Daughters of the Goddess--Part 8

The sun was rising over the distant hill. On any other occasion, it would have been a beautiful sight. But Rian could not appreciate it, not on this day.

Nori’s daughters slowly approached. Each was dressed in a simple dark dress. All were unshod with their hair unbound. Between them they carried a simple litter.

Rian’s vision blurred with tears as Nori’s body came into the view. The peaceful expression on her sister’s face tore at her heart as she remembered the violence leading to Nori’s death. She caught the faint whiff of herbs as the girls made their way to the grave.

According to the customs of the village, only female relatives of the deceased could handle the body. It had fallen to Nori’s daughters to prepare her for burial. It was something that they had had to learn too soon.

But they had done the task well. Nori would have been proud.

The girls placed the litter carefully beside the freshly made grave. Rian began the traditional song of mourning. She wasn’t the only one crying as the girls began to lower Nori into the ground.

Once the girls were finished, Taran stepped forward. He took a handful of soil and whispered something before releasing it over the grave. One by one the ritual was repeated. Rian was the last. She had run out of tears as she sprinkled the dirt over the body of her sister.

As she stepped back, Esus and the others stepped forward. The men quickly add the earth back and then stepped away. Once they were finished, Brigid moved to the foot of the grave.

“Goddess, give your servant complete peace,” she intoned, making the final gestures of the ritual over the grave.

The burial was over. One by one, people began to drift away. Rian was still staring at the grave when Esus took her hand to lead her back home.

* * * * *

The wrath of the Goddess came on swift winds. The gusts tore of roofs away and fell trees, causing even more destruction. The rain was unrelenting. The once gentle river flooded the fields, drowning the young crops.

But Rian’s home and those of her family were spared. They stood out among the wreckage of the village. And while their fields were flooded and some of their livestock was lost, it was nowhere near the damage their neighbors had suffered.

Brigid summoned Rian to the shrine at dawn. She and the newly initiated Beris were soon tending to the injured. There were several broken bones and lacerations and at least one serious head injury.

With some many injured, the priestesses were not enough. Aneri and Prica were in the forest gathering more herbs for additional tonics. Hirel’s wife was in another room tearing more strips of cloth for bandages.

Rian thanked Iora as the girl brought another bottle of salve and a bundle of bandages. Her new foster daughter helped hold down a boy’s leg as Rian bound the gash. Once the task was finished, Iora moved on to help Beris.

“Rian.”

She looked up from the boy’s leg to her sister. Brigid was dressed in her full priestess robes. “Yes, Brigid?”

“I have been summoned to meet with the elders.”

Rian glanced around the main room. There were still so many who need tending. “We can handle things here.”

“Thank you. I will return as soon as I can.”

“May the Goddess be with you,” Rian said quietly.

“And with you, sister.” Rian watched Brigid leave the shrine. She hoped that the elders would listen to her sister’s counsel.

But she did not have time to dwell on the council. Already there was someone calling her name, needing her aid. Gathering a bundle of bandages and the jar of salve, she went back to work.

* * * * *

“Rian.”

She grudgingly opened her eyes. For a moment, she was completely disoriented. Why was she at the shrine at this time of night?

Then it all came back to her: Nori, the storm, the injured. She immediately rose to her feet. However, she tripped in her haste and had to grab the wall for support.

“Easy, Rian,” Esus said, taking her arm. “I’m sorry that I startled you.”

“I was just confused for a moment.” She glanced around the main room of the shrine. A few candle provided enough light for her to see that everyone was sleeping comfortably. “Esus, why are you here?”

“I’m taking you home. Brigid said that she and Beris can handle things here.”

“Brigid has returned from the elders’ meeting?”

“She has.”

“What happened? What was decided?”

“I don’t know. You will have to ask her.”

“It can wait until morning,” Brigid said, appearing behind Esus. She was still dressed in her full priestess robes. “You need to rest, Rian. Beris and I can handle matters here.”

She was exhausted enough not to argue. “I’ll return in the morning.”

Brigid smiled. “Until then.”

Rian carefully made her way through the sleeping bodies. Several of the injured had badly damaged homes or no homes left. With their families, they would be housed in the shrine until other shelter could be found.

‘So many,’ she thought sadly.

The village was quiet as she and Esus walked home. She tried not to see the destruction that the storm had caused. But each broken house tore at her heart.

Was this really the best way for the Goddess to get the attention of the village? Was this the punishment for the village as it continued to harbor a murderer? Was it fair to punish so many over the misdeeds of one?

Or was it a punishment for the whole village for its lack of piety and reverence toward the Goddess? When droughts and blights did not change the behavior of the village, did the Goddess decide more was needed?

She wished that she knew. However, the ways of the Goddess were often confusing. It was a basic teaching of the shrine.

