The House Of Gaian

tied to Mistrunner’s saddle, took a deep breath, then turned to face the people watching her. Their hopeful smiles scraped her raw nerves. Ella and Mildred had spent the day fussing over her; washing and pressing the slim white trousers and the split overdress; preparing a bath for her; helping her wash and dry her long black hair; urging her to rest and eat and rest some more. Chad and Parker had cleaned all her tack and then brushed Mistrunner until his coat gleamed. And all through the day were the excited murmurs spoken not quite out of her hearing about how there would finally be a Huntress who was one of them, who would stand by the witches and be the protector she was meant to be— and had been once a long time ago.
    But nothing she heard indicated that Ella or Mildred understood why the Huntress was the protector. If witches who lived beyond the Mother’s Hills no longer remembered why the Ladies of the Moon were connected to the Mother’s Daughters, had the Fae forgotten as well?
    And what will they say when I tell them why they’re standing in that clearing tonight? Should I tell them? If they had known before, would they have stood back and watched a part of Sylvalan die under pain and fear and hatred? How will they react to an outsider telling them a truth I doubt they want to hear? How can they deny it when the truth is in their own blood and bones?
    Rhyann stepped forward and placed her hands on Selena’s shoulders. As she kissed her sister’s cheek, she whispered, “You’re thinking too much. Just go to the dance. Celebrate the gift that wants to rise in you.”
    “I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back here afterward,” Selena whispered, her arms going around Rhyann and holding her close.
    “You won’t be coming back. You’ll have to deal with the Fae—and give them a chance to understand what it means to deal with you .”
    Selena leaned back. “What does that mean?”
    Rhyann just grinned.
    She tried, but she couldn’t return Rhyann’s grin. “Where will you go tomorrow? Will you try to find the source of your dream?”
    Rhyann shook her head. “South ... and west. It’s pulling me now. I feel like I’m a key. If I can find the door...”
    “Remember your promise to father—and to me. Don’t travel alone south or east of the midlands.”
    “I’ll remember if you will.”
    Selena hugged Rhyann, reluctant to let go.
    “The dance waits,” Rhyann said softly.
    “I know.” Selena drew back until they were no longer touching. “Merry meet...”
    “... and merry part...”
    “... and merry meet again.” Selena looked at Ella and her family. “Thank you ... for everything.”
    Ella linked arms with her husband and mother. “Blessings of the day to you, Lady Selena.”
    Mistrunner stamped his foot, jingled the bridle.
    Selena mounted. Her white overdress, split at the waist to make riding easy, flowed down Mistrunner’s sides. Since the horse had been impatient about her delay, she felt annoyed at the way the gray stallion stood still while Rhyann twitched folds of the overdress into place until she was satisfied with the way it looked.
    When Rhyann stepped back, Mistrunner turned in the direction of the clearing where the Ladies of the Moon would gather. As he cantered across the meadow to the forest trail that would take her to the clearing, Selena put aside her worries and fears and surrendered to the power that was calling her to the dance.

    Dianna rode her pale mare to the edge of the circle of women. Dozens of women, Ladies of the Moon, had come to witness this challenge to her authority, to her power . She’d spent the day studying her potential rivals and had seen no one who could meet her in a test of power. But someone had challenged. Someone’s gift was ascending in a way that required challenge. She’d wondered about the five women who had come from the western Clans, then had dismissed them. Except Gwynith. That one had power. Not enough to defeat her, but enough power that, if it grew any stronger, she might be a serious rival. Perhaps, after she’d reestablished her dominance over all the other Ladies of the Moon, she would strip the gift from Gwynith, just to avoid another challenge in a year or two. After all, it was her right to do so.
    If there was no challenger, why had they been drawn here by the feel of power ready to ascend? And why here? She should have chosen the Old Place where the challenger would meet her. The place was always