Divine by Mistake (28 page)

“Hi!” I sounded like friggin’ Gidget.

He took my hand in his and raised my palm to his lips in a gesture that was becoming as familiar as it was intimate.

“Hello.” His voice wrapped around me and made me shiver.

After his kiss, my fingers laced with his and he stroked my wrist slowly with his thumb.

“How is Dougal?”

A grimace of pain moved across his face. “It is not yet real to him.” He shook his head sadly. “He and Ian were seldom separated. It will be difficult for him to bear.” Then he squeezed my hand and said, “I hear you are keeping him busy. That was wise—it will give him less time for thought.”

“I’m glad you’re not upset with me for ordering around Dougal and Connor.” I smiled into his eyes, and the rest of the world melted away. Really, and don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

Alanna cleared her throat and I remembered I wasn’t a character in a book (sigh). I looked around ClanFintan’s large body and saw that Carolan was standing quietly by the door, his eyes watching me warily. It was disconcerting to have a man who I would normally be friendly with treat me with such suspicion, so I decided that I would use the same tactic with him I had used with Alanna. I’d just act like myself and let him catch up—so to speak.

“Carolan, come on in.” I smiled warmly as his eyes narrowed. “We need your expertise.”

Alanna was sitting on one chaise facing me, and I was sitting on the other. ClanFintan had stopped within reach of the food (and of me). Carolan moved slowly to join us and I gestured in the direction of Alanna’s chaise.

“Have a seat. Are you hungry?”

He halted next to the table, not looking at Alanna. “I would rather stand, Lady Rhiannon,” he said stiffly. “And, no, I have broken my fast.”

I shrugged. “Whatever, but we might be here for a while, so feel free to sit and pour yourself some wine. After all, grapes are my favorite breakfast fruit.”

He was studying me like he thought I was a bomb getting ready to explode.

ClanFintan tugged on one of my curls. “You just like wine,” he said as he looked pointedly at my half-empty goblet.

“It’s medicinal,” I teased up at him and playfully batted at his hand. Then I shot Carolan another smile, and asked in a conspirator’s voice, “Am I right, Mr. Healer?”

“It has been called the nectar of life,” he answered slowly.

“See!” I said to ClanFintan and he
hurmphed
at me. Turning to Alanna, I announced, “Then we’ll have to make sure we have lots of wine at your formal wedding ceremony.”

If possible, my words caused her to flush an even brighter shade of pink. But my words had the opposite effect on Carolan—his face blanched a horrible shade between white and gray; for a moment I worried that he would need a mortician instead of a priestess. Then he spoke through tightly clenched teeth. I felt ClanFintan stir at the obvious loathing in his words.

“Lady Rhiannon, I have known you capable of many hurtful acts, but this—” As his voice raised and his body began to tremble with repressed violence, ClanFintan dropped my hand and stepped protectively forward.

“Have a care what you say to my Lady, Healer.” His voice was like death.

“If you knew what she really was, you would not defend her!” Carolan spat at the floor in my direction.

Alanna and I were on our feet as ClanFintan lunged forward so quickly that his large body was only a blur. Before I could say anything to stop him, he had forced Carolan to his knees.

“Ask her forgiveness,” he growled.

“No!” I yelled as I pulled on ClanFintan’s steel-like arm, trying to get him to loosen his grip. “It’s me who is sorry. I should have explained better—I just didn’t think.” ClanFintan looked confused, but he loosed his hold on Carolan, allowing him to stand.

Alanna was beside me, and I quickly grabbed one of her hands. Then, before he could spit at me again or anything, I grabbed one of Carolan’s hands and placed hers in his.

“
You’re
the one she’s going to marry—today. You should never have been kept apart.” I looked apologetically over his shoulder at my still ruffled husband and said, “I guess I wasn’t very clear about that before, but I really didn’t expect him to freak out.”

Then I shifted my attention back to the almost newlyweds. Carolan’s eyes were wide (and his mouth was kind of flapping open, but I thought it’d be rude to mention it). I nodded my head up and down and gave him an “it’s true” look. He glanced at Alanna as if he was afraid she would turn into something horrible (in this world, you never knew), and as her misty smile of happiness registered in his mind, I heard him suck in a great gulp of air.

