Kaina couldn't very well live in her chambers until the visit was over; and Rosaine tried not to be too disappointed at the sight of her. They were cousins, after all; and they were supposed to…
Well, Rosaine didn't know what Kaina was supposed to do. Love her? Kill her?
Her heart was beating wildly as she approached the table. Kaina paid her no attention as she picked out a chair, far away from her. Looking closely, Rosaine could see she was eating vegetables with cutlery. Really? Shouldn't a mad Fomorian be eating guts, using her own two hands?
"It's not nice to look at someone when they eat," Kaina said gruffly.
"Not nice?" Rosaine repeated. "Hello, your people slaughtered the inhabitants of this castle, remember?"
"I had nothing to do with that; it's just cruel to bring it up."
"Well, I suppose we all have our demons."
Their eyes locked over the table. Then Kaina took a deep breath and continued cutting her food. "Your mother tells me you have been considering your first solo excursion. MacCallan Castle is just lovely this time of year," she said, trying to keep her tone light. She would love to see Rosaine floundering in the Fomorian pool.
"Yes, I would love to go there," Rosaine said loftily. "To see the statue of the great Rhiannon, and to meet all of the New Fomorians."
Kaina's eyes narrowed.
Walking into the room, Cuchulainn shook his head at his daughter. "Don't poke the boar."
"Sorry, Father," Rosaine said sweetly.
"I am not a boar." Kaina threw down her cutlery. "I do not have to take this abuse; I am the Chieftain's daughter!"
"Also her killer," Rosaine said succinctly.
"Bite me."
"That's your job."
Kaina stood and glided from the room, wings rustling behind her as she lunged to the doors. She flung them open and stepped out into the early morning, closing the doors quietly so as not to wake the residents and guests who occupied the temple of the Goddess.
Cuchulainn looked at his daughter. "What did I just say?"
Rosaine shrugged at him. "She said she wasn't a boar."
Cuchulainn sighed and pulled out a chair, sitting across from her. "Be respectful. You are in Epona's house!"
Rosaine demurely lowered her eyes. "Yes, Father."
Cuchulainn leaned back. "Ro, you are trying to get into the Temple of the Muse. I have high hopes for you." He sat a moment longer, awaiting a response that never came. He stood up, tucked in his chair, and left the grand hall. Alone, Rosaine put her head in her hands, feeling the pressure of Partholon's faith in her.
She came from a long line of priestesses and Goddess Incarnates; and her father had married a High Shaman. High Shamans needed to speak with Epona directly to attain the power to shape-shift—to become any living thing. And because of her ancestry, Rosaine had an image to uphold. Everyone always said she was destined for greatness. They took one look at her and assumed Epona's hand had been on her from the start. That was where the compliment ended. Rosaine Dhianna-MacCallan was supposed to not only meet their expectations, but exceed them. It was her only choice. She couldn't fail the long line of Goddess Incarnates and the High Shamans fashioned to love them. She couldn't stand against all the powerful people she wanted to make proud.
And so she performed in all the arts. She had devoted her life to becoming the best version of herself. She was the firstborn daughter to the son of Epona's Beloved. She was dead now and Cuchulainn was of course a man, but Rosaine's blood was divine. It counted for something, even if she didn't one bit understand the ways of the Goddess.
It still rocked her to think that her mother had spoken to Epona. And so had her grandmother. Would she? Did it matter that Epona had never spoken to her? Would Epona's favor go to Brighid, perhaps Arianrhod? Or had their family been deserted?
No, she didn't understand. And for most of her life, Rosaine had been content with that. Her activities had certainly kept her busy. But Rosaine had only heard of Epona. She had never actually seen the Goddess, or the shapeshifting power She had granted her mother. All she knew for certain was that this Goddess of whom everyone spoke seemed to be very quiet lately.
Was Rosaine at fault for that? Was it the way she had conversed with Kaina? The notion had Rosaine clenching her teeth. Kaina may not be a New Fomorian, but she was still the granddaughter to Etain and Midhir. When she disrespected Kaina, was she also disrespecting them? Was the Goddess angry with her?
"Forgive me, Epona," Rosaine murmured, and tucked in her chair. Feeling like a changed woman, she strode to the front doors and let herself out into the young day. She had to apologize to her. She would not have her family forsaken by the Goddess because of her own foolishness.
The winged shadow was leaning against a tree. Her sharp hearing caught the sound of Rosaine's approach and she turned around. Her gloomy face tightened into a scowl. "What are you doing?" she asked, as her wings rustled in agitation. "Aren't you afraid I might pounce?"
"Well, a little, but—"
"Begone."
"If you would let me finish," Rosaine bit, "You would know I'm trying to apologize to you."
Kaina's motion for her to continue made Rosaine flinch, and Kaina sighed.
