Daughters of the Goddess--Part 4

Aneri watched with wide eyes as Rian removed her ceremonial robe from the chest. The girl ran a hesitant hand over the material. “It’s so pretty.”

Rian studied the garment. She had made the robe during her first year as a priestess. The embroidery had taken hours of labor and yards of thread. The intricate design was one of the mysteries of the priestesses.

Yet, she had never looked at the robe as a garment. It had always been a part of her service to the Goddess. It was a tool, a symbol, a lesson.

“Yes, it is rather pretty,” Rian said.

With Aneri’s help, she located the cords that would serve as sash and belt. Each cord represented a year of service to the Goddess and every five years the cords were braided together. Rian had four sets of braided cords, indicating her more than twenty years as a priestess.

The meeting with the elders was that night. Since they had been summoned as priestesses, she and Nori were going to dress the part. It was unusual to wear the robes outside of the ritual days.

But these were unusual days.

She smiled at Aneri as the girl helped her with the cords. She wondered if her little girl would someday wear a robe of her own. Would the Goddess call her?

Rian wished she knew.

“Thank you for your help, Aneri.” She gave the girl a kiss. “Now, go and see if Dia needs you.”

The girl obediently left the room. She quickly finished getting ready. When she tied the last cord, she took a deep breath. It was time.

* * * * *

The sisters stood taller as the meeting room fell silent. The elders sat in a row on the far side of the room. The audience lined the walls.

“Daughters of the Goddess,” Erd greeted, “thank you for coming.”

Cied leaned forward. “Three priestesses were summoned, and yet I only see two.”

“The high priestess is tending to the shrine,” Nori replied, “as the law demands.”

“Your law,” Cied sneered.

Nori did not rise to the bait. “Why have we been invited to this meeting?”

“We know that only one girl has been chosen to become a priestess,” Minen announced. “We know that the search of your relatives is proving fruitless. What do you intend to do next?”

“This is a matter of the shrine. Why do the elders concern themselves with this?”

“It concerns us,” Cied retorted, “because you are failing your duties to the village now with three priestesses. What will happen with only one priestess?”

“Whatever happens is the will of the Goddess.”

“That is not an answer!” Cied roared.

“What answer do you seek, elder?” Nori asked. Her tone was even as if she was addressing a child.

That enraged Cied further. “You priestesses are failing in your duties! The draught continues to damage crops. We will be lucky if we have any surplus this year. And men have to range further and further for game.”

“And you wish for us to do something?”

“Yes!”

“We can’t.”

“What!”

“We are powerless,” Nori replied.

“Powerless! Liars!”

“We are only servants of the Goddess. We wield no power. To think such is blasphemy.”

Cied rose to his feet, shaking off the hands of those who would keep him in his seat. In response, Nori stiffened. She seemed to be bracing herself for a fight.

‘Goddess, be with us,’ Rian prayed as Nori and Cied continued to spar with each other. The meeting was quickly deteriorating. Nothing was being accomplished.

She pushed back her hood and stepped forward. She ignored Nori’s look as she stood before the elders. Cied eyed her suspiciously but gave her the floor.

“There are signs before us, warning of us of coming change,” Rian said. “The question before us is how we react to this change.”

“What signs?” Minen asked. “What changes?”

“The drought, the fewer game, and the recent plague are all signs, all warnings. We, the priestesses, have been telling the village that these events could be. We have urged the village to change. We have not been heeded.”

“Oh, yes, your warnings,” Cied sneered. “The spice plant is evil. The surplus is wrong. That is all we ever hear from you.”

“It’s what you need to hear,” Nori interjected. “It is the message we are charged by the Goddess to give.”

“Elders,” Rian continued, “all these events are signs of the Goddess’ growing displeasure. Their worsening shows that the displeasure is deepening. We must change if we wish to continue to have the favor of the Goddess.”

“And the issue of new priestesses?” Cied demanded. “What does that mean? Perhaps the Goddess is unhappy with your family.”

Rian could feel Nori bristle beside her. Cied knew which areas to attack. She spoke before her sister could have a chance.

“Perhaps,” she conceded. “Perhaps the Goddess is unhappy with our effectiveness in getting the village to return to the old ways. Perhaps our family has fallen out of favor. Perhaps it is time for a new line to be called into service.”

“But not entirely,” Cied said. “Your niece has already been chosen and your youngest daughter has yet to be tested.”

Rian nodded her head. “But even if my daughter is called, there will not be enough priestesses. We must expand our search.”

“To who?” Lugh demanded.

“All the daughters of the village.”

“That’s outrageous! I will not have my daughters be subjected to this. How could they ever be married off if their husbands knew they had more duties than to just their homes.”

Several voices agreed. Rian felt her heart dropped as she counted the nodding heads and suspicious glares. Did they know what they were saying?

“What has become of this village?” Nori demanded. “You demanded the goodwill of the Goddess but complain about the demands of her service. You are asked to do so little. So little.

“And now you have the gall to stay that being chosen as a priestess is horrible, a fate you fear will befall your daughters. And you say it to the ones currently in service, who intercede on your behalf. How dare you!”

Nori’s face hardened as her gaze fell on Cied. “We will begin to call the daughters of the village in the coming days. We will continue to intercede on behalf of the village. We will continue to serve the village and perform all of our duties.”

“All we ask is that you, as elders of the village, heed the warnings of the Goddess,” Rian said. “Her goodwill will not last forever.”

“Good evening to you all,” Nori said curtly.

Rian followed her sister out of the room, ignoring the calls of the elders behind them. She tried not to hear what was being yelled at them. What had happened to their village?

“Brigid will need to know of this,” Nori said.

