I was excited.
I was about to meet my new handmaiden. My father had told me that he had gotten me an educated one, like Bianca's. While I didn't like that fact that she was a slave, because I don't agree with the concept of slavery, I was still excited.
"Calm down Hazel," Frank said with a smile from my bed.
"No," I replied. "What if she can actually play chess, Frank?"
He rolled his eyes.
Just then, there was a knock at my door. I quickly opened it.
"Hello," A blonde-haired, grey-eyed girl said nervously. "I'm Annabeth, your new handmaiden."
"Hi!" I said. "I'm Hazel. This is my bodyguard, Frank."
"Hi," Frank waved.
She smiled weakly. "It's nice to meet you."
I waved her inside, and she walked in.
She surveyed the room. "You don't have many finerys, for a lady."
"I'm not a lady," I replied. "I'm illegitimate."
She turned to me. "Oh."
"So, where are you from, Annabeth?" Frank asked, changing the subject.
"Lord Dionysus' ludus," She replied.
"Where you born there?" I asked.
"No," She said. "I was born in Athens."
There was a brief silence.
"Do you know how to play chess?" I asked.
A weak smile formed on her face. "Yes."
"Do you want to play?" I asked.
"Sure," She replied.
I pulled out the board, and we sat down across from each other on the floor. Frank sat down on my left.
"It's been a while since I've played," Annabeth said as we set up the board. "But I remember the rules."
"Your move," I said. She moved a pawn.
Annabeth was a much better player than Frank. In fact, I think she was the best opponent I'd ever played. Her moves were calculated, and for every piece of hers I took, she'd take one of mine.
Eventually, I had her. I just needed her to move, and then I'd have her king in-
"Checkmate," Annabeth said.
I stared at the board in shock. Sure enough, my king was cornered.
"I've never been beaten before," I said in awe.
"Neither have I," Annabeth grinned.
"I demand a rematch," I demanded.
"Bring it," She replied.
She beat me again. And again. By round five, it became very clear that I was never going to win.
"How did you get so good?" I asked as she put the pieces away.
"My mother," She replied. "It was her favourite game. You?"
"Taught myself," I replied.
"And playing against other people," Frank chimed in.
"Frank, if I had a denarii for every time I got you or Sammy in the four-move checkmate, I could buy myself a palace," I replied.
"Who's Sammy?" Annabeth and Frank both asked at the same time.
I froze. "A person from my past."
Thankfully, they didn't ask any more questions.