Quoted By:
“Why did you give Lucian that information in the first place?” you ask, “What were you hoping to achieve?”
“Shall I write you a list? Obviously, there was a hope that he might uncover something that would shake up the church. You know, sling a little mud on it or cause some damage. We weren’t optimistic enough to think that it would actually destroy the church, but we thought it might cause some harm,” Juno shrugs, “Although any institution so weak that it would be destroyed over a little thing like a tasteless statue deserves to be torn down.”
“Tear it down, and build something stronger from the remains?” you suggest, “Lucian said something not too dissimilar.”
“He was more like us then he would ever admit,” she rises from her chair as she says this, pacing the length of the cabin, “The second reason, naturally, was blackmail. If Professor Silvera discovered something interesting, and it somehow didn’t ruin his career, we would always have something to use against him. The higher someone rises, Isambard, the easier they are to topple. Remember that, please. It may be important later.”
“What-”
“The third reason,” Juno continues, talking on as if you hadn’t said anything, “My father was curious, genuinely curious, about what might be buried there. I feel that his fascination with the Magna Mater has gone beyond mere professional mischief.”
She pauses here, and you see a flash of something in her eyes. “That worries you, doesn’t it?” you murmur, “You don’t know what he’s planning. If he was just trying to bolster cults and undermine the church, that would make sense. But he’s got something else in mind, and-”
“And I don’t know what that is. Yes, very astute. Well done,” her mouth tightens into a firm line, “That’s the thing about oracles. We really don’t like NOT knowing things.”
“Yet you go along with your father’s wishes regardless.”
“And you’re slavishly following in your father’s footsteps,” Juno counters, “I wouldn’t say that you’ve got any room to cast judgement. I might be bad, but you’re no better.”
Silence, then, as you both glare at each other.
“Come on,” she adds, jerking her head towards the door, “Let’s finish this conversation outside.”
-
Long grass brushes against your legs as you walk up the shallow hill with Juno, lit purely by the faint trace of moonlight and the occasional flash of lightning. It’s a cool night, dry despite the clouds above and with only the slightest hint of wind. Something about this scenery, at this time of day, stirs something ancient and terrible within you. Just as your ancestors worshipped the moon, it’s easy to imagine Juno’s ancestors standing atop this hill and watching the flash of lightning.
“I came here a lot as a child,” Juno says idly as you walk, “I watched the terrible violence of the lightning, but I was never scared. I knew I had nothing to fear.”
[1]
