Morrigan could hear the smile in Birkita’s voice. She glanced over her shoulder, wiping suds from her face to peer up at the old woman. Sure enough, she was smiling. “So, you’re not ashamed of me or embarrassed or anything like that?”
“Of course not. You have already explained your connection with the centaur’s mirror image in your old world. And, even had the two of you not had that otherworldly connection, there is nothing wrong with you being attracted to Kegan and taking your pleasure where you may. I swore chastity in the Goddess’s service, but that was my own choice.” Birkita paused and cupped Morrigan’s chin in her soapy hand. “Was sex not a gift from the Goddess in your old world?”
Ridiculously, Morrigan felt her cheeks getting warm again. “No, not really. Or, I guess you could say that there were a lot of rules attached to it.” Like not discussing it with your grandma, she added silently.
“Truly? How very sad. Well, in this world you will not find such an archaic viewpoint of sex. We enjoy the sexual act. A man is honored when a woman chooses to allow him to warm her bed, and her body.” Birkita grinned, suddenly looking decades younger. “Not that fidelity isn’t prized. It is. But dalliances are also acceptable, especially if one is dallying with a priestess. It is considered a blessing to be chosen to be the lover of a priestess.”
“Oh, well. Okay,” Morrigan said lamely. She was glad Birkita was cool with her messing around with Kegan, but that didn’t mean she wanted to get into a big discussion with her about it.
“But as I said, something besides your flirtation with Kegan happened to you today. Can you talk about it?”
“I want to, but I don’t really understand what happened, so it’s hard.”
“Just tell me, child.”
“I found Kai in the room with butter-colored marble.”
“Yes, the Stonemaster began his search for Myrna’s stone today.”
“He found it. Brina and I went into the room not long after the stone spoke to him.”
“And that upset you?”
“No. Yes.” Morrigan sighed and started over. “Not exactly. Yes, it makes me feel weird that Myrna died the day I entered Partholon. I—I guess I think I might have somehow caused what happened to her, and so the whole issue of Kai finding her stone and then Kegan carving it into what basically amounts to a tombstone for her really does upset me.”
“Child, look at me.”
Reluctantly, Morrigan turned around so that she could meet Birkita’s eyes.
“Listen to me and listen well. You did not cause Myrna’s death. She died in childbirth. It was sad and tragic, but it was her fate. Had it not been, I assure you Epona would have found some way to save her life.”
“I want to believe you, really I do.”
“Believe me, Morrigan. I have listened to Adsagsona’s voice for almost sixty complete changes of the seasons. You did not cause this death, Fate did. Now, is that all that happened to you today? You were just upset by coming upon the stone that will be used for Myrna’s monument?”
“No, that was only a small part of it. It happened when Kai touched me.”
“Touched you! The Stonemaster has been visiting us for decades. Everyone knows of his relationship with Shayla, but he has never before behaved inappropriately with any of the priestesses. Rest assured, child, something will be done about this. He will not—”
“No, no, he didn’t touch me like that. He was being perfectly respectful. We’d had a really good talk. He explained to me about what it is he does as a Stonemaster, and then he even showed me how to listen for the spirits in the stone myself.” Remembering, Morrigan smiled. “The spirits in the marble showed me a garden at the Temple of the Muse—Calliope’s garden is what Kai called it.”
“Calliope is the Incarnate Muse of Epic Poetry.”
“Oh, thanks. I didn’t have any idea who she was, and I didn’t want to seem so clueless that I had to ask him. Anyway, he said I’d helped him find the right piece of marble to carve for Calliope’s bench, and then, just kidding around, he took my hand like he was going to kiss it in formal thanks. That’s when it happened.” Morrigan stopped and swallowed to clear the sudden dryness in her mouth. “I felt a weird jolt, like I’d been shocked.” At Birkita’s questioning look she said, “Think of it as a miniature piece of the electricity I told you about.”
“Oh, the tamed lightning bolt.”
