Free The Memory of Snow by Kirsty Ferry Page B

course,’ said Janus.
‘I believe she is called Antonia?’
    ‘Aemelia,’ responded Marcus, too quickly.
    ‘Ha! So she has been worthy of your notice, then?’ laughed
Janus, nudging him good-naturedly.
     ‘Perhaps,’ smiled Marcus. Janus knew him too well. He
couldn’t bluff with him for very long.
    ‘Then tell me, what do you propose to do about it?’ asked
Janus, more seriously now. ‘It would never be allowed; you understand that,
don’t you?’ Marcus pulled the needle through the sandals and didn’t answer. He
shrugged. He knew that Aemelia was only eighteen. Janus shook his head and
looked at Marcus with concern in his eyes.
    ‘Be sensible, Marcus,’ he said. Marcus ignored him and tugged
the leather thongs to test them. He turned and reached for a small,
bone-handled knife and cut the thread off.
    ‘You are a stubborn man,’ sighed Janus. ‘When will you learn
to take advice?’
    ‘I will never take advice from you,’ smiled Marcus. ‘You
should know that by now.’ Janus rolled his eyes.
    ‘Yes. You are a difficult man indeed. So if you will not
listen to me, you must tell me more. What is it about Antonia...’
    ‘...Aemelia...’
    ‘...Aemelia, that you like?’
    ‘Ah, Janus,’ implored Marcus. ‘Do not make me do this! It is
wrong that I should even have confided in you! Forget I said anything. Look.
There is Felix, coming to seek you out.’
    Janus looked up and saw one of his men walking towards him.
    Felix stood tall and straight before the men and waited to be
acknowledged. Janus nodded at him.
    ‘What is it?’ he asked the soldier.
    ‘The Commandant has issued a request that we convene in two
hours at the principia,’ he said. The principia was the headquarters of the
fort. The Cohort met every morning there, and it was unusual that the
Commandant should want another meeting. Marcus and Janus looked at one another.
    ‘And did he advise you why this was the case?’ asked Janus,
sitting back and looking at Felix curiously.
    ‘No, Sir. But I believe a messenger arrived this morning.’
    ‘Whilst we were training, perhaps. Very well. Thank you. You
are dismissed.’
    Felix nodded and marched away from the officers.
    ‘Interesting,’ said Janus. ‘I did not see anyone come. Did
you?’
    Marcus shook his head.
    ‘No. Well, it should be interesting what he needs to report,’
he said. Plus, he knew if they were at the headquarters, it was only a stone’s
throw to where Aemelia was in the praetor, the Commandant’s house. Perhaps he
would be lucky enough to see her. He smiled to himself. He felt in the pouch
that he carried around his waist. Perhaps he would have time to give her his
gift before the meeting.
    Janus stood up and stretched.
    ‘Will you be visiting the temple soon?’ he asked Marcus. ‘I
was wondering if...’
    ‘In the name of the gods, Janus!’ said Marcus. ‘I have told
you; the Pater will let you know when he can initiate you.’
    ‘I know,’ sighed Janus, holding his hands up. ‘You are right,
my friend. But I have a feeling that this little talk by the Commandant will
not help our cause. I am anxious to do my part for Mithras. He has been good to
us. Please. If I go to the temple now, will you come with me? I would like to
see if I can contact the Pater myself; or at least see if there is some way I
can leave a message for him. Is it true that there is a secret place to leave
messages for members of the cult?’
    Marcus sighed. He looked up at his friend. Janus was rocking
back and forth on the balls of his feet now, his hands behind his back; a sure
sign that he was anxious to get moving. He smiled engagingly at Marcus.
     ‘Please?’ asked Janus.
    ‘All right. I will come with you. But I have to return in
good time. I have things I need to do.’
    ‘I understand,’ said Janus. ‘Time, tide and Antonia wait for
no man.’
    Marcus didn’t bother to correct him.
    ‘Come. If you want to go, we have to go now,’ he said.
    ‘So, there is a