Rosaine was cleaning and tidying when she glimpsed movement in the window. Though the Dhianna's centaur-friendly palace was within walking distance to a village, people generally avoided this particular building unless they needed or knew someone who needed the guidance of a High Shaman. Unfortunately, Mairearad's foul disposition would always succeed her, even after death. So Rosaine knew before she looked that her parents had returned. She walked to the door and opened it. Her mother was visibly perspiring and her coat was mottled with the first few specks of foam; but she smiled at Cuchulainn and gripped his arm, helping him to dismount.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I have exceptional stamina, as you must know."

Rosaine cleared her throat, and they both turned around. "Welcome home."

"Hi, dearest," Brighid said, as Cuchulainn busied himself with unstrapping the packs from her flank.

"How's Uncle Finn?"

"Just fine, thanks to your mother."

Brighid brushed off his adoration as she accepted the packs from him. "Now, now. Without you there it would have taken me much longer to assess his condition."

"We make a fine team, my beautiful Huntress!"

Rosaine backed up, allowing them enough space to enter. "Well," she began, "I have some news."

"Can it wait awhile?" Brighid asked. "We would like to unwind."

"I know. That's why I fermented the grapes and crushed the soapstone."

They smiled gratefully at her and moved towards the bathing pool as she started lighting a fire. Overhearing their whispers about what a good kid she was, Rosaine tried to decide if the bad news should come first or last; and by the time she heard Brighid's hooves on the wooden floor, she had made up her mind, as well as poured a glass of wine for each of them.

"Thank you for your consideration," Cuchulainn said, as he slid out a chair.

"So, what's the word?" Brighid added.

"Actually, I have both good and bad news; and I want you to decide on the order in which I deliver it," Rosaine announced.

Brighid motioned for her husband to pick.

"Well…my mother always preferred to save the best for last," Cuchulainn said, "I guess it kind of rubbed off on me."

"Then tell us the bad news first," Brighid confirmed.

"Alright, but please do not panic." Rosaine sat across from her father and sighed, hoping she was doing the right thing. "Kaina has found an exit out of Partholon to another planet; and…she went through it."

Their expressions were inexplicably guilty. Rosaine took a breath and continued, "I had very little contact with her before she found this passage, but I was able to locate her on the other planet because…Epona took me on a Magic Sleep. She calls me Beloved."

Cuchulainn began to smile. Brighid, however, did not. Her eyes flitted from husband to daughter. "Lochlan must be notified."

"He will be," Cuchulainn reasoned. "I will take my gelding; you need to stay here."

"I have already recovered. Your gelding is not as resilient."

"Resilient you are, my beautiful Huntress; but not immortal. And the village likely needs their High Shaman back where she belongs. You have only just returned, Brighid."

She opened her mouth to tell him she still felt like she belonged at MacCallan Castle, the sight of which had filled her heart with such joy that Etain's death had been easier to bear. But the words, however truthful, would not come. She had been steered down another path, and to reject her Goddess-given rank of High Shaman would only be to shun the spirit world; a foolish action that came with a price too dear to pay.

"You're right, Cu," she relented. "Here is where I must be." Then her lavender eyes found Rosaine's. "As for you, the Goddess Incarnate has always resided in Epona's Temple."

"True," Rosaine murmured, feeling a sudden prickle of delight at the notion of being Epona's Beloved, and inheriting the temple. But she was also scared, and it must have showed.

"Midhir will understand, Ro," Brighid said gently. "This is just the way of it."

"It's not far to Epona's Temple from here," Cuchulainn acknowledged. "I can drop you off."

Rosaine nodded numbly, feeling as though her world was building itself around her; with no tour guide to show her around.

Brighid leaned closer and squeezed Rosaine's hand. "I am so proud of you."

"Indeed," Cuchulainn concurred. "Just like Etain, you will certainly be beloved by all."

Rosaine smiled on the outside. But inside, every fiber of her being quaked with terror, as she acknowledged yet another reason why she was the only person she was not living for.