I squeezed her hands and turned back around. “At least she was a smart slut.”

Alanna’s grin answered me.

“Speaking of being smart…” I watched Alanna in the mirror as she started working a comb through my damp hair. “I feel like an idiot because I don’t know my way around this world. Does Rhiannon have a map or something you could show me? I didn’t even know Guardian Castle was Guardian Castle. ClanFintan must think I’m some kind of airheaded moron.”

“Yes, there is a map of Partholon in your chambers.” She cleared her throat and smiled sheepishly at my reflection. “You realize you will have to perform a blessing ceremony for the people on the morrow?”

“I forgot.” Great, like I didn’t have enough on my mind? “Can’t you take my place or something?”

Alanna looked shocked. “No! You are not Rhiannon but you are still Epona’s Beloved and our High Priestess.”

I opened my mouth to interrupt.

“My Lady, you have been gifted with the Magic Sleep. That alone is proof of Epona’s favor.”

My mouth started to open again.

“And the mare loves and accepts you.”

My mouth shut.

“You are Beloved of Epona and the people’s spiritual leader.” Her expression softened as she continued. “The people count on you, probably much like your students did in your old world. My Lady, I cannot believe you would let them down.”

My mind wandered. I guessed I could come up with a brief morning blessing, heavy on Celtic sentiments. Yeats was one of my favorites—between him and Shakespeare (and whoever else I could cannibalize) I should be able to “borrow” enough material to get by (and perhaps not embarrass myself or my profession: teachers—the few, the proud, the broke). My mind scurried around rehearsing fragmented combinations of half-remembered poetry and partially recognized soliloquies…

“Tilt your head up, Rhea. Let me finish your eyes.”

I blinked and did as Alanna ordered, vaguely surprised to find that while I’d been mentally rehearsing she’d been transforming me from the Wicked Witch of the West into Cinderella (at the ball—before midnight). She finished expertly highlighting my eyes, handed me a pot of bronze lip shine and held out two gauzy bits of silky nothing for my inspection.

“Do you have a preference?”

“Yes,” I gulped. “I’d like to leave something to his imagination.”

Her giggle bubbled. “You say the most unusual things!”

“I guess I like the green one with the gold threading.” The other one was white with some kind of sparkly silver beading and I was certain that no matter how many times she wrapped it around me it would still be transparent. How’s a girl to sit comfortably in that kind of outfit?

“The green matches your eyes.” She held out a tiny scrap of silk. Experience had taught me it was a hankie masquerading as my panties. Experience had also taught me it didn’t give much protection from the elements. But tonight the only element I’d need protection from would be ClanFintan, so…I quickly slipped on the thong and held my arms away from my sides while Alanna began wrapping and twisting the silk around me.

“That gold design is so pretty. What is it?” I craned my head around trying to recognize the glittering upside-down shapes.

Alanna had stuck the end of a brooch in her mouth and she answered me through pursed lips, “Skulls, of course.”

“Of course.” I should’ve known.

She pinned the silky garment at my right shoulder, then handed me a pair of sandals made of soft cream-colored leather. The shoes laced halfway up my calves and I was pleased to note that they had heels. Flats just can’t be all that sexy.

Alanna was working her way around my body, tucking and pulling folds of silk into place. She studied me, nodding her head like she was pleased with herself, and turned back to the vanity to open the lids of intricately carved boxes. As she poked and prodded through the contents, I noticed sparkles and followed to peek over her shoulder.

The boxes were filled with jewelry. I felt my mouth go dry.

“Ohmygod, are all of those mine?”

“They are now.” She sounded smug.

“I take it Rhiannon would have a litter of kittens if anyone touched her loot?”

Alanna’s sudden laugh ended in a snort. “That is one way of putting it.”

“Good. Let’s dig through and load me up.”

“Yes, let’s,” she mimicked.

As I have already mentioned, Rhiannon’s taste was very similar to mine. That held true in the jewelry department (if not the panty department). The boxes before me were filled with gold. Shining, flat herringbone necklaces, twinkling diamond-cut ropes, intricate knots and twists of brooches and earrings. Precious and semiprecious jewels were sprinkled liberally amidst the golden mess—I noticed everything from earrings set with iridescent blue topaz to necklaces crusted with ancient teardrops of crystallized amber. And diamonds. Lots of diamonds. It was as if someone had emptied into the boxes several trays from Tiffany’s estate collection.