“Right. He must have felt it, too, because his reaction was really weird. He stared at me like I’d turned into a monster or something and then he asked me who I was.”
“What did you say?” The worried lines were back in Birkita’s forehead.
“I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to act. He changed so fast. I mean, he’d been so easy to talk to. I really liked him. We’d even talked about Myrna, and he told me that I looked just like her—oh, so did Kegan.”
“So it is true. You are, indeed, her mirror.”
Morrigan tried not to scowl. “I like to think that she was my mirror, but whatever. The end result is the same. Both of them say that I look just like her, except that she didn’t have one bit of goddess power.”
Birkita nodded slowly. “When it was announced that Myrna would marry a human man we all knew that she would not follow her mother as Epona’s Chosen. But what you’re saying is she wasn’t touched at all by Epona?”
Morrigan shrugged. “That’s what Kegan and Kai both said. Actually Kegan said she and I look exactly alike, except when I called the crystals to light. He said that Myrna never looked anything like me filled with the power of their light.”
Instead of commenting, Birkita told Morrigan to tilt her head back into the stream of warm water so she could rinse her hair. She said little as she helped Morrigan from the bathing pool, wrapped her in thick towels and then situated her in front of the mirror in her chamber and began towel drying and combing through the thick length of her hair. Finally, Morrigan couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Why do you think Kai reacted so weirdly to the shock that passed between us? And what the heck was that shock, anyway?”
Birkita met her reflected eyes in the mirror. “Kai hears the spirits within rocks, especially marble. Their spirits tell him the true nature of that object—what they are, where they belong, what is hidden within. It is as if he knows the destiny of the rock he touches.”
“Could he have somehow felt the truth about me? That I’m the daughter of the real Rhiannon?”
“I have never known his ability to go beyond the inanimate. I have never even known it to extend beyond stone.”
“Well, he sure knew something when he touched me, and that something definitely freaked him out.” Birkita’s brow wrinkled again and Morrigan sighed. “Freaked out equals shock plus annoyance. Actually, Kai wasn’t just freaked. He looked horrified, like he’d just discovered something awful.”
“If he believed Epona’s Chosen to somehow be a charlatan, the Stonemaster would, indeed, be horrified.”
“But how could he really believe that, no matter what he heard or saw or felt or whatever when he touched me? Grandpa and Grandma said Shannon was really Epona’s Chosen. You said she’s the Goddess’s Chosen. Everyone believes it. They’ve been believing it since before I was born. I can’t believe one touch of my hand could make him question that—let alone horrify him.”
“Perhaps you were misreading his expression. The fact that you were born in a different world could have caused him to sense something odd about you, something indeterminate he did not understand, and perhaps he was simply surprised.”
“I guess you’re right,” Morrigan said doubtfully. “Whatever happened between us I think the smartest thing for me to do would be to avoid him as much as possible. Anyway, shouldn’t he be leaving soon? He did find Myrna’s marble, and I helped him find the marble for Calliope’s bench. He doesn’t have any reason to hang around.”
“Kai often comes with several commissions he must fulfill, so it would not be abnormal for him to
stay.”
“Especially if he wants to watch me.”
“Yes,” Birkita said.
“So I make that difficult to do, and then he’ll leave.”
“Let us hope that he doesn’t go to Lady Rhiannon and tell her of you.”
Morrigan chewed her lip. Then she blurted, “Would that really be so awful? I mean, I can see how it would be bad if the whole world found out about me and started to question whether Epona’s Chosen was really Epona’s Chosen. But what if it was just Shannon? Would it be so awful if she found out I was here?”
“I cannot imagine losing a child, so it is difficult for me to do more than just guess at an answer to that, but I believe it would cause her great pain to discover you so soon after her daughter’s death.”
Morrigan fought with the resentment Birkita’s words made her feel. “Well, at least that means Kai probably won’t run to her and blab about me.”
“Let us take one thing at a time.”
“So I avoid Kai.”
“And come to know Kegan better?”
