I leaned over and whispered to ClanFintan, “Isn’t Terpsichore the Muse that danced at our handfast?”

“Yes,” he replied, keeping his voice low.

“And Melpomene is Muse of Tragedy,” Thalia surprised me by leaning toward me and volunteering. “She feels she needs to be in charge whenever there is an illness.”

“Then you’re familiar with smallpox?”

Thalia’s expression remained serene. “It is not unusual for illness to come out of Ufasach Marsh, and we have dealt with the pox before. But we were saddened to learn it had spread to Epona’s Temple.”

“We have the sick quarantined, and our Healer says it is under control.”

“Excellent.” She took a sip from her crystal wineglass before she continued in a voice pitched low for my ears alone. “Perhaps you would like to know that next to your husband sits Calliope, Muse of Poetry. Beside her reclines Cleio, Muse of History.” She tilted her head, listening, before she continued. “At the head of the nearest table, Erato, Muse of Love Lyrics, is entertaining young Dougal, who has so recently lost his brother.”

My eyes followed her introductions and I was pleased to see Dougal’s face glowing with rapt attention as the lovely Erato spoke animatedly.

“Seated at the table with the leaders of the warriors are Polyhymnia, Muse of Song, Rhetoric and Geometry, who is wearing a violet robe, and Urania, Muse of Astronomy and Astrology, who should be attired in her typical velvet robe the color of the night sky.”

“Yes, it’s exactly as you describe.”

“You have already heard that Terpsichore, Muse of the Dance, has fallen ill…” Her voice lowered with sadness. “And Euterpe, Muse of Lyric Poetry, became ill two days ago.”

“I’m sorry. Terpsichore danced at our wedding. She was beautiful.”

“And if her Goddess wills it, she will be again.”

“Thalia, thank you for explaining all of this to me. And thank you for accepting me.”

“You are very welcome, child.” She straightened, still smiling, and clapped her hands together twice. The room fell silent in expectation. “Allow us to entertain our brave centaur warriors.” Her smile was as bright as the chandeliers. “And may all of our Goddesses bless you tomorrow.”

The Muse Erato was the first to rise. She began a touching song about a young peasant girl who won the heart of a Chieftain’s son, and the feats he had to accomplish before his father would consent to their marriage.

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.

Erato was followed by Calliope, who expertly recited a rousing epic poem about the first centaur High Shaman, which concluded to the thunderous applause of her audience. Then Polyhymnia sang a hauntingly beautiful ballad that reminded me of something I could have heard on an Enya CD. As several dancers entered the huge chamber and began a sensuous dance, accompanied by pulsing drums, I felt my eyes begin to grow heavy.

ClanFintan’s arms encircled me, and I tried to swim back to wakefulness.

“Shh, child, sleep.” Thalia’s motherly voice drifted into my semiconscious mind. “Your Goddess calls.”

And blackness overcame me.

This time I wasn’t eased out of my sleeping body by a delicious dream. Instead, I felt my spirit wrenched upward, through the diamond-encrusted dome in response to the order Come!

I hung above the enormous temple, momentarily disoriented. The temple looked misty and confusing—and I realized that clouds had rolled in with the night, obscuring the familiar landmarks of the mountains and river. But laughter and music floated in the night around me. Despite the bad weather, the Muses’ temple was alive with esprit de corps—in other words, morale was damn good.

Too soon my body began moving in a westerly direction. I began passing over the fields that separated Laragon Castle from the Muse, catching only occasional glimpses of the green beneath me through the low-hanging clouds. I hadn’t gone far when I began to feel an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of my stomach.

My body slowed—then stopped.

My heart was racing, and I heard the blood pounding in my temples. Below me, just outside the western edge of the temple’s grounds, the misty fields were thick with the moving bodies of the Fomorian army. They were approaching silently, using their wings to increase their insect-like gliding strides.

No! I closed my eyes and willed my spirit back into my body…

I leaped up, interrupting the lovely dance as I screamed the word aloud, “No!”

“Rhea!” ClanFintan reached for me. “What is it?”

I gasped for air—my body was shaking violently. “They’re coming! Now! The Fomorians are almost on the temple grounds.”

The room erupted in pandemonium, and ClanFintan shot to his feet, raising his arm and shouting for silence. Centaur and human obeyed.

“Then the time has come,” he addressed the centaurs with the confidence of an experienced leader. “Herdsmasters, assemble your warriors on the western lawn. Dougal, send our swiftest runner with orders to skirt the Fomorian line and get to the humans. Tell them we await their aid. Loose the pigeons with the same message. And remember, centaurs, they must not break through our lines.”

Bless them, Beloved.

I was filled with a sudden calm, and my voice rang out across the huge chamber. “We are counting on your courage. And you are courageous. I know it because courage is not measured by the crude vulgarity of claws and fangs overpowering women and hacking apart unprepared men. Courage arises from a sense of duty, and the firm resolve of goodness and right. And that is what I see before me—your nobility and integrity. May Epona’s blessing and grace go with each of you. My love surely does.”

A shout of “Hail Epona!” rang to the domed ceiling. Then the room exploded into a sea of moving centaurs.

The Incarnates of the Muse were making their way toward Thalia. The blind priestess’s face was serene. She spoke in a calm voice to the women who surrounded her.

“Priestesses, our students know they are to assemble here. Keep them busy, it will help to keep them calm.” The Priestesses murmured agreement, and they began calling to the young students who had begun arriving as the centaurs were leaving.

“Mistress Thalia,” Sila addressed the Priestess, “have your students begin boiling large quantities of water, and tearing linen into strips for bandaging. I will check on the ill ones and inform them of what has happened. Then I will return here to help your students prepare for the injured.”

“Thank you, Sila.”

“Victoria!” ClanFintan called the Huntress to his side. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes as he spoke. “While I am away, I entrust to you the safety of my wife.”