- •I brushed a trembling hand through my hair. What was going on? What happened? I was looking at the vases and…
- •I tore my eyes from the box and back to the—
- •I raised my eyebrow like Spock and waited.
- •I looked quickly at Suzanna. She was no damn help; her eyes were squeezed shut and her lips were moving in what looked like some kind of silent prayer. Jeesh.
- •I should have been nominated for some kind of Greco-Celtic Academy Award for Best Voluptuous Ascent to a Throne. God, it felt good to sit down.
- •I could see my door guards (yes, they did appear proportional) snap crisp sword salutes as the horses reached the doorway and entered the ro—
- •I could feel my jaw setting, but before I could respond, Alanna stepped in. Gracefully, she took my hand and helped me to my feet.
- •I had to clear my abused throat before I could squeak out an “I forgive you.”
- •In a formal, stilted voice he said, “Please excuse the interruption, my Lieutenant had matters of great import to discuss with me.”
- •I shut my eyes. Of course Dad wouldn’t want me to get hurt. If only it were that simple.
- •I opened my eyes. Seeing clearly—finally.
- •I looked at those high stirrups. And the tall mare. And considered my thirty-five-year-old body.
- •I mean riding a horse (one that’s actually alive) for several hours. Alternating between trot, canter, walk, back to trot. On a thirty-five-year-old butt. Without breakfast.
- •I reached down and patted her neck fondly. There are some things about this world that were just plain cool.
- •I sighed melodramatically and gave a big pretend sob while I wiped pretend tears from my eyes.
- •I just wanted to pee and then go back to sleep.
- •I closed my eyes and tried to relax, think, forget about my stomach and keep warm.
- •I straightened and took a step closer to Epi, hating the guilt he made me feel.
- •I swallowed a piece of cheese and took a quick drink of wine. “I had to see about my dad.”
- •I looked down at my half-eaten sandwich. “Are you still willing to take me there, knowing the creatures might be there?”
- •I felt a little like a mother whose four-year-old had just toddled happily off to preschool without her.
- •It was midmorning when I spied some lovely brush cover (and some soft-leafed plants) next to another stream that bisected our roadway.
- •I felt suddenly all Marilyn Monroe–like as my eyes went to half-mast and a moan escaped my lips.
- •I managed to moan some semblance of thanks.
- •I had to agree with him on that.
- •I had only taken a couple steps when I heard Dougal’s hooves thud behind me. I spoke over my shoulder to him.
- •In another world, he’s still alive.
- •I heard a snort of laughter from behind me.
- •I sniffed the air.
- •I swear, a rush of electricity shot from his teeth straight to my crotch.
- •I know it was unusual, but I didn’t know what to say.
- •I smiled at Dougal and saw him practically squirm with pleasure. If he had had a puppy’s tail, I’m sure it would’ve wagged vigorously—and he probably would’ve wet himself. He really was cute.
- •I translated that as centaur for “You’re full of crap.” But I acted as if I didn’t speak the lingo.
- •I curled my body around him and snuggled against his warmth.
- •I nodded my yes against his chest.
- •I didn’t see any fish frying. But I still smelled cooking food.
- •It took a moment for me to realize they were waiting for my permission.
- •I even managed to wave. Thank God I’ve watched a lot of pbs specials about The Royal Family.
- •I had to interrupt her. “Alanna, I can’t stand this ‘my Lady’ stuff. Can’t you call me something else?”
- •I squeezed her hands and turned back around. “At least she was a smart slut.”
- •I opened my mouth to interrupt.
- •I tried not to babble incoherently and to remember that I was dressing for my husband, not for a spot on a tv evangelism program.
- •I nodded at her to go on.
- •I shivered, remembering the weird mirror vision of myself I had glimpsed in the pot as it burst into a fiery ball.
- •I rubbed my fingers and took a wary half step away from it.
- •I blinked in surprise. “No, I didn’t know.”
- •I looked at Alanna and sighed. “Alanna, pour yourself some wine and sit here with me.”
