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You watch as your brother, Νίκων, passes into the distance, under the heat and pressure of the Thessalian sun. You had escorted him to the border of the family estate in order to best send him off, accompanied by Argyros, your family’s most loyal retainer and veteran of the Theban War.
Νίκων does not turn back, as you might have guessed – he is always looking forwards to the next challenge. He is a man of action, and a restless one at that. He is smarter than he thinks he is, only half as charismatic as he believes, and cuts an unmistakable figure. He is young and can be foolish, but more importantly, you trust his ability to grow – you believe that he will shape the world more than it shapes him. You will miss him terribly, but you have no doubt that you will see him again.
His resemblance to your mutual father is almost heartrending, although you have not shared this thought with him. Unlike Νίκων, you are old enough to remember him clearly – your brother, with dark hair and eyes, is much like him in form and manner, while you seem to take more after your mother, although you both have become much taller than you might have dreamed as children.
As he diminishes into the distance, you are not afraid. You stand calmly and in contemplation, as a warm breeze picks up and carries the scents of the rocky hills and dry forests of Thessaly to you. When the dust of Νίκων’s chariot dissipates over the dusty road, Argyros coughs politely to draw your attention – you had forgotten he was there. He is an aging commoner man of solid build, square jaw, and confident gaze.
“Lady Deianira – your brother has given me instructions to follow your orders as if he delivers them himself. But first, you must become acquainted with the particulars of the οἶκος (household) – its finances, its staff and servants, the estate itself and surrounding lands. I request your presence and attention tomorrow morning within the andron (meeting-room) so that we might begin?” The formality of the question strikes you a bit preposterous, given that he has known you since your childhood, but you respond with a simple, “Yes, Argyros – of course.”
