Divine by Choice by P.C. Cast Page A

said. His unusual voice had a faraway sound as he looked adoringly at the newly constructed column. “Each individual piece of stone I used to construct it spoke Epona’s name. I brought it home.”
    â€œYou hear a voice in the marble?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
    He smiled at me. “It is not a sound—not exactly. It is more like a whisper in my mind.”
    I thought about Epona’s voice and nodded. “It’s a feeling, but you can hear it like it has been spoken.”
    â€œYes!” he said.
    â€œCan you still hear its voice?” Alanna asked before I could.
    â€œOf course—the marble will always speak to me.” He placed his work-toughened hand, which looked much older than the rest of him, against the column and closed his eyes. As his hand met marble, it seemed the stone quivered. We watched, and he caressed the column. For a moment the massive stone appeared to liquefy under his palm. It looked as if his hand sank into the stone, as if his touch made it claylike and malleable. I studied him, and saw an outline of shimmering radiance surrounding his body, much like the magical illumination that enshrouded ClanFintan as he called the Change to him. Then Kai took his hand from the column and opened his eyes. The glow faded as if it had only been a figment of my imagination.
    â€œThe marble greets you, Incarnate of Epona.” His voice was wonderfully serene.
    â€œReally!” I breathed. “May I touch it?”
    â€œOf course, my Lady,” he said, obviously pleased by my request.
    I stepped close to the column and placed my hands gently against its smooth surface.
    â€œUh-hum…” Nervously I cleared my throat. “Hello,” I offered, feeling very small beside the huge stone.
    I was surprised by how soft the marble felt beneath my palms. And this close I realized its appearance changed. I could see that it was not one color but a mixture of many different shades and veins, all blending together to create the distinctive pearl hue. While I studied it, I suddenly sensed a sentience, almost a listening presence, and my hands detected warmth that came from within the stone itself. Then I was enclosed in an astonishing swell of feelings, like I had been immersed in a warm pool of emotion, or had been wrapped in a mother’s embrace. My hands shook—not from fear, but from the sheer wonder of it.
    A line from Shakespeare flitted through my mind and I whispered, “‘Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!’”
    Then the feeling dispersed, and with a parting caress I pulled my hands from the column and turned to find Alanna and Kai studying me intently.
    â€œIt spoke to you!” Kai said.
    â€œNot really.” I let my eyes linger on the amazing marble. “But I felt something,” I didn’t know how to describe it. “Something wonderful,” I ended lamely.
    â€œWhen is the day of your birth?” He sounded excited.
    â€œThe last day in April,” Alanna answered before I could—and I was surprised that she answered correctly.
    A flash of understanding came over Kai’s expressive face. “Ah, a Taurean. Of course! You must be linked to the earth as well as to your goddess.”
    I had no idea what he was talking about. I mean, I knew I had been born under the sign of the bull, and I’d suffered through pretending to listen to several discarded lovers lecturing me about my stubbornness (who really listens to guys after you fire them?). But I’d never paid much attention to horoscopes and that kind of stuff. Well, up until six months ago I hadn’t.
    Alanna was nodding happily in agreement.
    â€œWell, that’s nice to know,” I said a little lamely.
    The clatter of hooves announced the arrival of a male centaur I recognized as being one of my husband’s couriers.
    â€œMy Lady…” He executed a graceful centaur bow. “ClanFintan