- •I’m telling you, this guy could go on a lecture/training circuit and make a fortune teaching the Non-Octopus Technique to semi-bald, divorced, middle-aged men.
- •Intrigued, I nodded.
- •I smiled but felt the definite stirrings of nervousness.
- •I like to think I’ve attracted my share of men, but one hundred guards is just plain gluttonous.
- •I turned and began beating a hasty retreat down the empty hall.
- •I heard a ripple in the crowd. Suddenly, centaurs surrounded us and members of my guard were rushing from the temple to join them.
- •I took all of this in, but I found it hard to stop staring at the doctor. I knew this man, or perhaps I should say I knew this man’s mirror image—very well.
- •I turned back to face ClanFintan and tugged on his arm until he bent for my quick kiss.
- •I frowned at her. “Don’t worry about it. It just means she’s crazy about him, too.” She looked like that explanation helped. “You two aren’t married in this world?”
- •I shrugged. “Whatever, but we might be here for a while, so feel free to sit and pour yourself some wine. After all, grapes are my favorite breakfast fruit.”
- •I looked at Alanna’s worried face and sighed. “I can’t do this anymore,” I said to her. My eyes sought ClanFintan’s. “I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”
- •I returned his smile before looking nervously back at ClanFintan.
- •I wanted to throw my arms around him and bury my face in his heat, but I could feel Alanna’s and Carolan’s eyes boring joyfully into our romantic interlude.
- •I shouldn’t have been surprised. I already knew he was a biter.
- •I kissed him lightly on the cheek.
- •I felt ClanFintan’s startled reaction, which made me remember that the map that zapped me had shown all the land to the east of the river as centaur lands.
- •I remembered their horrible, ground-eating strides and had to agree with him.
- •I tried not to get distracted by the lovely image he was painting, and the thought of what it might look like now.
- •I searched my memory, wishing the biology electives I had taken in college hadn’t been ten-plus years ago.
- •I smiled my thanks at her before turning back to Carolan. “Well, what do we need to do?”
- •I found myself suddenly encompassed within the centaur’s strong arms.
- •I swear, underneath the layer of sweat and yuck he blushed. “Perhaps it has slipped my mind.”
- •It was the assistant who had been sent to get the dead child’s parents. I could see the shadowed forms of two people standing behind her in the hallway. I squared my shoulders and walked toward them.
- •I complied happily, resting my forearms against the ledge on which I had been sitting. He swept my hair out of the way and began rubbing soap all over the back of my body.
- •I remembered his little tкte-а-tкte with my guards and grinned. “You won’t have to.”
- •I rejoined Alanna, pulled the robe over my head and walked down the stone stairs into the warm pool to give myself a quick morning bath.
- •I smiled at his accented pronunciation.
- •I studied her face, thinking I saw a familiar expression.
- •Victoria caught my eye and raised her eyebrows at me. “I know a young centaur who would be happy to be our runner.”
- •I mean, please, I am an English teacher. Some things just aren’t acceptable.
- •I frowned and continued to dry myself.
- •I gulped and tried not to look worried.
- •I snuggled comfortably against him. “Are you sure it was just me? I think you cast some kind of spell or something.”
- •I wriggled around, pressing myself against his hard chest so that I could breathe in his ear, “Why not?”
- •I smiled at him and patted his arm like he was a cross between a teenager and a puppy. “Thank you, Dougal. It’s perfect.”
- •I thought poor Dougal might faint.
- •I laughed, but my eyes gravitated to my husband’s handsome profile. As if he felt my gaze, he turned his head in my direction and smiled warmly from across the fire.
- •It was wide and sturdy, and I didn’t have any trouble balancing on it. I looked at him and grinned happily.
- •I playfully slapped his hand away and smiled through my eggs. “You’re so fresh.”
- •I turned my face into the breeze, shaking out my own hair, liking the way it was lifted off my shoulders. I breathed deeply, stretching my sore muscles, and…
- •I closed my eyes and whispered, “Please don’t make me go down there.”
- •I had the disconcerting feeling that she knew who I was. On impulse I slid off ClanFintan’s back, and took her hand in mine, squeezing it warmly.
