Eirene kicked pebbles as she walked on the way to the agora. Going alone was usually something that cheered her up, but she had barely slept and the mere thought of Cleon made her grit her teeth. The owl brooches didn't make things better. They clung to her as a constant reminder that her days of dreaming of a future were counted.

"Stupid. Ignorant. Shitface," she muttered under her breath as she walked from stall to stall. Her purse got lighter than usual but she couldn't bring herself to care.

"Wow, that's harsh," Basil said.

She looked up. Somehow she had reached his stand. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I said that out loud."

"Still, shitface?" He raised his eyebrows and played hurt.

"I wasn't talking about you. Your face is shit-free." She managed to crack a smile.

"Your birds aren't ready yet. Those I made today looked like monsters out of a nightmare. But tomorrow they'll be better," he assured her.

Eirene chuckled. "I'm sure they weren't that bad. Guess I'll have to be content with some bunnies for now. I'll take eight." She reached out four copper.

"No bargaining today? I'm sure it's none of my business, but I'm guessing this shitface has sullied your mood?"

Eirene sighed. "It's not just him. Whenever I try to say what I think, I'm waved away like a fly. I'm so tired of being talked over and looked down upon!"

"That's rough," Basil sighed. "I know the feeling all too well. My father takes every opportunity he gets to discourage me from creating new recipes. There's no way I'd be able to make these if he hadn't been too tired to care lately." He gestured at the animal-shaped bread.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Eirene glanced behind her as a loud group of men walked towards the Pnyx. She kicked the dirt under her sandals. "I guess the meeting's starting soon. Are you going?"

"Nope, I'm stuck here. I'm not allowed to vote yet anyways."

"At least you'd be allowed to enter." Eirene crossed her arms.

"Maybe you could stay close by and listen? If you don't have anywhere to be, I mean."

Eirene looked around, down at the basket, and then back at Basil. "Can I leave this here with you?"

"Sure, but I might have to go back to the bakery. It's at the end of the street with the bathhouse."

"Thank you so much, Basil! I'll come by when the meeting's over!" Eirene handed over the basket and took off with a skip. "Good luck with the bread!"

She kept her head low and her steps light as she weaved between the men walking up the hill. The spring sun stood high and warm. Soon there was a light sweat on her forehead, but she couldn't stop smiling. Instead of following the men to the top, she left the path and climbed higher. She found a hiding spot behind a bush and sat down in the high grass. The foliage obscured her sight of the assembly, but she could hear the buzz of excited men well enough. She waved off the smell of pig's blood that had been poured in a circle around the assembly. The intention was to purify the area, but I can't claim I noticed any difference besides that it set a tone of importance.

The buzz eased to a murmur as a man in a white toga trimmed with purple stepped up on a square, marble platform. When he spoke, dead silence took hold, letting his voice reach each of the roughly four thousand men, and unbeknown to him; Eirene.

"Greetings citizens of Athens! We have gathered here today to use our influence to lead our city towards the future we desire."

Fascinated, Eirene heard him present the agenda. The future of Chrysippus's house would be discussed after they had voted on the matter of trade.

One by one, those who wished to share their opinion got their chance. Eirene mentally cheered on those who wanted more trade and rolled her eyes at those who wanted to raise the import fees.

The time to vote came and Eirene dared to peek around the bush. It was a clear loss for extended trade with Troy which meant more expensive bronze for the coming months. Her father wouldn't be in a good mood when she got home.

She leaned back out of view and crossed her arms. While the men prepared the issue of Chrysippus's house, she let her eyes wander over the landscape. Clouds had begun to gather over the sparkling sea. Soon the news of the assembly's decision would reach the harbour and they'd have to change their plans to accommodate the ruling men's will. A day ago, the temple of Athena had been a beacon of hope. Now it stood out of reach on its green hill. As the working people at the harbour, Eirene would have to do as the men in her life said. She'd be stuck between the two hills until she was squeezed to death by the unfairness of the world.

"Who wishes to address the assembly?" echoed a booming voice that silenced the assembly once more.

"I do," Eirene whispered.

One by one the men spoke up. Most shared Alexios', Cleon's, and Diokles' opinions, but there were other ideas introduced as well.

"If we tear it down, we could expand the theater!"

"We could replace it with a shrine to honour Apollo!"

"It could be a whore-house!"

A "Fuck off!" pierced the ringing laughter.

One after the other, the men got the opportunity to say what they thought. Eirene waited for someone to speak of a library, but once the voices had died down, still none had even mentioned a book.

"Is there anyone else who wishes to address the assembly?" The man let the silence speak for itself. "Then it's time to vote."

Eirene balled her hands into fists and shot out of the bush. "I'll regret it if I don't," she muttered as she stepped over the pig's blood. Her own blood was deafening in her veins. "I do!"

