Daughters of the Goddess--Part 2

The child came on the eve of harvest. It was a girl with wise, dark eyes. Rian hoped that this was the daughter who would be called by the Goddess as Dia had been not.

A few days after the birth she could hear raised voices. She made her way to the front of the house. Her husband’s voice was the loudest.

“She’s in childbed,” he said. She could hear the struggle in his voice between giving in to anger and keeping his voice low. “It wasn’t an easy birth.”

“But the harvest is here,” Erd, one of the elders, declared. “There are rituals to be performed.”

“There are two other priestesses,” Esus countered.

“But they’re not enough,” another elder said.

“Then maybe you should have thought of that, Cied, before encouraging everyone to plant to the edge of the forest.”

She caught a glimpse of them. Esus was shaking, trying to contain his emotions. Her movement caught the attention of the elders.

“Ah, lady,” Erd breathed, moving toward her.

However, Esus was quicker. He took her arm. “Rian, you shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I’m okay, Esus.” However, at the worried look on his face, she let him lead her to a seat. She turned to the other men in the room. “Elders, what brings you here?”

They glanced at each other. Erd sighed and then cleared his throat. Turning from Cied, he stepped forward. “The harvest is coming.”

Esus moved to stand but Rian placed a hand on his arm. Reluctantly, he sat back down. However, Erd took a step back.

“Well,” he continued, “it’s time for the proper rituals to be observed. Your sisters have informed the elders that there are too many fields for them to administer all the necessary rites.”

“You wish for me to aid in performance of the rites,” she said quietly.

“I’ve already told them no,” Esus growled.

“I believe it is for the priestess to decide,” Cied remarked.

“Would you send your wife into the fields so soon after a difficult birth, against the healers’ advice?” Esus demanded. “That’s what you are asking me to do.”

The elders looked uneasy. They again glanced at each other. Rian sighed.

“You’ve placed me in a difficult position,” she stated. “Maybe this is the time for you and the village to realize that there are limits to what the priestess can do. The lands cannot keep expanding, not if the village wants the continued blessings of the Goddess.”

“Are you threatening us?” Cied demanded.

“No, I’m warning you,” Rian said. “The village is forgetting the ways that have been taught for generations. Any sense of stewardship is disappearing. Even now the forest is stinking and the game is moving on. Soon the land with suffer. There is only so much the Goddess will tolerate.”

The room was silent as the men mulled over her words.

“What is your decision, priestess?” Erd asked.

She sighed. “I will help my sisters as much as I can, but it may not be much. The village must realize that all the proper rites may not be performed.”

“That is not acceptable,” Cied cried.

“I’m already leaving childbed early, elder,” Rian stated, her voice rising. “I’m already risking my husband’s displeasure, my health, and the health of our child. What more will you ask of me?”

“Nothing more,” Erd said quickly. “We congratulate you and Esus on a fine child. Now, I’m afraid, we need to bid you good day.”

He grabbed Cied by the arm and dragged the other man out of the house. Esus shut the door behind them, not quite slamming it. He took several deep breaths as he studied the wood.

“I’m sorry, Esus.”

He turned. “Sorry?”

“I know that you didn’t want me to aid in the rites, but there is no way my sisters can do it all. Even with my help, it may not be enough. But I have to try, Esus. Please understand.”

He knelt in front of her and took her hands. “I’m not angry with you, Rian. I’m angry with the fools who dare to call themselves elders. For years, you and your sisters have been warning them that this day could come. Yet, they are still surprised at its arrival. They demand that you fix all their problems.”

“Maybe some good will come from this,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “Maybe the village will change and the tide will turn.”

“I wish I could bring myself to hope.”

“We mustn’t lose hope,” she murmured. “Never that.”

* * * * *

She fought the urge to wince as she drew the ceremonial blade across her palm, once again reopening the wound. She held the hand out and watched as drops of her blood touched the soil. With the other hand, she scattered ashes of plants earlier burnt as offerings.

“We have taken from the earth,” she intoned. “Let these offerings to the Goddess be signs that we also have given back.”

She continued the rest of the ritual as she gave the proper prayers to the Goddess. Once she was finished, she stepped away from the field. A tall figure in the distance moved toward her.

“Hirel, I thought I told you to go home,” she chided. “You’re almost as bad as your father.”

“Then he was doing as he was told,” the figure said.

“Esus.” She smiled as he jogged the rest of the way to her. “I had a feeling that you sent Hirel to keep an eye on me.”

