden tresses, the innocent blue eyes, her slender frame couldn’t go unnoticed by the independent woman. It was as if Aphrodite herself took human form to roam the city of Athens.<br/><br/>“Mikara” she addressed the petite slave accompanying her “go and ask that young woman sitting by the fountain if she’s related to the Pelakios family and if they are attending the celebration tonight.”<br/>The little woman refrained a smile knowing it was the mistress’ habit to come up with various excuses for meeting someone she liked. Mikara played well and approached the blonde beauty, bowing in front of her as soon as she reached the fountain.<br/><br/>“My mistress Eirene would like to know if you are part of the Pelakios family. She would very much like to meet you even if the answer is no, tonight at the celebration, should your esteemed husband or father allows it.”<br/>Eirene stood further away, gazing with unmasked interest at the girl. Should Daphne look her way, she would find the woman’s gaze unflinching and perhaps a short nod as a greeting.<br/><br/>After that fateful night, when Eirene and Daphne finally met at Apollo’s celebration, exchanging words, glances and smiles, the young girl became a constant guest into Eirene’s house. It had been difficult at first to convince Daphne’s family to let her go accompanied only by slaves, after all, the Greek mistress was famed for her eccentric ways. Yet she was also famous amongst the artists and other patron’s of Athena’s city.<br/>Daphne’s father allowed her to attend painting and sewing lessons, believing  it will help his daughter to ‘catch’ a suitable, rich husband by polishing a woman’s natural talents.<br/><br/>And so it came that Eirene turned into a teacher and Daphne  was her beloved pupil. The nature of their lessons however, remained a mystery, a delicious secret share between the two within the confines of Eirene’s home. With time, because the distance between their homes wasn’t a short one, Daphne’s father allowed her to sometimes stay over night. He truly loved his daughter and was happy to see her dedicated to the arts since Eirene came into her life.<br/><br/>The mistress on the other hand, she blossomed with life, falling more in love with each passing day. She also took it upon herself to mold Daphne into a strong, independent and cultured woman, one who would be able to stand up for herself in a world ruled by men. There was a spark of vitality and rebellion in Daphne which Eirene loved just as much as she loved her innocence and beauty.<br/><br/>It was in one of those nights that Eirene decided it was time for something new. She had gained Daphne’s trust well enough to allow her some control over her body and senses. First, the mistress blindfolded her beautiful lover, wrapping tightly a piece from one of the finest silks in her home around Daphne’s eyes. Caressing her jawline, she left the room briefly only to return with a strand of rope. Eirene could have easily asked the slaves to bring it and use it on Daphne’s creamy body as she demanded, but most times the woman loved to do things herself. The feel of the harsh rope on the palm of her hands, the anticipation of coiling it around Daphne’s delicate wrists, pulling it just enough so that her arms stretched comfortably above her head…every little detail was planned and laid out by the mistress.  She approached her lover, tied up in the center of the room, just by the wrists for now.<br/><br/>“How do you feel?” Eirene asked, gazing at her full lips with a strong desire to kiss them.<br/>