temple easily? You are a part of it, are you not? You are going
to be initiated to nymphus tonight, are you not?’
‘Yes. “We”. I meant “we”, you know I did,’ replied Marcus.
‘Now, please excuse me. I need to get ready. I have much to do before sunset. I
expect the Pater will have some advice tonight for us.’
He nodded a brief farewell to Janus and headed back to his
quarters. Janus was his friend, but at times he felt as if he didn’t know him
very well. The flashes of temper he was wont to display were not one of his
best traits.
‘Understand that my name also reflects the patron of civil
and social order!’ called Janus after him. ‘And unlike some, the god Janus does
not have to watch his back!’
Marcus raised his hand in acknowledgement, but did not turn
back to face him. He hoped that his friend would be sensible, and not do
anything to sabotage either his position or the worship of the neighbourhood
gods. He suppressed his own anger at the insinuations Janus had also made. What
he and Aemelia did or did not do, were nobody’s business but their own. He hadn’t
really thought about the fact she was named after that particular Vestal
Virgin, though. And despite everything else, that image did bring rather an
inappropriate smile to his lips.
AD 391
Once more, Marcus lay blindfolded on the floor of the temple,
his arms and legs stretched out like rays. He knew what to expect this time.
But at least this time, he was partially clothed. He wore the loincloth of the
Corax, but the stone flags were still bitter. He had gone past feeling simply
cold; his hands and feet were numb, the chill spreading throughout the rest of
his body. His face was pressed against the stone flags again. He could hear the
Pater approaching the altar, the steady thump, thump, thump of his staff as he
walked to the front of the temple. The other members of the cult were
reciting the sacred words as he passed them, the low hum of the chant filling
the temple.
Marcus felt the swish of the Pater’s robes as he came to
stand before him and heard the Heliodromus move to the side.
‘Welcome, faithful servants of Mithras. Today we have heard
some disturbing news. Our beloved Emperor, Theodosius, has made some changes.
Our beloved Commandant, Titus Perpetuus, chose to share those changes with us,
and perhaps give us some idea of the future edicts that we will be forced to
deal with.’ There was an angry murmuring in the temple. Marcus shifted
slightly. He wished the Pater would save the eulogising for later and initiate
him. He was anxious to be done with the ceremony today. There was too much to
think about. He hadn’t seen Aemelia since the announcement and he was still
angry with Janus. And the floor wasn’t becoming any more comfortable, the
longer he lay there. The Pater continued,
‘We have also an initiation taking place tonight.’ Marcus
felt a slight pressure on his cheek. The Pater was nudging him with his toe.
‘Corax Marcus Simplicius Simplex. Tonight you shall be initiated into the role
of nymphus. This initiation has been delayed. You are overdue your promotion,
Corax. It has been noted that you did not attend the previous ceremony. It has
also been noted as to the reason why this occurred. The cult members watch and
report, Corax. Should you not be willing to embrace our values and beliefs, you
shall be suitably discharged from the service of Mithras.’
The murmuring in the temple changed to noises of assent.
‘No third chances!’ called someone. Marcus squirmed on the
stone flags. He understood their annoyance with him, he really did. But he was
here now. It was only one transgression.
‘And may I also remind you of the vow of secrecy,’ said the
Pater. ‘Our cult and our temple are sacrosanct, accessible only to the chosen
few. Women are not allowed in the temple. Our beliefs are not to be discussed
outside the temple. Our rituals are private.’
Marcus felt his cheeks flare in
to be initiated to nymphus tonight, are you not?’
‘Yes. “We”. I meant “we”, you know I did,’ replied Marcus.
‘Now, please excuse me. I need to get ready. I have much to do before sunset. I
expect the Pater will have some advice tonight for us.’
He nodded a brief farewell to Janus and headed back to his
quarters. Janus was his friend, but at times he felt as if he didn’t know him
very well. The flashes of temper he was wont to display were not one of his
best traits.
‘Understand that my name also reflects the patron of civil
and social order!’ called Janus after him. ‘And unlike some, the god Janus does
not have to watch his back!’
Marcus raised his hand in acknowledgement, but did not turn
back to face him. He hoped that his friend would be sensible, and not do
anything to sabotage either his position or the worship of the neighbourhood
gods. He suppressed his own anger at the insinuations Janus had also made. What
he and Aemelia did or did not do, were nobody’s business but their own. He hadn’t
really thought about the fact she was named after that particular Vestal
Virgin, though. And despite everything else, that image did bring rather an
inappropriate smile to his lips.
AD 391
Once more, Marcus lay blindfolded on the floor of the temple,
his arms and legs stretched out like rays. He knew what to expect this time.
But at least this time, he was partially clothed. He wore the loincloth of the
Corax, but the stone flags were still bitter. He had gone past feeling simply
cold; his hands and feet were numb, the chill spreading throughout the rest of
his body. His face was pressed against the stone flags again. He could hear the
Pater approaching the altar, the steady thump, thump, thump of his staff as he
walked to the front of the temple. The other members of the cult were
reciting the sacred words as he passed them, the low hum of the chant filling
the temple.
Marcus felt the swish of the Pater’s robes as he came to
stand before him and heard the Heliodromus move to the side.
‘Welcome, faithful servants of Mithras. Today we have heard
some disturbing news. Our beloved Emperor, Theodosius, has made some changes.
Our beloved Commandant, Titus Perpetuus, chose to share those changes with us,
and perhaps give us some idea of the future edicts that we will be forced to
deal with.’ There was an angry murmuring in the temple. Marcus shifted
slightly. He wished the Pater would save the eulogising for later and initiate
him. He was anxious to be done with the ceremony today. There was too much to
think about. He hadn’t seen Aemelia since the announcement and he was still
angry with Janus. And the floor wasn’t becoming any more comfortable, the
longer he lay there. The Pater continued,
‘We have also an initiation taking place tonight.’ Marcus
felt a slight pressure on his cheek. The Pater was nudging him with his toe.
‘Corax Marcus Simplicius Simplex. Tonight you shall be initiated into the role
of nymphus. This initiation has been delayed. You are overdue your promotion,
Corax. It has been noted that you did not attend the previous ceremony. It has
also been noted as to the reason why this occurred. The cult members watch and
report, Corax. Should you not be willing to embrace our values and beliefs, you
shall be suitably discharged from the service of Mithras.’
The murmuring in the temple changed to noises of assent.
‘No third chances!’ called someone. Marcus squirmed on the
stone flags. He understood their annoyance with him, he really did. But he was
here now. It was only one transgression.
‘And may I also remind you of the vow of secrecy,’ said the
Pater. ‘Our cult and our temple are sacrosanct, accessible only to the chosen
few. Women are not allowed in the temple. Our beliefs are not to be discussed
outside the temple. Our rituals are private.’
Marcus felt his cheeks flare in
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