Daughters of the Goddess--Part 3

Smoky incense and music filled the air of the sacred chamber. Her voice was joined by those of her sisters. The harmonies and melodies blended and battled, alternatively soothing and rousing. It was to reflect the idylls and tribulations of life.

But it wasn’t as powerful as it once had been. Rian could remember when there were more priestesses. The voices of her aunts, cousins, and sisters had ushered her into her service of the Goddess.

How many voices would welcome future priestesses?

There was a brief whoosh of material. A small hooded figure entered the chamber and hesitated for a moment just beyond the curtain. With a slight shake, she moved forward to kneel before the three-sided statue in the center of the room.

Rian watched the girl as the chant shifted to a ceremonial song. It called to the Goddess, asking for the divine presence to welcome a new maiden into service. The sisters sang and waited.

As they neared the end of the song, Rian exchanged looks with each of her sisters. Brigid gave a sign and the sisters resumed the song. Each watched the center of the chamber.

Nothing happened.

The sisters continued on with the song. With each repeat, the desperate undercurrent grew. Finally, as their voices became weaker, Brigid gave the sign to cease.

Silence fell upon the chamber. Nori broke the circle and approached her daughter. She ushered the girl back through the curtain.

With a sigh, Brigid left her position and began to extinguish the incense. Smoke began to cut through the herbal scent as she put out most of the candles as well. When she was finished, she left the chamber.

However, Rian lingered. She studied the statue, the humble earthly representation of the Goddess. The face before her was that of the mother. The flickering candle light gave the simple figure a mysterious air.

Why hadn’t the Goddess called the girl?

Only one girl had been called from their daughters. It would be some time before Beris would be ready to take her mother’s place as high priestess. Aneri was the only one who remained to be tested. Even if she was called, that only left two to serve the Goddess as priestesses.

Rian left the chamber. She hung her robe back in its place, glad to be rid of the lingering aroma of the incense. She gave a nod to Brigid as she left the temple.

In the distance she could see the fields bathed in moonlight. Their boundaries stretched even further from the village. With a sigh, she turned away and headed home.

* * * * *

She wasn’t surprised to find Esus waiting up for her. He was sitting on a stool by the fire, carving a chunk of wood. He looked up when she opened the door. The wood was immediately set aside as he rose to meet her.

“Did it go well?” he asked.

She shook her head. “She wasn’t called. We tried again and again, but the decision of the Goddess is clear.”

“Nori’s daughter rejected,” he murmured. “What does that mean?”

“I’m not sure. But it’s clear that even if Aneri is chosen, there will not be enough priestesses.”

“What will you and your sisters do?”

“I’m sure Brigid is already mediating on it.” She fought a shiver. “This has never happened before.”

“It will be okay,” Esus said, taking her into his arms. He brushed a kiss over her hair. “It will.”

“I know,” she replied, wishing she could believe him. However, the Goddess had rejected another of their family. Some of the future priestesses would come from other blood lines.

Was the Goddess unhappy with their family? Or was it something deeper?

* * * * *

Rian finished her prayer when she heard someone enter the temple. She rose to her feet. With quick movements, she secured the sacred chamber and joined her sisters.

“Good morning, sisters,” Rian greeted. “What brings you to the temple?”

“The elders have summoned us,” Brigid said. “They want us to meet with them tomorrow night and they wish for all of us to be present.”

“But the shrine,” Rian protested.

“I will tend to the shrine as tomorrow is my day,” Brigid said. “We follow older laws, though they won’t see it that way.”

Nori sighed. “However, we have no choice.”

“What do they want?”

“They wouldn’t say,” Brigid admitted.

Nori gave a snort. “But we all have an idea. They aren’t happy with our progress.”

Over the past weeks the sisters had tested several of their distance relatives. Each ceremony had had the same result. No other girl had been called by the Goddess.

“What do they want us to do?” Rian asked. “We can’t make priestesses.”

“They’ll find some way to make it our fault,” Nori muttered.

“Don’t say that,” Brigid said.

“Why?” Nori challenged. “The elders are becoming more and more belligerent. They ignore our counsel but expect us to fix their problems. Frankly, I’m tired of it.”

“We cannot make enemies of the elders,” Brigid said, trying to keep her tone even. “Our duties are hard enough without antagonizing them.”

“We aren’t the ones doing the antagonizing,” Nori countered.

“Enough,” Rian cried. “Enough!”

She took a deep breath as her sisters stared at her. She was the soft-spoken one of the sisters. When she lost her calm, they knew to listen.

“We have a sacred duty to the Goddess,” she stated, “and to the village. We can’t lose sight of that. No matter what challenges we face.”

Nori had the grace to look embarrassed. She opened her mouth to speak but Brigid held up her hand. The anger had left her as well.

“So, how do we prepare to meet the elders?” Nori asked.

“There is no need to prepare.”

“And why is that, Brigid?” Nori asked with a smile.

“The elders have no control over us as far as our duties as priestesses are concerned. They can ask or demand anything they like. However, they know that we are bound by our laws. They cannot ask us to go against them.”

“And if they ask us to go against them?” Nori persisted.

“Then they are bigger fools than I had thought.”

Rian glanced down at her hands. So even Brigid was unhappy with the way the elders were handling matters in the village. To voice this opinion, even in the safe confines of the temple, was telling.

“The wind is bringing change, isn’t it, sisters?” she asked quietly.

Brigid gave her a soft smile as she placed on hand on Rian’s shoulder. “Yes, it is. But we should not fear change. Change, like all things, comes from the Goddess.”

“May we be the instruments of her will,” Nori murmured.

