from shoulder to wrists, stylized white rams with eyes the same scarlet lightning bolts as his own. His belt was formed of silver storm clouds winding around his waist. A golden shield hung from one of his arms, giving a clue to his current role despite the fact I didn’t know his name: The Defender.
Flash.
Another woman emerged, this time a pale-skinned redhead of obvious Celtic heritage, with silver-rimmed, ice blue eyes that resembled Scott’s Hound eyes in all but color. Her titian hair rioted around her head even more wildly than my own au naturel style, resembling nothing so much as a horse’s mane. A particularly apt image, since I recognized her the moment she stepped between the other two Deities: Epona, Celtic horse-goddess, who had also been worshipped by many Romans.My identification was verified by the twin horses that seemed to gallop across her arms, not to mention the golden hounds chasing each other across the belt at her waist. She ruled over not just horses, but also Hounds, the European branch, at any rate. In her current guise, however, she represented an even more important role made evident by the balanced set of scales dangling from one hand: The Mediator.
Brilliant silver light flashed once more, and the mirror went quiescent, leaving the three Deities staring at us with impassive expressions carved into immortal faces. I felt guilty just standing there, much like a child confronted by disappointed parents. Even reminding myself that
I
wasn’t the one in trouble didn’t really help. Not only was I standing in the presence of three real-life Deities, but they were in all-out Triad mode. Rebuker, Defender, and Mediator; the immortal version of the Supreme Court. No, more than that, because bearing the symbols of office as they did, they were authorized to act as judge, jury,
and
executioner.
The Megaera chanted another unfamiliar spell, and the summoning circle faded much like the mirror’s portal had. She immediately sank to one knee, placing hands over heart; Mom and I followed suit. The Deities accepted this as Their due, and we waited until Epona motioned before rising to our feet. “Greetings, Megaera, and Tisiphone’s Daughters.” Our classes were named for the first three Furies of the same names, the only three of our Sisterhood to become
true
immortals as reward for their centuries of service. We became their figurative daughters during the ceremonies in which we pledged ourselves to the Sisterhood.
The Megaera—who represented a stand-in for hernamesake here on earth—bowed less deeply before responding. “Greetings to the immortal Tribunal. We of the Sisterhood stand ready to serve You.”
The Rebuker narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth in a downright unfriendly manner. “Do you really, Daughter? All
three
of you?” She turned her glare onto first Mom, then me, and my suddenly weak knees barely managed to keep me upright.
The Deity currently serving as Defender stepped in. “Peace, Ala. You already know these two of the Tisiphone remain steadfast, or the ambrosia would have smote them instantly.”
Oh. My. Gods.
That
would have been nice to know
before
we slugged it down like Jack D. Or—maybe not.
Ala—I recognized the name as that of an African fertility goddess associated with justice—sniffed as if not completely convinced but dialed back the divine wrath a few notches. “Perhaps
they
remain steadfast, but the same cannot be said for their entire class or even all those who share their maternal bloodline.”
Mom and I shared a silent, miserable glance. Ala could only be referring to Nan, since Cori had not yet pledged herself to Their service. We had a few distant cousins still active in the Sisterhood, but none close enough for the Deities to classify as belonging to our
maternal
bloodline.
Epona leveled a no-nonsense look on the Rebuker. “These two have been
chosen
to serve as our Nemeses among the Tisiphone.
Flash.
Another woman emerged, this time a pale-skinned redhead of obvious Celtic heritage, with silver-rimmed, ice blue eyes that resembled Scott’s Hound eyes in all but color. Her titian hair rioted around her head even more wildly than my own au naturel style, resembling nothing so much as a horse’s mane. A particularly apt image, since I recognized her the moment she stepped between the other two Deities: Epona, Celtic horse-goddess, who had also been worshipped by many Romans.My identification was verified by the twin horses that seemed to gallop across her arms, not to mention the golden hounds chasing each other across the belt at her waist. She ruled over not just horses, but also Hounds, the European branch, at any rate. In her current guise, however, she represented an even more important role made evident by the balanced set of scales dangling from one hand: The Mediator.
Brilliant silver light flashed once more, and the mirror went quiescent, leaving the three Deities staring at us with impassive expressions carved into immortal faces. I felt guilty just standing there, much like a child confronted by disappointed parents. Even reminding myself that
I
wasn’t the one in trouble didn’t really help. Not only was I standing in the presence of three real-life Deities, but they were in all-out Triad mode. Rebuker, Defender, and Mediator; the immortal version of the Supreme Court. No, more than that, because bearing the symbols of office as they did, they were authorized to act as judge, jury,
and
executioner.
The Megaera chanted another unfamiliar spell, and the summoning circle faded much like the mirror’s portal had. She immediately sank to one knee, placing hands over heart; Mom and I followed suit. The Deities accepted this as Their due, and we waited until Epona motioned before rising to our feet. “Greetings, Megaera, and Tisiphone’s Daughters.” Our classes were named for the first three Furies of the same names, the only three of our Sisterhood to become
true
immortals as reward for their centuries of service. We became their figurative daughters during the ceremonies in which we pledged ourselves to the Sisterhood.
The Megaera—who represented a stand-in for hernamesake here on earth—bowed less deeply before responding. “Greetings to the immortal Tribunal. We of the Sisterhood stand ready to serve You.”
The Rebuker narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth in a downright unfriendly manner. “Do you really, Daughter? All
three
of you?” She turned her glare onto first Mom, then me, and my suddenly weak knees barely managed to keep me upright.
The Deity currently serving as Defender stepped in. “Peace, Ala. You already know these two of the Tisiphone remain steadfast, or the ambrosia would have smote them instantly.”
Oh. My. Gods.
That
would have been nice to know
before
we slugged it down like Jack D. Or—maybe not.
Ala—I recognized the name as that of an African fertility goddess associated with justice—sniffed as if not completely convinced but dialed back the divine wrath a few notches. “Perhaps
they
remain steadfast, but the same cannot be said for their entire class or even all those who share their maternal bloodline.”
Mom and I shared a silent, miserable glance. Ala could only be referring to Nan, since Cori had not yet pledged herself to Their service. We had a few distant cousins still active in the Sisterhood, but none close enough for the Deities to classify as belonging to our
maternal
bloodline.
Epona leveled a no-nonsense look on the Rebuker. “These two have been
chosen
to serve as our Nemeses among the Tisiphone.
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