Vic covered his hand with her own. “Fight the battle with a clear mind, my friend. I will protect Rhea with my life.”

ClanFintan put his arm around me and led me a few paces away from the women. For a moment we just looked at each other, then he bent and his mouth covered mine. I clung to him, wanting to drown in the taste and heat of him. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss and took my face in his hands. I felt my lip tremble, and I blinked my eyes rapidly, willing the tears that were waiting there not to fall. I didn’t want to send him into battle with me blubbering like a sissy.

“Remember always, I was born to love you. You are as much a part of me as my soul. If you stay safe, a part of me will always remain safe.”

“No, it doesn’t work like that.” I knew I sounded frantic, but I couldn’t stop myself. “Nothing can happen to you—don’t tell me all that crap about if I’m safe, you’re safe. It’s bullshit unless you really are okay.” I put my hands over his. “Promise me you will live and come back to me. I couldn’t bear it if you did not.”

“Rhea, you—”

“Promise me!” I said with a violence that surprised even me.

“You have my promise.” He pulled me against him roughly, and I felt his lips press the top of my head. “Stay with Victoria. I will find you when it is over.” He released me, and without looking back, turned and left the room.

I heard Vic’s hooves clip sharply against the marble floor as she came to stand beside me.

“Thalia has told me of a way we can reach the roof of this temple. She says it will be tricky, but the Huntresses and I should be able to climb to it. Let us go watch from there.”

“It’s dark.” My voice sounded numbed.

“It will not be for much longer. Dawn is only a few hours away.”

I could see the other Huntresses had entered the room. I noticed they were all carrying an impressive array of crossbows and quivers filled with deadly-looking arrows. The sight of their quiet confidence broke my numbness.

“Vic, I need to change out of this dress and back into my riding clothes.”

She nodded in understanding. “We will wait here for you.”

As I hurried back to the banquet room, it was easy to tell that the scene was already more organized. The students were quietly clearing away the feast and pushing the tables to the sides of the room. Several large pots were suspended over the hearths in the walls. The Priestesses were moving among their young students, stopping here and there to speak words of calm encouragement. I saw Victoria and the five Huntresses I knew from Epona’s Temple standing in the far corner of the room. Vic made a motion for me to join them. As I moved across the room, Thalia intercepted me, handing me a long bronze tube.

“It will help you to see,” she explained.

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.

The Huntresses were standing in the arch of an exit that led to a circular stairway that wrapped its way upward.

“Come, Thalia says this leads to the roof.” Victoria began climbing the precariously small stairs first, followed by me, then the other Huntresses.

The passage was narrow. The Huntresses could stretch their arms out and touch the smooth walls on either side, which they did to help them maneuver their way up the tight spiral.

“If you trip and fall backward, you’ll squish me,” I informed Vic.

Without turning her head, she said, “Huntresses do not trip.”

“That’s a good thing,” I muttered.