Siphnos

Siphnos is the name of the island that Nicander rules. Anaxandra is taken to live there as a hostage when she is six years old, and she spends six years there basically being raised by Nicander and Petra as parents. After living in more places later in the novel, she comes to learn that her life there is different from the more elegant life a woman is expected to lead in higher societies. She spends a lot of time playing with Callisto, the disabled child of the king and queen. Siphnos is eventually ransacked by an unknown pirate group.

Gythion

Gythion is the central town square of Sparta. Anaxandra is initially wowed by its noisiness compared to Siphnos, and she feels much less anxiety existing there compared to Siphnos as well. She sees vast markets filled with vendors selling food and other items, as well as colorful decoration...