- •I leaned over and whispered to ClanFintan, “Isn’t Terpsichore the Muse that danced at our handfast?”
- •I tried more delicious food than I could keep count of, then, satisfied, I leaned back against my husband’s warm chest to enjoy the talent of the Muses, and the delicious quality of their red wine.
- •Vic covered his hand with her own. “Fight the battle with a clear mind, my friend. I will protect Rhea with my life.”
- •I took the small telescope and tried to thank her, but she had already moved away and was speaking to a group of nervous young girls.
- •I heard the Huntress directly behind me, I think her name was Elaine, snort a quick laugh at my response. Nope—they sure didn’t act nervous.
- •I slid off her back, and Vic opened the door. Sila was in the middle of the room, helping patients from their beds and onto thick blanket-like pallets. She looked up as we entered.
- •I almost called her Michelle, but caught myself in time.
- •I saw that Terpsichore was walking purposefully to stand by the dark woman’s side. She looked serene and lovely and spoke in a calm, unhurried voice.
- •In response, Dougal unsheathed his claymore, and Victoria pulled her crossbow and quiver from the sling at her side.
- •I went back to work on his cuts. He stood quietly, and soon I was able to lather in the salve. That done, I reluctantly moved to the rear of his body.
- •I saw Dougal flush in happy surprise. When Vic finally raised her eyes to meet his, I thought I detected an unaccustomed shyness in her gaze.
- •I pulled one foot up, and put it out in front of me, set it down—
- •I brushed some of the clinging sand from his face, then kissed the spot I had cleaned.
- •I jerked upright.
- •I smiled at him, but ClanFintan didn’t hesitate in his pace.
- •I stepped into Alanna’s arms, returning her embrace.
- •I took a long drink, focusing on getting the trembling inside me under control.
- •I looked away, unable to watch their agony.
- •I nodded against his chest and sent up another plea to the Goddess for her to watch after the mare.
- •I could see Alanna was putting on a brave face, and I smiled in response.
- •I shrugged my shoulders in a nonchalant way. “When isn’t it in my way?”
- •I tried to come up with a pithy reply, but in actuality I was relieved when Victoria’s voice cut through the need for any further words.
- •I saw the familiar figure of Victoria firing off arrows quickly, each finding its deadly mark. Between loading and shooting, her attention suddenly wavered, and she met my gaze.
- •I pulled my attention from Alanna and what was happening around me. Instead, I listened to my heart, or maybe, more accurately, my soul.
- •It seemed the mare battled on that small hill for time unending, but my mind knew logically that only minutes had passed before dark, winged shapes completely surrounded us.
- •In the middle of my thought I felt the tremor that passed through my body as it became semivisible. I mentally crossed my fingers that I was doing the right thing.
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I looked away, unable to watch their agony.
A victorious shout went up from the warriors of the temple and their centaur allies.
“More oil.” ClanFintan took no time for celebration. “Re-arm your supple of arrows. They will be back.”
The scent of roasting flesh wafted up from the still-flaming creatures, and I pressed my hand over my mouth and hurried down the battlement stairs. I ran, following the wall a few steps, then folded at the waist and puked what little my stomach held all over the inside of the temple wall.
When I was finished, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and stepped shakily away from the mess. My insides felt as if they had been knotted together with wire, and my mouth tasted terrible.
All kidding aside, I seriously hate puking. Really.
I had come to the realization that English teachers weren’t made for all-out warfare. Gang wannabes yelling obscenities at each other—yes. Girl fights outside the lockers of ex-friends started by the words “You stole my boyfriend, you ho!”—yes. Semi-innocent ninth-graders who mix clear laxative into your water bottle while you’re in the hall explaining to another ninth grader why throwing balls of chewed gum up on the ceiling is going to cost him time in detention—yes.
But real war—no. I wasn’t made for it. I wasn’t prepared for it. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t lead people out of it. I—
You have the strength, Beloved. I tried to catch my breath and let the comfort of my Goddess’s words wash over me, but I still felt inadequate. And I had puke breath.
“Rhea?” ClanFintan stepped out of the shadows. “Where did you go?”
