Author Extra: Moon of the Goddess by Cathy Hird

Moon of the Goddess by Cathy Hird

Thalassai, pampered princess of ancient Tiryns, wakes from a dream and
discovers she has been kidnapped. Her fear grows to terror when she realizes
her kidnappers intemd to use her as a pawn to gain Poseidon?s aid for their
valley. The mother goddess, who in the past sustained the valley, calls a
bloodred harvest moon into the spring sky. She will challenge Poseidon for
the allegiance of her people and assist the princess.

Thalassai?s brother Melanion rides north to rescue her, and finds allies
among the servants of the goddess. Slowed by bandits, Melanion is forced to
take a tunnel under the mountains even though earthquakes have rendered it
hazardous. He skirts the edge of Hades? kingdom as he races to reach his
sister in time. Caught between the mother goddess and the rising power of
Olympus, will Thalassai break under the strain or find the strength she
needs to stand up to her captors?

Set in the days of Helen of Troy and the great heroes of Greece, this story
takes the reader on a fast paced journey across the sun-drenched landscape
of Homer and deep into darkness.

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Author Extra:

Panacea walked barefoot across the sand. The waves of the Gulf of Corinth
lapped gently, and she let the warm water wash over her tired feet. She did
not remember the last time she felt this tired. 

Or this frustrated. What am I doing racing across Greece with this prince
and his companion? 

She knew the answer to her own question. The mother goddess had placed a
bloodred moon in the sky, a warning of danger that everyone in the shrine
could read. So, because she was the best rider among the goddess?s servants,
she was the one chosen to join the quest of the prince Melanion to rescue
his kidnapped sister. 

Panacea felt the eyes of the men on her back. They had not wanted to take
her along, confident of their own power as they were. Melanion also seemed 
suspicious because her father Asclepius was an Olympian god. But her father
had turned to the Mother long ago, and left behind the ambitions of the gods
and goddesses of Olympus. He had taught her to follow the ancient patterns
of the earth. 

If only my father had left me enough connection to know what is happening!
No point in wishing. He had severed those ties thoroughly, and she had no
way to know what danger she rode toward at this headlong pace. 

Panacea massaged her sore shoulder. Her mare Nalia kept up with the
stallions of the men just fine, but as much as she loved her white horse,
neither of them had made a journey like this at speed. Her muscles ached,
and there were blisters on her thighs. The blisters she would rub with a
special ointment when she returned to the fire, and they would be gone by
morning. The muscles would take longer, but she knew they would get better
each day. 

A single wave pushed over her feet and up her ankles. She looked down and
wondered if the rising tide was a sign. Surely it was not an omen that
events would overwhelm the captured girl. 

Mother, goddess of the red moon, what is the danger we race toward? 

She closed her eyes and felt for the presence of the goddess. The voices of
the men came toward her on the light breeze though she could not hear what
they said. 

The prince is so short sighted, concerned only about his sister. She
corrected herself. He was focused on what had happened to her, but he also
saw the danger if his city of Tiryns went to war on the city the kidnappers
came from. He wanted to prevent wide spread conflict. That she appreciated.
These days, most of the leaders of the cities of Greece put ambition and
pride above all else. 

Panacea pushed the sound of voices aside and focused her thoughts on the
goddess. Another wave lapped around her ankles, and she sensed gentle
laughter, a call to open her eyes.

The edge of the moon had risen above the water and a silver-bright arrow of
light ran straight across the waves to her feet. 

I have been chosen, she thought. For whatever reason, I need to make this
journey. Tiredness flowed from her feet as if washed away by the moving
water. The choice to join this quest had been right, and if she kept
connected to the goddess, the next choice would come to her. 

The words of hymn to the goddess came to her, and she raised her arms.
Singing would help her focus. And help her sleep. She was going to need all
her strength on this journey into unknown danger.