“Well, I do have a date to go out on the Salt Plains with him tonight at sunset.”
“Sunset? It is almost sunset now.”
“Oh, jeesh. I had no idea I’d been gone for so long. Okay, help me hurry and get ready. And then can you have one of the priestesses find Kegan and tell him to meet me by the entrance to the cave?”
“Of course, child.”
Birkita helped her choose a beautiful piece of material the color of crimson sunsets that looked to Morrigan like it was just one big piece and not a dress at all, but then the older woman draped it around her, fastening it over her right shoulder with a golden brooch and finishing it off by wrapping an intricately tooled golden leather belt around her slim waist. Morrigan chose some very cool golden sandals that laced way up her calves to go with the dress. Then Birkita kissed her, and hurried off to get her message to Kegan. Morrigan took one more look at herself in the mirror and decided the outfit might actually make her look like a goddess, which helped only a little to quiet her nerves as she quickly followed the path to the main entrance of the cave, trying to distract herself from remembering she was meeting a guy who was half horse.
He was already there when she arrived, and he was again carrying a large basket. She saw him before he saw her, so Morrigan had time to slow down, breathe deeply and run her fingers through her hair for the thousandth time. She also was able to see him turn at the sound of her approach, and watch the appreciative look that came over his handsome face as he glimpsed her.
“My Lady, your escort awaits you.” He smiled warmly at her and bowed with a well-practiced flourish.
“Thank you, kind sir,” she said, and curtsied playfully. “Hey, what’s in the basket?”
“Birkita said you spent the day exploring the caves, but she said nothing about you exploring the kitchen. I guessed that you hadn’t eaten—again.”
“Seems you’re getting in the habit of feeding me.”
“And this would be a habit that is more enjoyable than most.”
“Really?” She fell into step beside him as they walked out of the cave. “Do you have a lot of unsavory habits?”
“Well, I will admit to sneaking into the kitchen late at night—frequently. My mother has told me the habit will cause dark dreams, but so far that hasn’t been the case.”
“I think it would just cause me to get fat,” Morrigan said.
“Well, I can say that tonight I’m glad you haven’t made a habit of eating late at night. That would make the next part of the evening decidedly less enjoyable.”
They’d exited the cave and were standing just a few feet from its mouth. Morrigan looked up at him and gave him an exaggerated, pretend look of maidenly shock. “Ohmygoodness, you are not implying that you think you’re going to see me naked, are you? Because I’ll have you know that I might not be that kind of girl.”
He smiled and his eyes sparkled. “While the possibility of seeing you unclothed is intriguing, and one that I will admit has not been far from my mind today, it was not to what I was referring.”
“Huh?” she said succinctly.
Kegan pointed toward the land in front of them. Below, Morrigan could see the Salt Plains and the shards of giant crystal boulders poking up out of it. “The sun hasn’t set, but twilight is not long off. If you want to reach the Salt Plains before twilight, then we will need to hurry.”
“Okay, so let’s hurry.”
He smiled. “I mean faster than your shapely human legs can carry you on those lovely golden sandals.”
“So, I’m going to need to ride…” Morrigan started to look around for a horse and then it hit her. Her eyes widened in realization. “You!”
Kegan grinned and nodded. “Me.”
“Oh, jeesh, you weren’t kidding this morning when you said you’d be my escort and my mount.”
“I wasn’t kidding.”
Morrigan looked up to his tall, totally saddle-free equine back. “I—I don’t know about this.”
Clearly enjoying himself, Kegan quirked an eyebrow at her. “You cannot ride?”
“Of course I can ride.”
“Well, no matter if you’re not experienced. I take very little direction.”
“Okay, smartie, that’s not what I’m worried about and I’m not an inexperienced rider, although my experience with centaurs is limited.”
“To me?” he asked with a grin.
“Yeah, limited exclusively to you.”
“Exclusively to me…” He moved closer to her and took her hand. “I like the way that sounds, and I give you my word that I shall be gentle with you.”