Rosaine smiled remorsefully and stepped even closer. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I was only teasing before. I admit, I am frightened by you. I've never seen a New Fomorian before, let alone one who-who…" Her words tumbled to a stop when Kaina made a face at her. "Well, you know," she said lamely.
"Well, don't fear me. I'm still in here." Kaina motioned to herself. "The demons aren't worth getting to know. But I am."
Rosaine's flinch was less noticeable as Kaina offered a handshake. She took it and the cousins shook hands. "Well met," Kaina said simply.
"Well met," Rosaine echoed gratefully. "So…want to come back inside? It's kind of chilly out here."
"I prefer it. Sunlight makes me uncomfortable." She smiled, and quickly sobered when Rosaine's eyes flickered inadvertently to her teeth. "Will you stop? I told you not to fear me."
"Sorry, but—try and understand," she said pleadingly. "Think of everything we know about the Fomorian army."
"I'd rather not," Kaina answered, sounding queasy.
"I mean, they stole women, raped them, slaughtered every human they saw…I mean, you're a little more frightening than a spider, and I fear those, too." She attempted a lighthearted chuckle, looking back at Kaina. Her eyes had gotten a predatory twinkle.
"You should fear me," Kaina seethed, in a voice unlike her own.
"What? But you just said—" Rosaine bumbled into silence, cringing in horror as Kaina leaned closer.
"I will slaughter," she whispered. Suddenly her frigid fingers were on Rosaine's arms. "Every human."
"Oh…Goddess," Rosaine uttered, trying to push Kaina's hovering fangs away from her neck.
"Kaina, stop—" She gasped as Kaina pulled her close. "Uh, think of-of Etain," she stammered. "Think of your father; he needs you!"
Kaina's fangs touched her neck. And she withdrew, looking up at Rosaine with scared eyes. She let go and stepped back, clearing her throat. "You, uh, you should go back to Uncle Cuchulainn."
Rosaine wanted to argue, to refuse leaving her alone. It felt like the right thing to do.
But Kaina had utterly terrified her. So she turned around and walked quickly back towards Epona's Temple, where she already felt safer. She also felt like a coward, and instinctively flagged down Lochlan. She told him of the incident, directed him to the tree, and watched him go to where his daughter stood. They hugged, and feeling slightly better about her readiness to follow Kaina's advice, she turned and walked slowly through the grand hall. And was stopped by a voice she couldn't hear.
Were life easy, it would not be rewarding.
"Epona?" Rosaine asked breathlessly.
You are never abandoned, Beloved.
Rosaine froze at the term of endearment, feeling a surge of emotion that brought tears to her eyes. Just for the space of a breath, she had the sudden sensation that Epona's hand was on her, in the most literal sense. Then Her vague touch and Her subtle whispers evaporated like mist.
She was going to be Epona's Beloved? But that made no sense. Rosaine didn't deserve to be so loved by the Goddess, and she knew it. And besides, she had too damn much to do already. She already had expectations to meet and duties to perform; her plate was full! She could not be Goddess Incarnate on top of everything else.
Rosaine strode from the hall gritting her teeth, feeling her anger mount.
Rosaine sat on her bed, her mind turning over what had just happened. "Were life easy," she murmured to herself, "It would not be rewarding."
She traced her fingers over the elegant spiraling pattern of her blanket. The Goddess often spoke in code…What kind of reward would her cousin get? Could she somehow vaniquish her demons without fulfilling a Prophecy? Could there be another Prophecy?
"Epona, I don't get it." But again, the Goddess was quiet; and again, Rosaine felt her anger stir. Epona could do anything; She was a deity. Now that Rosaine had heard Her voice, she believed the legends. The tales passed down from her parents. She could do anything. Make stuff appear out of thin air, take herself to any place in Partholon without the ennui of long travel. There were no limits to Her power! Why was She avoiding them? What could She be so distracted with? She could have paradise right at Her own fingertips! Meanwhile Rosaine was stuck living in the Centaur Plains. How absurd. It was no place for a human who had no obligation to a mate!
Especially if that human was a descendant of Rhiannon's. She may not deserve to be Epona's Beloved, but she did deserve better than to sleep on a mattress placed on the floor. Her blood was rich and her life had been dedicated to the arts; why was she being raised in a barn?
The air in front of the bed rippled suddenly, as if Rosaine was really looking down at the surface of a lake so placid, she hadn't known it was there. She sat up, breathlessly anticipating her first glimpse of Epona, but the Goddess did not materialize. The still unfamiliar voice began to chide her. If you cannot disappoint your parents, Beloved, do you really think you will have the courage to disappoint Me?
Rosaine slouched again, realizing she was destined for much more than greatness. She was destined to become the Beloved of a Goddess. She closed her eyes, feeling like the weight of the crown would crush her.