“I was puking.” I sounded like a little girl, and I didn’t care.
“Come here, love.” He put his arms around me and I rested against his warmth.
“Just don’t kiss me—I’m sure I taste like puke.”
A laugh vibrated his chest. “Perhaps we can find some wine to wash the taste from your mouth.” He kissed me on the top of the head, and his arm enfolded me. We began walking across the courtyard.
“Female!” The hiss surrounded us. “Where are you, female?”
The sound was carrying over the wall of the temple; it was as if the words were looking for me. I stepped out of ClanFintan’s arm and sprinted up the stairs to take my place on the battlement. Nuada was pacing back and forth at the edge of the mound of smoldering corpses. His wings were fully erect. His colorless hair flew wildly around him, and his naked body was fully visible in the oily glow of the fire.
At the sight of him, the sickness in my stomach left me, and I was filled with a goddess’s vengeful anger.
“What do you want, you pathetic creature?” I spoke the words softly, but somehow Epona magically picked them up, lifted and magnified them so that they carried easily across the temple grounds.
“You, female. I want you.”
“Too damn bad. You will never have me.” I knew what I said was true. No matter what happened, I felt my Goddess’s promise that Nuada would never possess me.
“I will!” he shrieked. I noticed his normally pale face was flushed and covered with a film of sweat. “I will have you—soon! The rest of my army joins me on the morrow.” Taunting laughter followed his words. “I let them amuse themselves with the women from the other temple, but that amusement did not last long. I have higher expectations for you!” He cackled more taunting laughter at me. “Tonight make peace with your weakling Goddess, and say goodbye to that mutation you call a mate. Tomorrow you belong to me!”
I felt ClanFintan gesture to Victoria, and she tossed him her crossbow. With a motion that blurred with speed, my husband sighted the bow. The twang of the shot was followed by a shriek from Nuada as the arrow sliced the side of his head, severing his ear from his body.
Nuada’s hand tried to stem the flow of blood as he whirled around and disappeared into the fading light.
“That guy needs some serious therapy,” I muttered.
“Sleep in shifts.” ClanFintan’s voice was flat and cold as he spoke to the warriors on the battlement. “Victoria, Dougal, Patrick, find Carolan and Alanna, then meet us in Rhea’s chambers. Follow me,” he said bluntly to me as he went down the stairs.
We did as we were told.
I had to scramble to keep up with him, and in no time we were rushing through the door to my room. Before I could catch my breath, ClanFintan pulled me roughly into his arms and covered his mouth with mine.
I wanted to struggle and remind him I had puked not too long ago, but his heat was overpowering and I felt myself enthusiastically returning the kiss. His mouth broke away from mine, and he pressed me against his hard body.
“That creature will never possess you. I will not let it happen.”
“I know, love,” I murmured against his skin as his hands roamed familiarly over my body. My knees had just begun to feel weak, when two quick knocks sounded at the door.
ClanFintan reluctantly let loose my body and yelled, “Come!” as I poured myself a large glass of wine and had a seat on the chaise.
Dougal, Victoria, Carolan, Alanna and Patrick poured into the room. Without any preamble, ClanFintan faced them and announced, “We leave at dawn.”
To their credit, the assembled mix of people and centaurs didn’t comment. Alanna moved quickly to the side of the room. With one of her Alanna miracles, she produced six goblets and began distributing them and pouring wine. I helped.
“How?” Carolan asked the only question.
“We form a phalanx. Part of the centaurs with clay-mores drawn and shields at ready will form the outside of the formation.” He caught Patrick’s eye. “Intermingled with human warriors holding their spears at the ready.” He turned to Vic. “And Huntresses firing their deadly crossbows. Within the phalanx will be the women and children. The rest of the centaurs and human warriors will form a line between the creatures and the phalanx. We will move out as the sun rises, heading into the east to greet it, and to cross the river. We will hold off the Fomorians until the women make it to the river, then we will follow them.”
The room was silent.
“It is the only way. If we stay here, we are all dead.”
