It took a moment for me to realize they were waiting for my permission.

“Oh! Yeah, let’s go.”

ClanFintan broke into what can only be described as a perky canter, totally belying the fact that just moments before he and the boys had been struggling to catch their breath. I smiled. Men—they sure can be cute. Even though their butts looked like horses, they certainly acted one hundred percent like guys.

Belatedly I tried to retie my wild hair but decided I’d better go for the windblown look (like I had any choice). As we neared the throng of people who were rushing forward to greet us, I reminded myself firmly that I was used to (and was typically delighted by) being the center of attention. I mean, I admit that I’ve done ridiculous things during pep assemblies in front of hundreds of partially grown human beings. Goddess Incarnate should be a relatively unembarrassing part to play. So I did what I do in front of teenagers—I threw my shoulders back, held my head high and grinned at the masses like I’m cool (or insane—the children are never positive which).

“Epona!”

“Hail the Beloved of Epona!”

“Welcome home, Goddess Incarnate!”

“Epona’s Beloved, bless us!”

I even managed to wave. Thank God I’ve watched a lot of pbs specials about The Royal Family.

As we passed within the temple wall, I noticed something else I couldn’t have seen well enough to understand the night I left. The temple must be built on or around the site of a mineral springs. In the daylight I could now see eruptions of sparkling, steamy water amidst the moss and crags that I had thought before was just a huge, artificial fountain. My eyes widened at the imagination and the craftsmanship that had fashioned the beauty of a huge plunging horse out of natural rock. It was as if the fountain burst out of the side of the hill. I remembered (with relish) the wonderful bath Alanna had led me to, and I understood that the architects and builders of the temple must have somehow harnessed the mineral springs. Pretty smart of them—and they didn’t even have TV, Japanese-made parts or the Internet to help them. Imagine that.

Speaking of Alanna—man, I was happy to see her. She stood in the shadow of the entrance, dressed in a very flattering buttercup-yellow flowy thing, hands folded demurely before her. My impatience to get down must have telegraphed itself through my thighs (and I wondered briefly what other “telegraphs” he had picked up through my thighs), and ClanFintan reached around and helped me to exit his back. I nodded and smiled at my adoring crowd as I made my way quickly toward Alanna. I could feel that ClanFintan and the guys had turned and were facing out to the crowd, blocking them from adoring me so much that they cut off my exit. He was assuring the masses that I was fine, just tired, that I’d be back to bless them first thing in the morning…blah…blah….

Forgetting her unSuzanna-like reticence, I threw my arms around Alanna and hugged her hard. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“I am pleased to see that you are well, my Lady.” Her voice was subservient, and I could feel the tension in her body.

I dropped my arms from around her and she bowed to me, then ushered me through the entrance. Instead of entering the lovely gardened courtyard in front of us (which was, incidentally, full of more adoring people), she turned abruptly to our left and opened a small, undecorated door. Inside stood two of the scantily clad guards I remembered so well.

Before following her, I paused and turned to face ClanFintan.

He smiled at me. “Rest and refresh yourself. I will have my warriors brief me on what has transpired since we have been gone, then I will join you later—” he paused, probably for effect “—in your chambers.” His voice had deepened and become husky. I think I blushed. “If that is as you wish, my Lady?” Now I knew I was blushing.

Our eyes met and I was suddenly having trouble breathing. I forgot how tired I was. I forgot how mussed and just downright stinky I was. All I could think about was his hot, slick chest and how his mouth felt against mine.

“My Lady?” Alanna’s voice broke the spell.

“Oh, uh, coming,” I told her, and blinked up at ClanFintan. “Yes, that’s exactly as I wish.” His sexy smile shot through me and I grinned back at him. Then I hurried after Alanna before I did something foolish like bite my husband in public.

The guard closed the secret door and I followed Alanna down a hall that looked vaguely familiar.

“Just around this corner, my Lady.”

We turned the corner, and I spied the door to my chambers, flanked by two more yummy guards. I smiled at them as they saluted me, and in my best Mae West voice I said, “Thanks, boys” before they closed the heavy door behind me.

“Ohmygod! I can’t wait to tell you everything!” I gushed and followed Alanna around as she rummaged through my wardrobe, pulling out gauzy this and scanty that.

“Yes, my Lady.”

“Well, it was awful—” I took a breath “—and wonderful.” I grinned at her and was momentarily disconcerted that she didn’t return my grin. “Anyway, I found my/her dad—ugh—that was horrible. All those men dead. I’ve never seen anything like it. We burned them. I hope it’s what Dad would have wanted.”

“I’m sure his spirit understands, my Lady.” For a second her voice was tinged with familiar tenderness as she paused to meet my gaze.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, my Lady.” The moment was broken and she returned to rummaging through my wardrobe.

“Are you getting my clean things so I can take a bath?” My voice sounded almost as eager as I felt.

“Yes, my Lady. Please follow me to the bathing room.” She turned and breezed to the door.