“All things come from the Goddess,” she murmured. “Good and bad all mixed together.”

She wondered when the good would come again.


Part VIII The sun was rising over the distant hill. On any other occasion, it would have been a beautiful sight. But Rian could not appreciate it, not on this day. Nori’s daughters slowly approached. Each was dressed in a simple dark dress. All were unshod with their hair unbound. Between them they carried a simple litter. Rian’s vision blurred with tears as Nori’s body came into the view. The peaceful expression on her sister’s face tore at her heart as she remembered the violence leading to Nori’s death. She caught the faint whiff of herbs as the girls made their way to the grave. According to the customs of the village, only female relatives of the deceased could handle the body. It had fallen to Nori’s daughters to prepare her for burial. It was something that they had had to learn too soon. But they had done the task well. Nori would have been proud. The girls placed the litter carefully beside the freshly made grave. Rian began the traditional song of mourning. She wasn’t the only one crying as the girls began to lower Nori into the ground. Once the girls were finished, Taran stepped forward. He took a handful of soil and whispered something before releasing it over the grave. One by one the ritual was repeated. Rian was the last. She had run out of tears as she sprinkled the dirt over the body of her sister. As she stepped back, Esus and the others stepped forward. The men quickly add the earth back and then stepped away. Once they were finished, Brigid moved to the foot of the grave. “Goddess, give your servant complete peace,” she intoned, making the final gestures of the ritual over the grave. The burial was over. One by one, people began to drift away. Rian was still staring at the grave when Esus took her hand to lead her back home. * * * * * The wrath of the Goddess came on swift winds. The gusts tore of roofs away and fell trees, causing even more destruction. The rain was unrelenting. The once gentle river flooded the fields, drowning the young crops. But Rian’s home and those of her family were spared. They stood out among the wreckage of the village. And while their fields were flooded and some of their livestock was lost, it was nowhere near the damage their neighbors had suffered. Brigid summoned Rian to the shrine at dawn. She and the newly initiated Beris were soon tending to the injured. There were several broken bones and lacerations and at least one serious head injury. With some many injured, the priestesses were not enough. Aneri and Prica were in the forest gathering more herbs for additional tonics. Hirel’s wife was in another room tearing more strips of cloth for bandages. Rian thanked Iora as the girl brought another bottle of salve and a bundle of bandages. Her new foster daughter helped hold down a boy’s leg as Rian bound the gash. Once the task was finished, Iora moved on to help Beris. “Rian.” She looked up from the boy’s leg to her sister. Brigid was dressed in her full priestess robes. “Yes, Brigid?” “I have been summoned to meet with the elders.” Rian glanced around the main room. There were still so many who need tending. “We can handle things here.” “Thank you. I will return as soon as I can.” “May the Goddess be with you,” Rian said quietly. “And with you, sister.” Rian watched Brigid leave the shrine. She hoped that the elders would listen to her sister’s counsel. But she did not have time to dwell on the council. Already there was someone calling her name, needing her aid. Gathering a bundle of bandages and the jar of salve, she went back to work. * * * * * “Rian.” She grudgingly opened her eyes. For a moment, she was completely disoriented. Why was she at the shrine at this time of night? Then it all came back to her: Nori, the storm, the injured. She immediately rose to her feet. However, she tripped in her haste and had to grab the wall for support. “Easy, Rian,” Esus said, taking her arm. “I’m sorry that I startled you.” “I was just confused for a moment.” She glanced around the main room of the shrine. A few candle provided enough light for her to see that everyone was sleeping comfortably. “Esus, why are you here?” “I’m taking you home. Brigid said that she and Beris can handle things here.” “Brigid has returned from the elders’ meeting?” “She has.” “What happened? What was decided?” “I don’t know. You will have to ask her.” “It can wait until morning,” Brigid said, appearing behind Esus. She was still dressed in her full priestess robes. “You need to rest, Rian. Beris and I can handle matters here.” She was exhausted enough not to argue. “I’ll return in the morning.” Brigid smiled. “Until then.” Rian carefully made her way through the sleeping bodies. Several of the injured had badly damaged homes or no homes left. With their families, they would be housed in the shrine until other shelter could be found. ‘So many,’ she thought sadly. The village was quiet as she and Esus walked home. She tried not to see the destruction that the storm had caused. But each broken house tore at her heart. Was this really the best way for the Goddess to get the attention of the village? Was this the punishment for the village as it continued to harbor a murderer? Was it fair to punish so many over the misdeeds of one? Or was it a punishment for the whole village for its lack of piety and reverence toward the Goddess? When droughts and blights did not change the behavior of the village, did the Goddess decide more was needed? She wished that she knew. However, the ways of the Goddess were often confusing. It was a basic teaching of the shrine. “All things come from the Goddess,” she murmured. “Good and bad all mixed together.” She wondered when the good would come again.


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