“I don’t have any way to get up there.” She pointed to his equine back. “I mean, you aren’t saddled or anything, so no stirrups.”
He laughed. “Rest assured that I can help you mount, my Lady.”
Morrigan felt her stupid cheeks getting warm and hated the fact that she couldn’t help blushing. “I have a dress on.”
“You do. And a lovely dress it is, too.”
She sighed. “Thank you. But I’m not exactly dressed for riding.”
“Perhaps you aren’t dressed for riding an equine mount, but you are dressed perfectly for riding a centaur who adores you.”
Morrigan’s stomach did a ridiculous little flippity-flop. “And that would be you.”
“That would be me,” he repeated. “Come.” Kegan opened his arms to her and grinned. “Unless you are afraid.”
“I am not afraid,” she said automatically. “I’m just discombobulated.”
“Discombobulated? Another Oklahoma word?”
“No.” Morrigan’s cheeks flamed even hotter. “It’s a grandma word.”
“We’re not going to make it in time.”
“Fine. Let’s go.”
“Come to me then.” Morrigan stepped within his arms and he rested one hand on either side of her waist. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she lied. And then she sucked in a gasp when he lifted her and, as easily as if she weighed no more than the basket he’d dropped at her feet, Kegan twisted at the waist and plopped her unceremoniously onto his back.
Morrigan busied herself with rearranging her dress, desperately glad she wasn’t wearing one of her short little jean skirts.
“Hold tight. The descent is steep,” Kegan said as he picked up the basket and started forward.
“Hold tight to what? There’s no—” Morrigan’s words choked off when he surged over the edge of the drop-off and started to slide down the steep incline. Not knowing what else to do, she wrapped her arms around him and tried not to fall off while she peered over his shoulder. Without missing a stride, Kegan glanced back at her and grinned. A total and utter rake, just like Birkita said, Morrigan thought. Not that she minded…
CHAPTER 17
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Scary drop-off and crazy descent behind them, Morrigan had managed to pry her arms from around him. She was sittin
g up straight, attempting to appear relaxed, with her hands resting lightly on his bare shoulders. Actually, she felt every centimeter of where their bodies met—hers intimately against his. “Oh, yeah, great. I can promise you I’d prefer a saddle,” she muttered.
Kegan laughed and looked over his shoulder at her. “You don’t need a saddle. You have a lovely seat.” The glint in his eyes gave his words a definite double meaning, which Morrigan ignored.
“I’m going to have a sore seat if I don’t get down and walk for myself. Aren’t we almost there? It’s practically sunset.”
“Just over this next little hummock,” Kegan assured her.
And, sure enough, Kegan climbed up a little knoll and they came out of a little grove of stunted pines to gaze on a vast expanse of water interspersed with enormous, jutting rock.
“Here, let me help you.” Kegan swiveled at the waist and hooked his hands around her waist again, lifting her gently from his back to the ground beside him. Morrigan couldn’t help smiling at him as he made an obviously reluctant show of releasing her.
“I was probably heavy,” Morrigan said, still feeling nervous.
He smiled. “You were perfect.”
“Well, do I thank you or give you a good petting?”
His smile widened. “I believe I would enjoy both.”
“Let’s see how you behave on the way back. I don’t want to reward you too soon,” she said.
Kegan laughed. “I can see you’re going to be one of those difficult riders.”
“Oh, so I’m just one in a group. How many women have you given rides to, anyway?”
He was still smiling, but his eyes had gone dark and serious. “I have given my share of rides to women, but they all have become uninteresting shadows of the past in comparison to you, Light Bringer.”
“Even Myrna?” Morrigan couldn’t stop herself from asking.
“Even Myrna.” Kegan gestured out at the Salt Plains. “Better hurry down to lake level, jealous one, or you will miss the sunset.”
Morrigan started to say that she wasn’t jealous, but bit off that lie before she could speak it. Instead she took what remained of her dignity and walked over to the edge of the little round hill.