The moderator spun around to face the girl walking from the bushes. "What? You can't!" he stuttered.

Eirene pressed on. Now or never. They would hear her. "Why are most of you so eager to brush this opportunity away?" Their attention threatened to smite her just as much as it egged her on. "Chrysippus's house might be old, but if it was renovated, the people of Athens could give it a new purpose. Imagine if we had a public library next to the agora. It would be-"

"Who the fuck is this girl?!" A tall man yelled from the crowd.

"Go home immediately!" Eirene staggered back at her father's call. He plowed through the crowd to reach her. Fury as she had never seen it made him hard to recognize.

It took her a heartbeat to convince her legs to move and once she began to run, she couldn't stop. She flew down the slope of the Pnyx. Rocks and sand slipped under her sandals, slowing her down. Instead of going home, she steered herself towards the agora. Maybe she could blend into the crowd until she had a plan.

Fuck. I swore on her behalf as she struggled to breathe. Poor thing hadn't thought this through...

The meeting had still left the agora quite empty. Everyone's judgment tore into her as if they already knew what she had done. She reached the bread stand but couldn't see Basil. Slowing down slightly, she continued her sprint past the bathhouse. Gravel and dust sprayed around her as she skidded to a halt outside the bakery. Smoke rose from the chimney and the door stood open to the small building.

Basil peaked out of the doorway. He wore an apron over his chiton and his hands and lower arms were covered in flour and dough. "Come in! I put your things next to the door. Is the meeting over already?"

She took a moment to steady her breath. "Not really. I fucked up, Basil." She stepped in amongst the scent of freshly baked bread.

"What happened?" He brushed off the flour on a cloth.

"I'm so stupid." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I spoke in front of everybody. What was I thinking? I knew my father would be there. I've never seen him that angry."

Basil moved towards a bench. "Come here. Sit. Now breathe. I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think."

"They looked at me as if I was a lost dog, barking for the sake of it."

"Well, that goes against everything I've learned about you. Wouldn't you rather listen to me than some old, stinky men?"

She cracked a smile. "Promise you won't turn into one of them when you're older."

"I promise I'll always listen to others' opinions, especially yours." He smiled. "You seem like you could need a hug. Can I give you one?"

She gave him a nod and he took her in his arms, their hearts only separated by linen and skin. His heartbeat was slow and steady, his breaths even and calm. It took a moment, but her body gradually tuned into his security. The connection wasn't as explosive as it had been the day before. Now the lights around them were steadier, more familiar with each other.

They were so distracted by each other that they didn't notice when two children, tiny replicas of Basil but with messier black hair, walked in from the back door. "I'm hungry!" the little girl exclaimed.

Instantly, they were standing feet apart.

The boy looked up at Eirene. "Who are you?"

Basil cleared his throat and blushed. "This is Eirene, she's a friend of mine. Eirene, this is my brother Thales and my sister Sousanna."

Eirene crouched down on the floor to match the children's height. "Nice to meet you."

Thales's face lit up as he realized something. "Are you the friend Basil made the birds for?"

Eirene rose and looked over at Basil. He smiled. "Yupp, take a look." She walked over to the table by the stone oven. Next to a few loaves were a dozen cloud-shaped buns the size of fists. Each had been given two pieces of raisin for eyes and a scolded almond for a beak.

Basil picked up one child in each arm and joined Eirene by the bread.

"These are adorable!" Eirene's eyes sparkled. "Are they really for me?"

"If you want them," Basil answered. "As I said, they look like little monsters."

"I want one too!" Tears welled in Sousanna's eyes.

"You can buy all except two," Basil added. He lowered his siblings to the floor and handed them a bird each. "Here you go, now go back to mother." The children left with giggles.

Eirene picked up one with its eyes set almost next to each other. "I can't believe how cute these are!" She kissed the bird.

"Wow, the competition's high here. Should I be jealous?" He leaned against the edge of the baking surface.

Eirene chuckled. "Are you?" She leaned up and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, for cheering me up."

"Any time," Basil mumbled. His gaze flew around her like a bee on a meadow. "By the way, I like your brooches. They match the birds."

Eirene's mood dropped. "I'd trade them for your birds if I could." She sighed. "My father made them for me as an early wedding gift."

"You're... getting married?"

"I'd rather serve Athena, but my father has made up his mind."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too." The silence hung in the air. "Could I stay here for a little while? I think my parents could use an hour or so to calm down. At least a little bit..."

"Stay as long as you want. You could help me with the next batch of birds. Maybe then they won't look as odd."

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A/N:  I hope you enjoy the story so far. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let me know if you're interested in exchanging feedback.^^