Before he could go all crazy again (and have my husband accidentally break something he might need later—like his neck), I put both of my hands over their joined ones, and jumped right in there with a makeshift wedding oath borrowed from Longfellow. “There is nothing holier in this life of ours than the first consciousness of love—the first fluttering of its silken wings—the first rising sound and breath of that wind which is so soon to sweep through the soul.”

I squeezed their hands before letting go.

“I would say that now I’ve joined you, but I know that really you were joined long before today. So instead, let’s just say I’ve finally made it official.” I looked at Carolan’s shocked face and continued, “Cherish her always.” Then I stepped back and gave them a big smile. “Now you may kiss the bride!” What a great line.

But instead of kissing Alanna, Carolan dropped her hand and caught my eyes with his penetrating gaze.

“Who are you?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Carolan cut me off.

“No! Do not try to disguise the truth with twisted words. I know Rhiannon. I have spent endless years hating her. I know her true nature is that of a spoiled, selfish child.”

Alanna’s sudden intake of breath made him turn to her. His face gentled.

“You know it is true, love.” He touched her cheek in a lingering caress. “She rewarded your loyalty and sacrifice with jealousy and spite.”

He turned back to me. His face had lost the wariness of before—now he just looked curious and pleased.

“I ask again, who are you? How could this happen?” He was studying me with a doctor’s eye. “Physically you appear amazingly like her.”

Well, I’d always known Gene was too smart for my own good.

He stepped closer to me, and I noticed that this time ClanFintan didn’t move to stop him. Actually, the centaur had become very still. He was watching me with the same analytical eyes Carolan was using. Only
he
didn’t appear very happy.

“Your hair may be a little shorter.” He barked a quick laugh. “And your speech patterns are certainly odd. But you are remarkably similar.”

“Carolan, you are mistaken!” Alanna suddenly interrupted, not giving him time to say anything else.

This time I did the silencing.

“Let him finish, Alanna,” I said firmly.

Carolan looked into my eyes again. “You are not Rhiannon. You may be Epona’s Chosen, but you are not Rhiannon. When I look into your eyes I do not see my old enemy. You do not have the evil within you that she had.”

I looked at Alanna’s worried face and sighed. “I can’t do this anymore,” I said to her. My eyes sought ClanFintan’s. “I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”

He didn’t make any motion or sound. His face had become the guarded mask I had struggled against when we had first met.

But I couldn’t take back what I had said. And, truthfully, I didn’t want to. I’m me, and I was tired of being mistaken for some other bitch.

“I am not Rhiannon.” I heard Carolan’s satisfied grunt, but I didn’t look at him. My eyes remained locked with my husband’s. “My name is Shannon Parker. This is hard to explain. It’s hard for
me
to understand, and
I’m
the person it’s happened to. I come from a different world—a world where many of the people are the same, or as similar as a mirror image or a shadow would be, but the world itself is very different.” I paused, wishing ClanFintan would say something. He stayed silent but nodded like he wanted me to continue. “Somehow Rhiannon found out about my world and she figured out how to trade places with me. It all centered around a pot that had an image of her on the front of it. From the second I saw the pot, everything changed.” I searched for words. “I had no idea what was happening. It seemed like a terrible accident. Actually, I thought I was dead at first.” My eyes pleaded with him to understand. “Remember the day of our marriage? I could hardly speak because I had lost my voice?”

He nodded again.

“It was from the…I don’t know what to call it…the
trading
of worlds.”

Alanna stepped forward and stood by my side. “She is not Rhiannon, and we are the better for it.”

“How can something that is based upon a lie be better?” ClanFintan’s voice sounded flat and expressionless.

“But it was not her lie! It was mine.” Alanna hurried on when I tried to shush her. “She never wanted to pretend, but she did it because I told her the people needed her.” She looked at me, causing my eyes to break ClanFintan’s cold gaze.

“I wanted you to tell ClanFintan, but I was afraid. At first I was afraid for myself, for what might happen if I was blamed for Rhiannon’s disappearance. Then, after I grew to know you, I was afraid the people would turn upon you if they thought you an impostor.” She looked pointedly at ClanFintan and continued, “Then I worried that those who were close to you would hurt you if your identity was discovered. But I have since realized that our Goddess must be working in this exchange, and that we all have been the better for it.” She took my hand in hers as she spoke directly to the centaur. “If you are angry at being deceived, turn that anger upon me. And, Shaman, before you do, look closely at the gift you have been given. What would your future hold if you truly were handfasted with Rhiannon?”

