Chris looked down at the fish intestines that covered her food, trying to think of a way she could avoid eating them.
"They're the best in Rome!" said Herminius, seeing how miserable she looked. "No one else leaves them to rot for quite as long."
"Come on, Chrissy!" said her mother. "We're on holiday! You know what they say: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do!' Eat your fish guts," she added, less enthusiastically.
"I just don't see why anyone would want to," said Chris as she poked at her food.
"Well, maybe they won't for much longer!" said Herminius cheerily. "When Herminius's own-brand salt goes into business." He gestured towards the heaving crystal that threatened to collapse his table. "Maybe it'll make everyone less angry, even! Getting saltiness from rocks, and not a big pile of guts."
"Everyone's angry where we're from, too," said Chris. "Britain, and the future. Even though we don't have to put this on our food."
"Difficult times, is it?" said Herminius knowingly.
Lorna looked oddly at him. "You understand?"
Herminius laughed. "All of Rome would! There's not much happening now, not this year. But over my lifetime, well. More's happened than anyone would want."
Lorna frowned at that. "Because everyone's so angry?"
"The gods are angry, and not just the people. The Temple of Jupiter burned down, and with it our surest way to see the future. Three scrolls of prophecy, given to us by an ancient and mysterious woman!"
"She isn't that ancient," said Chris. "If she's who I think she is."
"It must have been very violent," guessed Lorna. "All the stuff that you're talking about. There's not so much violence, the place where we're both from." She nodded at her daughter. "It's not really suitable, for a child."
"Violence is interesting," said Chris, looking hurt.
Herminius nodded. "Your daughter's right. It doesn't do to hide the truth of the world, not even from a girl."
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" said Chris to her mother hopefully.
"Not now, love," sighed Lorna. "I'm on holiday. She gestured to the creatures above the salt. "Why don't you play with those crystal things? You always were interested in animals."
"They're not animals," said Chris, walking over to them. "Animals aren't made of rocks." Still, she went over to the table, to watch as their long thin bodies snaked over the salt that they'd budded from. She looked less disgruntled as she watch them float around, and her mother watched her until the disagreement was forgotten.
"Let's go outside, eh?" said Lorna to Herminius. "I think Chrissy's going to be fine."