Rian nodded before pulling her hood back up around her face. The sisters were silent as they made their way to the shrine.


Part IV Aneri watched with wide eyes as Rian removed her ceremonial robe from the chest. The girl ran a hesitant hand over the material. “It’s so pretty.” Rian studied the garment. She had made the robe during her first year as a priestess. The embroidery had taken hours of labor and yards of thread. The intricate design was one of the mysteries of the priestesses. Yet, she had never looked at the robe as a garment. It had always been a part of her service to the Goddess. It was a tool, a symbol, a lesson. “Yes, it is rather pretty,” Rian said. With Aneri’s help, she located the cords that would serve as sash and belt. Each cord represented a year of service to the Goddess and every five years the cords were braided together. Rian had four sets of braided cords, indicating her more than twenty years as a priestess. The meeting with the elders was that night. Since they had been summoned as priestesses, she and Nori were going to dress the part. It was unusual to wear the robes outside of the ritual days. But these were unusual days. She smiled at Aneri as the girl helped her with the cords. She wondered if her little girl would someday wear a robe of her own. Would the Goddess call her? Rian wished she knew. “Thank you for your help, Aneri.” She gave the girl a kiss. “Now, go and see if Dia needs you.” The girl obediently left the room. She quickly finished getting ready. When she tied the last cord, she took a deep breath. It was time. * * * * * The sisters stood taller as the meeting room fell silent. The elders sat in a row on the far side of the room. The audience lined the walls. “Daughters of the Goddess,” Erd greeted, “thank you for coming.” Cied leaned forward. “Three priestesses were summoned, and yet I only see two.” “The high priestess is tending to the shrine,” Nori replied, “as the law demands.” “Your law,” Cied sneered. Nori did not rise to the bait. “Why have we been invited to this meeting?” “We know that only one girl has been chosen to become a priestess,” Minen announced. “We know that the search of your relatives is proving fruitless. What do you intend to do next?” “This is a matter of the shrine. Why do the elders concern themselves with this?” “It concerns us,” Cied retorted, “because you are failing your duties to the village now with three priestesses. What will happen with only one priestess?” “Whatever happens is the will of the Goddess.” “That is not an answer!” Cied roared. “What answer do you seek, elder?” Nori asked. Her tone was even as if she was addressing a child. That enraged Cied further. “You priestesses are failing in your duties! The draught continues to damage crops. We will be lucky if we have any surplus this year. And men have to range further and further for game.” “And you wish for us to do something?” “Yes!” “We can’t.” “What!” “We are powerless,” Nori replied. “Powerless! Liars!” “We are only servants of the Goddess. We wield no power. To think such is blasphemy.” Cied rose to his feet, shaking off the hands of those who would keep him in his seat. In response, Nori stiffened. She seemed to be bracing herself for a fight. ‘Goddess, be with us,’ Rian prayed as Nori and Cied continued to spar with each other. The meeting was quickly deteriorating. Nothing was being accomplished. She pushed back her hood and stepped forward. She ignored Nori’s look as she stood before the elders. Cied eyed her suspiciously but gave her the floor. “There are signs before us, warning of us of coming change,” Rian said. “The question before us is how we react to this change.” “What signs?” Minen asked. “What changes?” “The drought, the fewer game, and the recent plague are all signs, all warnings. We, the priestesses, have been telling the village that these events could be. We have urged the village to change. We have not been heeded.” “Oh, yes, your warnings,” Cied sneered. “The spice plant is evil. The surplus is wrong. That is all we ever hear from you.” “It’s what you need to hear,” Nori interjected. “It is the message we are charged by the Goddess to give.” “Elders,” Rian continued, “all these events are signs of the Goddess’ growing displeasure. Their worsening shows that the displeasure is deepening. We must change if we wish to continue to have the favor of the Goddess.” “And the issue of new priestesses?” Cied demanded. “What does that mean? Perhaps the Goddess is unhappy with your family.” Rian could feel Nori bristle beside her. Cied knew which areas to attack. She spoke before her sister could have a chance. “Perhaps,” she conceded. “Perhaps the Goddess is unhappy with our effectiveness in getting the village to return to the old ways. Perhaps our family has fallen out of favor. Perhaps it is time for a new line to be called into service.” “But not entirely,” Cied said. “Your niece has already been chosen and your youngest daughter has yet to be tested.” Rian nodded her head. “But even if my daughter is called, there will not be enough priestesses. We must expand our search.” “To who?” Lugh demanded. “All the daughters of the village.” “That’s outrageous! I will not have my daughters be subjected to this. How could they ever be married off if their husbands knew they had more duties than to just their homes.” Several voices agreed. Rian felt her heart dropped as she counted the nodding heads and suspicious glares. Did they know what they were saying? “What has become of this village?” Nori demanded. “You demanded the goodwill of the Goddess but complain about the demands of her service. You are asked to do so little. So little. “And now you have the gall to stay that being chosen as a priestess is horrible, a fate you fear will befall your daughters. And you say it to the ones currently in service, who intercede on your behalf. How dare you!” Nori’s face hardened as her gaze fell on Cied. “We will begin to call the daughters of the village in the coming days. We will continue to intercede on behalf of the village. We will continue to serve the village and perform all of our duties.” “All we ask is that you, as elders of the village, heed the warnings of the Goddess,” Rian said. “Her goodwill will not last forever.” “Good evening to you all,” Nori said curtly. Rian followed her sister out of the room, ignoring the calls of the elders behind them. She tried not to hear what was being yelled at them. What had happened to their village? “Brigid will need to know of this,” Nori said. Rian nodded before pulling her hood back up around her face. The sisters were silent as they made their way to the shrine.


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