Bathing room! Complete with toilet paper! I’m not ashamed to admit that I was looking forward to savoring the experience. I hurried after her.

Entering the bathing room was like entering a little piece of heaven. It was as beautiful as I remembered—all golden and misty in the candlelight (I ignored the fact that the candleholders were skulls). Several barely clad nymphets jumped up and curtseyed, murmuring welcomes as I entered.

“Thank you. It’s nice to be home.” And I meant it. Their smiles were shy but warm. I singled out the taller of the nymphs, whose willowy beauty I suddenly realized reminded me of a kid named Staci, one of my all-time favorite students. My voice reflected the affection I had for her mirror image in my old world when I told her to, “Please tell the kitchen that ClanFintan will be eating the evening meal with me in my chamber. And tell them I am verrrry hungry.”

“Of course, my Lady!” The Staci-nymph bounded out of the room.

“Would the rest of you please excuse us? I would like to be alone with Alanna.” They curtseyed their way gracefully out the door.

“It will be so good to relax!” I watched as Alanna busied herself setting out the stuff for my bath. “Um, while you’re busy I’m going to, well…” I nodded in the direction of the potties.

“Certainly, my Lady.”

After an experience that I will describe only as satisfying, I returned and began stripping the filthy clothes off my body.

“Ugh. These things are just plain gross.” I sat near the edge of the steaming pool and pulled off my crusty boots. “Hey, is there any bath oil over there that smells like the sand soap in the forest?” Alanna gave me a quizzical look. “You know, kind of like almonds and vanilla and, well, soap?”

“Yes, my Lady, I know.” She turned and looked through the elaborate bottles that perched near the full-length mirror, stopping to smell several and discarding them, until she found one that fit my request. She brought the bottle over to the pool and poured it into the warm water. The soft scent of it hovered with the steam.

“That’s it.” I sniffed in appreciation, yanked off my pants and stepped gratefully out of the nasty thong. With a sigh of pure delight I lowered myself into the fragrant water. “Ahhh—this is beyond words.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Somehow through the ecstasy of clean, warm water Alanna’s behavior penetrated. I opened my eyes and watched her through the mist. She was busy rearranging brushes and makeup jars.

“Alanna.”

She didn’t pause, but answered in the cool voice of a stranger. “Yes, my Lady.”

“Quit messing with that stuff and come over here and talk to me.” I didn’t mean for it to come out as an order, but she jerked stiffly around and moved to the side of the pool.

“What is it you wish me to say, my Lady?”

“I want to know why you’re acting like I’m some stranger! Or worse yet, like I’m really Rhiannon!” My frustration made me sound grumpy.

“As you know, I am your servant, my Lady. I am only acting as befits my place in your household.” Her eyes were downcast.

“Bullshit.”

She glanced up at me, then quickly looked down again. I studied her face. She looked pale and tense. What the hell was wrong with her?

“I thought we got all that slave crap straight before I left.”

“As you wish, my Lady.”

“Stop this ‘as you wish’ and ‘yes, my Lady’ garbage! How many times do I have to explain to you that I can’t see you as my slave? You’re my friend.”

Her eyes finally lifted to meet mine. I could see they were brimming with tears.

“Suzanna is your friend, not I.”

“But you’re a lot like Suzanna, and I can’t help but want you to be my friend.”

She drew a deep breath. “Would you have stolen out in the deep of night, going into danger and horror without telling your Suzanna you were leaving? Or asking for her aid and prayers?”

Yipes. Now I understood.

“No, I wouldn’t have,” I said quietly.

“So you see, my Lady, no matter what your words say, your actions show we are not really friends.”

“Oh, Alanna, you are so right.” I couldn’t believe what a mess I’d made of this.

“It is better we remain slave and mistress only.” Her voice was resigned.

“No! That’s not what I meant.” I cleared my throat, searching for the right words. “I meant you are absolutely right to be pissed off at me.”

“Piss—” Now she really looked confused.

“Oops, I keep forgetting. Pissed off means mad. You have every right to be mad at me. It was an idiotic thing for me to do.”

“My Lady! I could not be mad—”

I interrupted, “Sure you could. You are. And you have reason to be.” She started shaking her head, but I talked over her protestations. “You’re right—I would have told Suz. I should have told you. I was wrong. Please forgive me and give me another chance at being your friend.”

She looked at me as if I’d just grown another eye or something, but the tears were no longer threatening to spill from her eyes.

“I…I…” She seemed to be struggling within herself.

“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings and made you mistrust me.”

“I forgive you.” Her expression shifted as she spoke the words and a tentative smile raised the edges of her lips.

“Good! Next time I do something crazy I’ll clue you in on it. Then we can both worry together.”

“I would like that.”

“Me, too.” I sighed and relaxed back into the water, happy that we’d gotten that straightened out. “Could you hand me something to wash with?”

“Of course, my La—”