Divine by Choice (9 page)

“B
rr!” I pulled the folds of my ermine-lined cloak closer, glad I had chosen to dress in my riding clothes—butter-smooth leather breeches, lace-up leather shirt and knee-high boots, complete with stars carved into their soles, so that wherever I walked I left behind beautiful footprints. It's seriously good to be Goddess Incarnate. “It's really getting cold.” Alanna and I walked side by side through the rear courtyard, which was situated between the stables and the temple proper. The day was misty and damp, which only added to the chill in the air (and the frizz in my hair).

“Congratulations to you, Lady Rhiannon!”

“Blessings upon you and your daughter, my Lady!”

Everyone who passed us shouted well wishes. It was like being wrapped in a thick blanket of care and warmth and love…

…It was suffocating, and it was making my headache return. Although Alanna had been right, I did feel better after bathing and dressing (and eating three delicious muffins).

The new centaur quarters would be situated on the northern side of the temple, just to the east of the stables, but still well within the temple walls. As I had learned months ago, Epona was a warrior goddess, so her temple was built in a
fashion that reflected the priorities of protection and defense. The temple walls were beautiful, but they were also thick and high. The grounds around Epona's Temple were well manicured and maintained, but they were also kept clear of any obstruction that could aid an attacking army—as was evidenced when the Fomorian army attempted unsuccessfully to overrun the temple, and we had to battle for our lives on the cleared grounds surrounding it.

I shook off the unpleasant memory, and looked around at the focused energy before us. Centaurs and humans were hard at work cutting and fitting stone. The skeleton of the new building was already clearly visible, even through the maze of bamboo-rigged scaffolding that seemed to be everywhere. It gave me a feeling of timelessness to watch the construction of this marble edifice, like I was being afforded a glimpse into Caesar's Rome and the building of the Forum.

“It's amazing how quickly it is taking shape.” I confided to Alanna in a whisper. “Without the help of technology, I would have thought that a structure like this would take decades to build.”

“We do not have your old world's
technology
—” she struggled over the pronunciation of the alien word “—but we do have those who are linked with stone, as well as the Sidetha.”

I gave her a startled look. “What do you mean by linked? And what the hell is a Sidetha?”

Alanna laughed. “The Sidetha are a race of miners. They live in the far northeastern part of the Tier Mountains, which is where the most exquisite marble can be found. Epona's Temple is made of marble that comes from the mines of Sidetha.”

“Huh. I had no idea.”

“They are a shy, secretive people who rarely leave their caves.”

“Huh,” I said again, thinking that except for being shy they sounded a lot like Tolkien's dwarves. “What did you mean the linked with stone thing? Is that why the Sidetha are such good miners?”

“Well, I suppose some of the Sidetha could be linked with stone, but in general I think they are just experienced miners—it's their life. No, I mean that some people in our world have an affinity for certain animals or spirits or elements. For instance, you have an affinity for horses—especially the mare chosen by Epona as her equine incarnation.”

“Okay, I understand that.” Epi and I shared a bond that went beyond normal human—horse relationships. I nodded at her to continue.

“It can be the same for spirits. ClanFintan is a great Shaman, which means he has a special link with the spirit world. He can touch the spirit world in a much more intimate fashion than you or I can. It also enables him to transform his physical shape—as you know only too well.”

My hand lifted to caress my (relatively) flat stomach, and we shared a knowing girlfriend smile.

“Sometimes people are gifted with an affinity for the elements. On the Centaur Plains humans who can hear the call of hidden water are revered. They have an affinity for the water element, and always know the perfect spot in which to dig a well. Our blacksmiths feel a special link with metal. Very often, women who have gifts in music or dance can touch and mold the wind with their spirits and have an affinity for the spirit of flame.”

“So some people feel something special for stone?” I asked.

“Yes, but usually the people who are linked to stone are also linked to the earth itself. They are attuned to the land and everything that it produces. Some of these earth-linked people have special talents in the carving and shaping of stone. They
dedicate their lives to the art of masonry. Through them the shape hiding within the stone lives.”

“And we have one of these people working for us?” I squinted at the workers, wondering what a stone-linked person would look like.

“Yes, he traveled deep into the mines of the Sidetha to find the perfect stones for the new construction and now he has returned here with it where he will remain for the duration of the building. I would have presented him to you sooner, but you have not been feeling well.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered. “Well, introduce me to him now. I'm curious to meet this stone guy.”

As we arrived at the work site, the construction temporarily halted so that the men and centaurs could greet me and shout their congratulations. The shouts caught the attention of a small group emerging from the infrastructure of the building. The tallest of the group was my husband, who was clapped on the back several times and included in the builders' congratulatory frenzy. Dougal and Victoria were with him.

Alanna nudged me and waggled her eyebrows.
“‘I have business near the new quarters, too,'”
she said, mimicking the Huntress's throaty voice.

“She's becoming shameless,” I whispered back at Alanna.

With ClanFintan, Dougal and Vic was a tall gangly man who I didn't recognize. As the group approached and he got closer, I realized he was way younger than I'd first thought. His thick brown hair was tied back in a cropped ponytail, which gave him a randomly artsy look that clashed surprisingly with the fact that he was clearly no older than sixteen.

“Good morning, love.” ClanFintan took my hand in his, then bent to kiss me softly on the lips. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Better,” I said, my smile warm and meant to reassure him.

He squeezed my hand.

“Congratulations, my Lady!” Dougal's face was alight, and I knew it wasn't just my news that was making him shine. I thought how wonderful it was to see him so happy. I had been worried that his naturally gregarious personality would morph into something dark and sad after his beloved brother had died in his arms several months ago, but now I could see the sweet openness that reflected his love of life mirrored in his expressive face.

