Week 43: Janus Word Count: 498 Title: The Choice Having passed the final Spartan trial, Jason felt bone tired. His muscles ached and his skin was cut and bruised from his exertions. He felt elation at having passed his master’s final test, but the trial had taken every ounce of strength he had. It was early evening. As his teacher had instructed, he bathed in the waters of the river Styx. When he emerged from the waters, a woman and two young boys awaited him. Jason did not recognize her garment but the snakes she wore around her head indicated her status as a seer. She silently passed him fresh, loose garments of fine, white cotton and bade him dress. Self-consciously, Jason pulled the garments on and before he could ask them who they were or where they were from, she beckoned him, turned and made her way back into the forest following a hidden pathway. A path led up the hillside and over rocky ground and eventually ended at the mouth of a cave. Two plain columns marked the entrance. A dim light glowed from within. The priestess stopped outside the front of the temple and waited until the acolytes were beside her. Nearby, a small altar held the remains of a sacrifice that, Jason surmised, must have been made earlier that day. Although the place bore the markings of an oracular temple, he had never seen its like before and was both curious and apprehensive about what would happen next. The priestess assessed the young man she had been sent to bring back to the temple. Although he was nervous, there was something about him that spoke of power and control. She wondered at his destiny. “Welcome to the temple of Janus. Your future awaits.” Jason was confused. Who was Janus? He was familiar with all of the gods and demigods of his culture, but he had never before heard of Janus. “janus has summoned you, Jason, because you have a choice in your destiny. Not many are summoned for this privilege.” “How do you know my name?” Jason asked in wonder. Sybilla smiled, knowing he would ask this question of her. “Your name is written in the heavens, Jason. You have two destinies but only one life. You must choose which fate will be yours and you can only do this by the will of Janus.” Jason was stunned. His role had always been to become a guard in the king’s palace, or so he thought. “What do I do?” Sybilla pointed into the cave. “Through this entrance, you will find two doorways. Choose one and step forward into your destiny.” Jason entered the cave. Both doorways were carved of stone and bore intricate decoration around the lintel. One depicted a bull with spears in its back, wearing a crown. The other bore a snake devouring a deer. Considering the choices before him for several minutes, he found that one pulled on his consciousness more than the other. He stepped forward, and entered the doorway…
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:49:09 +0000
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