Rian joined Brigid in giving the standard reply but couldn’t fight off a sudden stab of fear.


Part III Smoky incense and music filled the air of the sacred chamber. Her voice was joined by those of her sisters. The harmonies and melodies blended and battled, alternatively soothing and rousing. It was to reflect the idylls and tribulations of life. But it wasn’t as powerful as it once had been. Rian could remember when there were more priestesses. The voices of her aunts, cousins, and sisters had ushered her into her service of the Goddess. How many voices would welcome future priestesses? There was a brief whoosh of material. A small hooded figure entered the chamber and hesitated for a moment just beyond the curtain. With a slight shake, she moved forward to kneel before the three-sided statue in the center of the room. Rian watched the girl as the chant shifted to a ceremonial song. It called to the Goddess, asking for the divine presence to welcome a new maiden into service. The sisters sang and waited. As they neared the end of the song, Rian exchanged looks with each of her sisters. Brigid gave a sign and the sisters resumed the song. Each watched the center of the chamber. Nothing happened. The sisters continued on with the song. With each repeat, the desperate undercurrent grew. Finally, as their voices became weaker, Brigid gave the sign to cease. Silence fell upon the chamber. Nori broke the circle and approached her daughter. She ushered the girl back through the curtain. With a sigh, Brigid left her position and began to extinguish the incense. Smoke began to cut through the herbal scent as she put out most of the candles as well. When she was finished, she left the chamber. However, Rian lingered. She studied the statue, the humble earthly representation of the Goddess. The face before her was that of the mother. The flickering candle light gave the simple figure a mysterious air. Why hadn’t the Goddess called the girl? Only one girl had been called from their daughters. It would be some time before Beris would be ready to take her mother’s place as high priestess. Aneri was the only one who remained to be tested. Even if she was called, that only left two to serve the Goddess as priestesses. Rian left the chamber. She hung her robe back in its place, glad to be rid of the lingering aroma of the incense. She gave a nod to Brigid as she left the temple. In the distance she could see the fields bathed in moonlight. Their boundaries stretched even further from the village. With a sigh, she turned away and headed home. * * * * * She wasn’t surprised to find Esus waiting up for her. He was sitting on a stool by the fire, carving a chunk of wood. He looked up when she opened the door. The wood was immediately set aside as he rose to meet her. “Did it go well?” he asked. She shook her head. “She wasn’t called. We tried again and again, but the decision of the Goddess is clear.” “Nori’s daughter rejected,” he murmured. “What does that mean?” “I’m not sure. But it’s clear that even if Aneri is chosen, there will not be enough priestesses.” “What will you and your sisters do?” “I’m sure Brigid is already mediating on it.” She fought a shiver. “This has never happened before.” “It will be okay,” Esus said, taking her into his arms. He brushed a kiss over her hair. “It will.” “I know,” she replied, wishing she could believe him. However, the Goddess had rejected another of their family. Some of the future priestesses would come from other blood lines. Was the Goddess unhappy with their family? Or was it something deeper? * * * * * Rian finished her prayer when she heard someone enter the temple. She rose to her feet. With quick movements, she secured the sacred chamber and joined her sisters. “Good morning, sisters,” Rian greeted. “What brings you to the temple?” “The elders have summoned us,” Brigid said. “They want us to meet with them tomorrow night and they wish for all of us to be present.” “But the shrine,” Rian protested. “I will tend to the shrine as tomorrow is my day,” Brigid said. “We follow older laws, though they won’t see it that way.” Nori sighed. “However, we have no choice.” “What do they want?” “They wouldn’t say,” Brigid admitted. Nori gave a snort. “But we all have an idea. They aren’t happy with our progress.” Over the past weeks the sisters had tested several of their distance relatives. Each ceremony had had the same result. No other girl had been called by the Goddess. “What do they want us to do?” Rian asked. “We can’t make priestesses.” “They’ll find some way to make it our fault,” Nori muttered. “Don’t say that,” Brigid said. “Why?” Nori challenged. “The elders are becoming more and more belligerent. They ignore our counsel but expect us to fix their problems. Frankly, I’m tired of it.” “We cannot make enemies of the elders,” Brigid said, trying to keep her tone even. “Our duties are hard enough without antagonizing them.” “We aren’t the ones doing the antagonizing,” Nori countered. “Enough,” Rian cried. “Enough!” She took a deep breath as her sisters stared at her. She was the soft-spoken one of the sisters. When she lost her calm, they knew to listen. “We have a sacred duty to the Goddess,” she stated, “and to the village. We can’t lose sight of that. No matter what challenges we face.” Nori had the grace to look embarrassed. She opened her mouth to speak but Brigid held up her hand. The anger had left her as well. “So, how do we prepare to meet the elders?” Nori asked. “There is no need to prepare.” “And why is that, Brigid?” Nori asked with a smile. “The elders have no control over us as far as our duties as priestesses are concerned. They can ask or demand anything they like. However, they know that we are bound by our laws. They cannot ask us to go against them.” “And if they ask us to go against them?” Nori persisted. “Then they are bigger fools than I had thought.” Rian glanced down at her hands. So even Brigid was unhappy with the way the elders were handling matters in the village. To voice this opinion, even in the safe confines of the temple, was telling. “The wind is bringing change, isn’t it, sisters?” she asked quietly. Brigid gave her a soft smile as she placed on hand on Rian’s shoulder. “Yes, it is. But we should not fear change. Change, like all things, comes from the Goddess.” “May we be the instruments of her will,” Nori murmured. Rian joined Brigid in giving the standard reply but couldn’t fight off a sudden stab of fear.


Part IV Back