Esus tucked a strand of hair behind her. “Best choice since I couldn’t do it myself. Nearly finished?”

“Yes, that was the last field.” And just in time, she realized, as she noted the fading sun. She hoped her sisters had managed the feat as well.

She let Esus lead her home. Now that the task was completed, she could fill the drain on her body. She actually held onto him as the weariness hit her.

“You will take it easy for the next few days,” Esus said, pulling her close. “Dia can manage the house and help with the baby.”

He was worried when she did not even bother to argue.

* * * * *

She burned with fever for the next four days. The baby, Aneri, had been given to a wet nurse as Rian suffered in bed barely knowing the world. Her sisters and fellow priestesses, Brigid and Nori, came in turn to care for their sister.

Esus was beside himself with worry and guilt. He blamed himself for allowing Rian to participate in the rites so soon after childbirth. When Erd and Cied came to pay their respects as elders, the usually calm man went into a fury.

“How dare you show yourselves here!” he roared. “You did this to her! Look at what the protection of your precious crops has cost!”

Brigid and Hirel held him back as the men made a hasty retreat. As soon as they were gone, the fight left Esus. He plopped on a stool by his wife’s side and resumed his vigil.

By the night of the fourth day, the fever finally broke. Esus nearly wept with relief. However, Nori warned that Rian was far from safety.

The fever had taken an additional toll on her already weakened body. She had grown even thinner. The skin appeared stretched over her bones and had taken a sickly gray hue.

Brigid and Nori poured cup after cup of broths, brews, and tonics into their sister. Slowly she began to regain her strength. She eventually she ventured for brief periods from the bed.

However, her milk was gone. The wet nurse would bring Aneri for visits. However, until the child was older, she would be fostered with the woman’s family. There was nothing else that could be done.

Rian became able to resume her duties at the shrine, though now Esus or Hirel would escort each way. Her strength was still too fragile to trust. But it was worth to return to the shrine and to her duties. To return to the welcoming embrace of the Goddess.

One day her baby as a girl would be brought to the shrine to see if the Goddess would call her. Her younger daughter. Little Aneri. So many of their hopes rested on her.

She had been both relieved and disappointed when Dia was not called. Soon, almost too quickly, it would be time for Aneri. Would this, her last daughter, be accepted?

What would they do if she wasn’t?


