The Memory of Snow

The Memory of Snow by Kirsty Ferry Read Free Book Online

Book: The Memory of Snow by Kirsty Ferry Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kirsty Ferry
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Collections & Anthologies
polishing Longinius’ bugle until it
shone. Every tiny fingerprint had to be removed and the bugle had been returned
to Janus three times already. Marcus found his friend mooching around the fort,
his eyebrows drawn together and a dark, glowering expression on his face.
    ‘I really do not know if it was worth being Saturnalicius
princeps,’ Janus grumbled, holding the bugle between thumb and forefinger
distastefully. ‘Remind me, if we are allowed to celebrate Saturnalia next year
and I am fortunate to be elected again, to choose different slaves.’
    ‘The choice may be slender next year,’ laughed Marcus. ‘You
may be promoted and therefore have less superiors available to you. Or,’ he
shrugged, ‘you could always ask the Commandant to participate,’ said Marcus,
his eyes sparkling with mischief.
    ‘Merciful Jupiter!’ howled Janus. ‘No, please do not send
that thought out into the world. I cannot imagine anything worse!’
    ‘Then take comfort in the fact that I managed to speak to the
Pater about your initiation. I cannot promise you anything, but he is willing
to look at your case and decide the outcome.’
    ‘Truly? You are a good friend, Marcus. I do not deserve you.’
Janus hugged Marcus and then drew away from him, a grin splitting his face.
‘Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.’
    ‘You are most welcome, my friend,’ smiled Marcus. ‘As I say,
he cannot promise you a quick initiation, but he is aware of your name and your
interest and is willing to consider it.’
    ‘You did not tell him anything about the new Commandant, did
you?’ asked Janus. ‘Just…’
    ‘No! No. I did not mention that to him,’ said Marcus. He
spoke the truth, although he felt uncomfortable that he had implied as much to
the Pater. Still – what Janus did not know would not hurt him.
    ‘One more thing,’ said Janus, curiously. ‘Who is the Pater?
Do you know his identity? I am intrigued as to this secrecy that surrounds our
Mithraic Temple.’
    Marcus shook his head.
    ‘I am sorry. I do not know who he is. If I did, I would go up
to him and ask him to favour you directly. I somehow think that seeing his face
would make me less intimidated. But I suspect his identity will remain a
secret. Annoying though that is.’
    Janus nodded thoughtfully.
    ‘I agree. But still!’ He smiled at Marcus and hugged him
again. ‘Thank you. I appreciate it. Now. I must go and polish Longinius’ bugle
once more.’ He picked the bugle up and scowled at it. ‘Do you think Coventina
would accept this bugle as an offering? It would make her position stronger, no
doubt. And hopefully encourage a thaw of this dreadful snow.’ Janus shivered.
‘How I long for a posting somewhere else in this empire,’ he groaned.
‘Somewhere; anywhere, where Mithras smiles upon us all and covers our world in
sunlight and warmth!’
     

 
    1650
     
    Meggie wandered along the banks of the burn, making her way
to the Sacred Well. Her Grandmother had told her that Coventina was a Roman
water nymph, as well as a river goddess. The place had such a magical sense,
that Meggie felt at one with the earth and the water and knew that she belonged
there. Coventina had helped Meggie’s people; she had melted the snow and ice
and made the rivers flow again every year. Sometimes, in a long, hard winter,
Meggie would make her way through snowdrifts and ice to plead with Coventina;
the goddess always ended Scota, the goddess of winter’s, hold and brought
Spring to the countryside. Occasionally, Meggie had felt a presence at the
Well. She knew it was Coventina herself, coming to bless her and keep her safe.
Coventina was thankful that someone still remembered her. She would be there
for Meggie, so long as Meggie did not forsake her.
    Meggie had heard the women speaking in the village, and now
their comments twisted around her mind like yarn on a spinning wheel. What did
they mean, the man ‘had flushed them out of Newcastle’? Someone had

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