“Many will not make it across the river.” Carolan’s voice was not accusatory—he was stating a fact.
“But some will make it,” I spoke up. “If the creatures get into the temple, the women will face something worse than death.”
“There is no way we can hold them off?” Alanna asked ClanFintan.
“No.” His answer was firm. “Not indefinitely. Nuada said more creatures were joining them. We cannot chance that their numbers will swell so large that they can trap us and overrun the temple.”
“Where do we go after we get to the other side of the river?” Patrick’s voice sounded young and afraid.
“To safety.” ClanFintan grasped the young man’s shoulder. “To the Centaur Plains. There we will rebuild and return.”
Patrick swallowed hard and nodded.
Terpsichore’s sacrifice flashed through my mind, and I considered asking for just a couple more days to see if smallpox could affect the creatures. Then I looked closely at the people and centaurs surrounding me. What if I was wrong and a few days of waiting would cause the Fomorian trap to snap shut? I simply was not willing to risk them for a maybe.
“To a new beginning!” I said and raised my goblet.
“A new beginning!” the group repeated solemnly and we raised our glasses together.
And then we got busy.
23
“Moving has never been any friggin fun,” I mumbled to myself as I plodded down the hall to my bathroom. I needed to use the facilities, and I didn’t want to use the public ones (even if I knew where the hell they were). I noticed there weren’t any guards stationed outside the door to my bathing chamber, which made sense. The temple was alive with activity. Everyone had a job—there was no free time to stand in front of a door and look muscular (which was, in its own way, tragic).
The misty warmth of the room enfolded me, and I tried not to think about the fact that I may never see this room after this morning. I looked around at the steaming water and the skull candleholders—I’d miss this place.
After I’d finished my private business, I wandered over to the vanity, taking a moment to uncork a fancy bottle and breathe deeply of the soapy fragrance…and it brought back an evening under a fat moon when I’d bathed in a cold pool with a centaur who was rapidly becoming my lover. And my friend.
Please, Goddess…I closed my eyes and breathed a silent prayer. Please let him live through tomorrow. The door opened, and before I turned I recognized the click of hooves on stone.
“Alanna said she saw you sneaking in this direction.” I could hear his smile.
“I wasn’t sneaking. I just wanted some privacy.”
“Shall I leave?” he asked.
“Not privacy from you.” I grinned up at him and stepped into his arms. “How do your wounds feel?”
“Better—I told you centaurs have amazing powers of recovery.”
“So I have already noticed.” I nipped the spot just below the middle of his breastbone, enjoying the way his muscles twitched in response. “Too bad we don’t have more time.” I nipped him again.
“We will—” he hugged me to him “—tomorrow and tomorrow and many tomorrows after that.”
“I hope so,” I said, feeling safe in the circle of his arms.
“I know so.” I felt his warm lips against the top of my head. “Morale seems to be good.”
“They’re really brave. I’m proud of them.”
The women had been working since they had been notified hours before of the new evacuation plan. Told they could only carry a wineskin, a weapon and an extra change of clothing, they had set about preparing themselves for the move with an admirable lack of whining. Now, as dawn approached, families were assembling in the courtyard, quietly readying themselves for what was to come.
No one talked about the fact that there were obviously more Fomorians than humans and centaurs, and that many members of our group were hurt orill. Or the fact that the sun was rising into another misty, rainy day—which was good for the Fomorians but bad for us. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of waiting for a sunny day. And then there was the river itself, which was several hundred yards away from the temple walls, and was wide and treacherous. Many of the women could not swim. No one talked about it. Instead, the women sat with their husbands and fathers as the men quietly hefted the lances the warriors had distributed to them, trying to get a feel for weapons most of them had never before used. There were no tears—no hysteria. No talk of death.
“I’m still worried about Epi.” We had decided that she and the other mares would have the best chance at making it out of the temple and to the river if they were let loose to run at the same time the warriors departed. The creatures shouldn’t be interested in horses—so, they would probably leave them alone.
Unsaid was the thought that they might serve as a distraction, allowing the phalanx time to get closer to the river.
“She is fast and smart. She will make it to the river.”