Carolan’s distinctive laugh surprised me. He put his arms around his new wife and hugged her. Then he, too, faced the centaur.

“
His
life? Rhiannon’s vindictive nature has touched all of our lives. I will always be grateful that she has banished herself.” He smiled at me, and briefly lifted my hand to his lips. “Welcome, my Lady, Beloved of Epona. May our world bestow upon you the blessings you have so richly brought to us.”

I returned his smile before looking nervously back at ClanFintan.

When he began speaking, his voice was contemplative but still emotionless.

“I knew you were different. Your manner of speech was odd, but at first I told myself that I had never really known you, and perhaps you were simply unique because you were Epona’s Chosen.” He looked at Carolan. “But you are right. I realized she lacked Rhiannon’s malicious nature some time ago.”

Carolan nodded in agreement. ClanFintan’s gaze captured mine once more.

“I said nothing because I hoped that you would trust me enough to confide in me.” His voice had finally regained its emotion, and I was upset to hear the sadness that filled his words.

“I do trust you! It’s just that there didn’t seem to be a right time. And then, well, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to chance losing your love.” My voice had become a whisper.

Yes, damnit. I loved him. It was all so romantic I wanted to puke.

But, spend a night with a shape-shifter who is, well, hung like a horse, and see what happens to you.

Besides all that—he’s one of the good guys, like John Wayne and James Bond. And I’ve always been a sucker for the good guys.

So, I stood there trying to blink away the tears that were threatening to spill from my eyes. ClanFintan sighed heavily and closed the space between us before I could start bawling. He touched my face and cupped my chin in the warmth of his hand.

“My love is something you will never lose.” He bent and kissed me softly, then smiled at my undoubtedly goofy expression. “My patience, perhaps, but never my love.”

I wanted to throw my arms around him and bury my face in his heat, but I could feel Alanna’s and Carolan’s eyes boring joyfully into our romantic interlude.

So I tugged him down to me and reciprocated with a quick kiss and a whispered
“I adore you”
against his mouth.

About that time my stomach growled loud enough for the whole friggin world to hear, which caused ClanFintan to laugh as he propelled me back to the table. First he reclined, and then he pulled me down so that I could perch in front of him on the side closest to the food. It’s a good thing the chaises were obviously made for at least two (I didn’t want to spend much time contemplating the uses Rhiannon had probably found for them). ClanFintan wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me snugly back against him.

“Have a seat, guys,” I said contentedly.

This time Carolan didn’t hesitate. Instead, he guided Alanna to the chaise and sat next to her. I noticed that he kept one hand always touching her, as if he was afraid she would disappear.

“I’ll bet you really haven’t eaten, have you?” I asked Carolan through a bite of some kind of yummy sweet roll.

He grimaced. “Actually, I missed the blessing this morning because I was helping to birth twins into the world. You are correct—I have not broken my fast.”

“Eat! There’s always plenty.” I glanced over my shoulder at ClanFintan and teased, “It’s like they make enough to feed a horse!”

Carolan almost choked on his porridge, and Alanna, who was, by now, more used to my humor, had to pound him heartily on the back.

ClanFintan didn’t say anything, but while our guests were busy he bit me on the shoulder.

“Yikes!” I gave a little scream. But when the two of them looked questioningly at me, ClanFintan had his deadpan face on again.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. I already knew he was a biter.

“Just exactly what should we call you?” Carolan chewed thoughtfully while he studied me.

“Yes.” ClanFintan tilted his head so he could study my face. “You said in your world you were called…” He hesitated, thinking “Shannon Parker.” He made the name sound beautiful and exotic. I wished momentarily that we could throw caution to the clichéd wind, and he could call me by my real name, always.

Then I woke up. Figuratively speaking.

“Shannon is my name, but I don’t think it would be very smart for you guys to start calling me something different. Unless…” I thought I might as well ask. “Do you think we should tell the people who I really am?”

“No!” Alanna, Carolan and ClanFintan all spoke at once.

There was a momentary silence (I guess while they contemplated the horror of letting the general populace know I was me), and then Carolan cleared his throat. We looked expectantly at him.