Part II The child came on the eve of harvest. It was a girl with wise, dark eyes. Rian hoped that this was the daughter who would be called by the Goddess as Dia had been not. A few days after the birth she could hear raised voices. She made her way to the front of the house. Her husband’s voice was the loudest. “She’s in childbed,” he said. She could hear the struggle in his voice between giving in to anger and keeping his voice low. “It wasn’t an easy birth.” “But the harvest is here,” Erd, one of the elders, declared. “There are rituals to be performed.” “There are two other priestesses,” Esus countered. “But they’re not enough,” another elder said. “Then maybe you should have thought of that, Cied, before encouraging everyone to plant to the edge of the forest.” She caught a glimpse of them. Esus was shaking, trying to contain his emotions. Her movement caught the attention of the elders. “Ah, lady,” Erd breathed, moving toward her. However, Esus was quicker. He took her arm. “Rian, you shouldn’t be out of bed.” “I’m okay, Esus.” However, at the worried look on his face, she let him lead her to a seat. She turned to the other men in the room. “Elders, what brings you here?” They glanced at each other. Erd sighed and then cleared his throat. Turning from Cied, he stepped forward. “The harvest is coming.” Esus moved to stand but Rian placed a hand on his arm. Reluctantly, he sat back down. However, Erd took a step back. “Well,” he continued, “it’s time for the proper rituals to be observed. Your sisters have informed the elders that there are too many fields for them to administer all the necessary rites.” “You wish for me to aid in performance of the rites,” she said quietly. “I’ve already told them no,” Esus growled. “I believe it is for the priestess to decide,” Cied remarked. “Would you send your wife into the fields so soon after a difficult birth, against the healers’ advice?” Esus demanded. “That’s what you are asking me to do.” The elders looked uneasy. They again glanced at each other. Rian sighed. “You’ve placed me in a difficult position,” she stated. “Maybe this is the time for you and the village to realize that there are limits to what the priestess can do. The lands cannot keep expanding, not if the village wants the continued blessings of the Goddess.” “Are you threatening us?” Cied demanded. “No, I’m warning you,” Rian said. “The village is forgetting the ways that have been taught for generations. Any sense of stewardship is disappearing. Even now the forest is stinking and the game is moving on. Soon the land with suffer. There is only so much the Goddess will tolerate.” The room was silent as the men mulled over her words. “What is your decision, priestess?” Erd asked. She sighed. “I will help my sisters as much as I can, but it may not be much. The village must realize that all the proper rites may not be performed.” “That is not acceptable,” Cied cried. “I’m already leaving childbed early, elder,” Rian stated, her voice rising. “I’m already risking my husband’s displeasure, my health, and the health of our child. What more will you ask of me?” “Nothing more,” Erd said quickly. “We congratulate you and Esus on a fine child. Now, I’m afraid, we need to bid you good day.” He grabbed Cied by the arm and dragged the other man out of the house. Esus shut the door behind them, not quite slamming it. He took several deep breaths as he studied the wood. “I’m sorry, Esus.” He turned. “Sorry?” “I know that you didn’t want me to aid in the rites, but there is no way my sisters can do it all. Even with my help, it may not be enough. But I have to try, Esus. Please understand.” He knelt in front of her and took her hands. “I’m not angry with you, Rian. I’m angry with the fools who dare to call themselves elders. For years, you and your sisters have been warning them that this day could come. Yet, they are still surprised at its arrival. They demand that you fix all their problems.” “Maybe some good will come from this,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “Maybe the village will change and the tide will turn.” “I wish I could bring myself to hope.” “We mustn’t lose hope,” she murmured. “Never that.” * * * * * She fought the urge to wince as she drew the ceremonial blade across her palm, once again reopening the wound. She held the hand out and watched as drops of her blood touched the soil. With the other hand, she scattered ashes of plants earlier burnt as offerings. “We have taken from the earth,” she intoned. “Let these offerings to the Goddess be signs that we also have given back.” She continued the rest of the ritual as she gave the proper prayers to the Goddess. Once she was finished, she stepped away from the field. A tall figure in the distance moved toward her. “Hirel, I thought I told you to go home,” she chided. “You’re almost as bad as your father.” “Then he was doing as he was told,” the figure said. “Esus.” She smiled as he jogged the rest of the way to her. “I had a feeling that you sent Hirel to keep an eye on me.” Esus tucked a strand of hair behind her. “Best choice since I couldn’t do it myself. Nearly finished?” “Yes, that was the last field.” And just in time, she realized, as she noted the fading sun. She hoped her sisters had managed the feat as well. She let Esus lead her home. Now that the task was completed, she could fill the drain on her body. She actually held onto him as the weariness hit her. “You will take it easy for the next few days,” Esus said, pulling her close. “Dia can manage the house and help with the baby.” He was worried when she did not even bother to argue. * * * * * She burned with fever for the next four days. The baby, Aneri, had been given to a wet nurse as Rian suffered in bed barely knowing the world. Her sisters and fellow priestesses, Brigid and Nori, came in turn to care for their sister. Esus was beside himself with worry and guilt. He blamed himself for allowing Rian to participate in the rites so soon after childbirth. When Erd and Cied came to pay their respects as elders, the usually calm man went into a fury. “How dare you show yourselves here!” he roared. “You did this to her! Look at what the protection of your precious crops has cost!” Brigid and Hirel held him back as the men made a hasty retreat. As soon as they were gone, the fight left Esus. He plopped on a stool by his wife’s side and resumed his vigil. By the night of the fourth day, the fever finally broke. Esus nearly wept with relief. However, Nori warned that Rian was far from safety. The fever had taken an additional toll on her already weakened body. She had grown even thinner. The skin appeared stretched over her bones and had taken a sickly gray hue. Brigid and Nori poured cup after cup of broths, brews, and tonics into their sister. Slowly she began to regain her strength. She eventually she ventured for brief periods from the bed. However, her milk was gone. The wet nurse would bring Aneri for visits. However, until the child was older, she would be fostered with the woman’s family. There was nothing else that could be done. Rian became able to resume her duties at the shrine, though now Esus or Hirel would escort each way. Her strength was still too fragile to trust. But it was worth to return to the shrine and to her duties. To return to the welcoming embrace of the Goddess. One day her baby as a girl would be brought to the shrine to see if the Goddess would call her. Her younger daughter. Little Aneri. So many of their hopes rested on her. She had been both relieved and disappointed when Dia was not called. Soon, almost too quickly, it would be time for Aneri. Would this, her last daughter, be accepted? What would they do if she wasn’t?


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