“Thank you, Dougal. And congratulations yourself on finally talking sense into Victoria's hard head.”

Vic snorted at me, but her arm slid intimately through Dougal's, and he gave her an adoring smile.

“We would like you to perform the handfast ceremony, Lady Rhiannon.” Dougal asked.

“It would make us very happy.” Vic smiled softly at me.

I felt a rush of emotion and had to blink back tears. Hormones acting up, no doubt. “I can think of nothing I'd like better.”

The pair beamed at me. I swallowed the knot in my throat. Alanna sniffed happily. We were disgusting. No wonder I was puking.

“Lady Rhiannon,” Alanna said after she finished sniffing. “May I present to you our lead mason, Kai. Kai, the Lady Rhiannon, Incarnate of Epona,” she finished with a flourish.

The tall, young man stepped forward and executed a low, respectful bow.

“Lady Rhiannon, I am pleased to be in the service of Epona.”

His voice was unique—not deep or unusually loud, and way too youthful to be particularly manly, but it had a quality that intrigued me. It made me think that I would enjoy listening to him read.

“Perhaps more important are the stones pleased to be in the service of Epona?” I asked, finding it impossible to contain my curiosity (mentally crossing my fingers that I was not committing a faux pas in asking).

“Absolutely, my Lady!” His face brightened and became animated with an eagerness that I wish my students could have emulated. Of course, they wouldn't have known what emulated meant. Sigh. “I searched the mines of the Sidetha until I found the marble vein that spoke the Goddess's name. It is from that marble that the support columns of the structure are being formed.”

“I would love to see that marble,” I answered, intrigued at the notion that stone could have a preference.

“Follow me, my Lady. I would be honored to show you.”

“Rhea, Dougal and I are through here. We need to see to the winter supply of grain.” ClanFintan lifted my hand to his lips.

“Okay, I'm going to check out this stone stuff, then I need to look in on Epi. She's been restless lately. I'd like to take her out for a ride. Exercise seems to calm her.” I'd known too many Oklahoma women who kept riding through most of their pregnancies to worry about whether it would be safe or not in my supposedly delicate condition. Plus, Epi was not like other horses. I knew she would be extra careful with me.

“I will meet you back at the stables.”

“Good day, Lady Rhiannon,” Dougal gave me a quick bow, and then he touched Vic's cheek in a gentle caress before he followed my husband.

“If you wait here, my Lady, I will have the workers clear some scaffolding in order to accord you a better view of the main support column.” Kai said, his voice breaking endearingly, as he hurried away, obviously excited at the opportunity to share his love of marble. I nodded at him encouragingly.

After he was gone, Alanna elbowed me and jerked her head toward Vic. The Huntress was still standing there, gazing after Dougal's departing form like a lovesick teenager. I caught Alanna's eye and we quickly surrounded the Huntress.

“Girl, you've got it bad,” I teased.

Victoria blinked and brought her eyes back into focus.

“I have no idea about what you are speaking.” She sounded like Miss Priss, but her cheeks were pink.

“All I can say is that it's a good thing he's young.” I grinned at Vic.

“They do say the young have boundless energy.” Alanna mused.

“He is not
that
young.” Vic tried to sound offended, but I could hear the smile that was lurking behind her proper Lead Huntress facade.

“So, tell me,” I leaned into her side and spoke conspiratorially. For months I'd been dying to ask Vic about centaur sex. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity. After all, we were females, and females like to talk about sex. (Try not to be shocked.) “Just what kind, and how much energy, will poor Dougal need?” I nudged her and winked. “On your wedding night.”

Vic looked down at me, a little grin pulling at the edges of her full lips.

“Yes,” Alanna's deceptively innocent voice trilled, “tell us.”

“Well…” Vic motioned for us to lean even closer to her, which we did (gleefully). “Have you ever seen horses mate?”

We nodded.

“Then you know they bite and squeal and kick when their passion is ripe?” Her voice suddenly reminded me of Mae West.

We nodded enthusiastically.

“You know that sometimes their desire is so fierce that the
mating is filled with violent, uncontrolled lust?” Her voice shook with intensity.

We nodded very enthusiastically.

Breathing heavily, she paused. Looking from Alanna to me, her smile widened. “Well, it is nothing like that.”

With that, a flippant guffaw burst from her mouth, and she spun away from us, twitching her tail haughtily.

“She is not going to tell us, is she?” Alanna sounded wistful.

“Doesn't look like it,” I sighed. “Damn.”

Alanna sighed in mirrored frustration. (Note to self: it's about friggin time I asked ClanFintan to explain centaur sex.)

“My Lady, if you will come this way.” Kai had returned and was gesturing for me to follow him into the center of the construction area.

As Alannna and I caught up with him I whispered to her, “Is it normal that he's so damn young? I mean, he's a friggin teenager. He can't even be sixteen! Barf.”

“The spirit of stone speaks strongly within him. It does not care that he is young, only that he is willing to listen. You will see.”

We joined him atop the marble stairs that had already been completed. It was an enormous area that was littered with massive chunks of marble, some of it raw and some already carved and smooth. Around the circumference of the structure were the bottoms of thick columns. These columns weren't fully formed yet, and they looked like broken teeth in a giant's mouth, but as we moved farther into the building site I could see that several central columns were already completed. They stood tall and proud, as if they were concentrating on setting a good example for the others. We stopped directly in front of the center-most column, which was so broad there was no way the three of us could touch fingertips if we stood around its base, arms outstretched. The marble
was a luminescent, pearlized color with deep, smooth grooves etched into its expansive length. Its top was intricately carved in a circular pattern of interwoven knots framing plunging centaur warriors.