“Um, I cannot see any good that could come of informing the people. Especially at this volatile time.” He paused and looked searchingly at Alanna. “And it is clear she
is
Epona’s Chosen?”

“Yes, she is the Beloved of Epona,” Alanna agreed, nodding her head vigorously.

Carolan looked relieved. “Then there is no point in upsetting the structure of the temple, and accordingly the people, by informing them of this—” he searched for words “—fortuitous change.”

ClanFintan and Alanna mumbled a series of agreements.

“Well, okay,” I said, “but Rhiannon did a lot of things I don’t agree with.”

“Good!” ClanFintan’s exclamation made us laugh.

I kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“Rhea, the people love you.” She smiled in the direction of my centaur. “And your warriors fear you, which is why they do not speak freely about Rhiannon’s
habits.
” Her gaze shifted back to me. “Be yourself. That will correct Rhiannon’s errors.”

That sounded good to me.

“But what do we call you?” ClanFintan asked.

“I like what Alanna calls me. Rhea. It’s not Rhiannon—it’s something that’s distinctly me—but it’s not so different that it would cause a big problem.”

They nodded assent, and we all chewed happily for a while.

“Too bad everything’s not as easily solved as that,” I succinctly said.

They mumbled yes to that, too.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t let it rest at that. I mean, if I was going to live in this world we were going to have to get rid of those vampire-things.

“Okay, Carolan…” My voice forced his attention reluctantly from his new wife. “Tell us what you know about the Fomorians.”

“They are evil incarnate.”

“No kidding?” I mean, hello, we knew that already.

He barely blinked at my interruption, and proceeded in his history-teacher lecture mode.

“They were a species that came from the far east.”

I felt ClanFintan’s startled reaction, which made me remember that the map that zapped me had shown all the land to the east of the river as centaur lands.

“Yes, before centaurs dwelt in the grassy plains.” Carolan acknowledged my husband’s chagrin, then continued, “The legends are obscure. At first there was very little contact between the people of Partholon and the Fomorians. But there seems to have been a long drought, followed by a great fire on the grasslands where the Fomorians dwelt. The fire could not be contained. The Fomorians were in peril of being incinerated, and they came to our ancestors for help. They needed to cross over the Geal River, which they said would be impossible without aid from Partholon.”

“Huh?” I gave him a confused look.

“According to legend, Fomorians must stay connected to the soil of the earth. It is to them their life’s blood, so they cannot cross running water.”

“Wait a second—they have wings. If they have to stay connected to the earth, how can they fly?”

“Excellent point.” He smiled. “There is never any reference to them actually
flying.
They were described as—” he cleared his throat and squinted his eyes, searching for the exact words “—gliding demons. Not
flying
demons. I assume their wings function like a flying squirrel’s wings. Not real, birdlike pinions, just an apparatus that helps to manipulate the wind.”

I remembered their horrible, ground-eating strides and had to agree with him.

Carolan continued, “The people of Partholon met and decided it would be an abomination to allow them to die in the flames, or to die of famine after the fire burned itself out. So an enormous bridge was constructed over the Geal River, one that was fashioned of timbers layered with soil, then more timbers and more soil. Actually, the remains of that bridge can be found not far from here.” We just stared at him until he took a gulp of wine and spoke again. “The Fomorians crossed over and our two races attempted to live in peace together.”

“I have only heard that the Fomorians were stories made up to frighten small children.” ClanFintan interrupted Carolan’s lecture. “Why is it not known that the people of Partholon aided them to come here?”

“There were very few written records of the Fomorians. Only scribes would know that the stories even exist, and most of the records are so ancient they are difficult to decipher, so few scribes bother to study the crumbling tomes.”

ClanFintan’s look told me scribes must be celibate—or girls (or nerds) or something.

As if reading my mind, Carolan chuckled. “Unless someone with scribe training happens to be a historian with too much free time and curiosity.”

Alanna squeezed his hand and they smiled sweetly at each other.

He continued, “So, you see, the only legends that survived as oral tales for the bards to tell were those that originated after the war.”

All three of us looked surprised. It was a relief not to be the only clueless one this time.

“Yes, the oral legends only tell about what happened after the Fomorians crossed the Geal River.”