Daughters of the Goddess--Part 9

Rian felt Iora tremble as she took her place beside her. But she doubted it was the early morning chill that caused the girl to shiver. She placed what she hoped was a reassuring hand on the girl’s arm.

Villagers talked softly among themselves behind her. She thought it was more spectacle than piety that brought them out this morning. For Iora’s sake, she had hoped that the crowd would be smaller.

Yet the girl’s gaze never wavered. It remained fixed on the sight before her, never moving from her family. Her twin, Iona, stared back at her.

The crowd fell silent as Brigid stepped forward. “Spiller of blood, you have angered the Goddess and brought her wrath upon the village.”

“I do not fear your goddess, woman,” Lugh growled.

“Then you are truly a fool.”

Lugh suddenly moved toward the high priestess. However, his sons quickly pulled him back. He glared at Brigid, who had never moved. She returned his gaze evenly.

“For your crime,” she continued, “you and your family are cast out of this village. Your names will no longer be spoken. Your fields will lay fallow, cursed by the Goddess. Your faces will fade and be forgotten. You are banished, exiled, cast out. Be gone.”

Brigid took another step forward and then turned her back to the family. Beris and Brigid followed suit. Many of the villagers did the same. Rian gave Iora’s arm a squeeze before she turned her back as well.

Lugh was calling the villagers fools. They were cowards to bend to the rule of women, these sham priestesses of a non-existent goddess, he cried. There were no real men left in the village.

He may have found supporters a few days ago. But the storm had changed things. The Goddess had made her presence known and the villagers were fearful of further vengeance.

Lugh’s sons began to get the family moving. Ritual decreed that they had to be gone before the sun reached its zenith. If they were still present in the village by then, the family risked stoning.

Despite the noise of the cart and Lugh‘s shouting, a quiet voice could be heard. “Iora.”

The girl went white. “Iona.”

Rian’s heart broke as she saw Iora turn her back. The girl quickly pulled her hood over her head. Her shoulders started to shake as her sister began to sob.

“Iora! Sister!”

Lugh jerked Iona behind the cart. “You have no sister.”

The priestesses stood with their backs turned to the exiles until they disappeared into the forest outside of the village. Many of the villagers had wandered off by then. Rian was glad as she pulled the still trembling Iora into an embrace.

The girl immediately began to sob. “My sister. I want my sister.”

Rian embraced the girl harder. Each sob tore at her heart as Iora continued to cry. Another family was being torn apart by Lugh‘s actions.

Rian hoped that it would be for the last time.

* * * * *

The village was slowly rebuilt. The injured recovered and left the shrine for their new homes. People returned to their routines.

Rian lit the last of the candles in the sacred chamber, bathing the room in flickering, mellow light. She sat on the dirt floor in front of the three-sided figure that represented the Goddess. As she slowed her breathing, the heady scent of the herbs faded away.

The peace of the Goddess descended upon her. All strife and stress melted away. This was where she could focus on her problems and receive the answers she needed.

She thought about the training with Prica. The girl was struggling with the herb lore, which was needed in so many aspects of being a priestess. Without a good knowledge of herbs, a priestess could not effectively heal, properly perform rituals, or deeply meditate.

She was still dwelling on the problem with Prica when she became aware of another presence in the room. Rian reluctantly returned to reality. As she opened her eyes, she saw Brigid was seated on the opposite side of the statue.

“I am sorry to disturb your meditation, sister.”

“I know you have reason, Brigid.”

“I do. I wanted to talk to you about the girls.”

Rian rose to her feet, stretching out her stiff muscles. She had been meditating for a long time. “What about them?”

“Beris is ready to handle all the responsibilities of a priestess,” Brigid said as she followed Brigid to the outer room. “I have no reservations about her abilities.”

“I agree, but is now the time to present her as a full priestess?”

“You are worried about her chances for marriage.”

“I am,” Rian replied, staring at her sister in confusion. “Brigid, as her mother, you should be, too.”

The high priestess sighed. “Marriage may not be in Beris’ future.”

“Are you certain?

“Nothing about the future is certain.”

“As the Goddess wills,” Rian said softly.

It was not unheard of to have a spinster priestess. And as a priestess, Beris would command more respect and resources than even the most privileged widow in the village. But part of her heart broke for the girl. It would be a long, lonely life, one that she would not wish for her daughter.

“As the Goddess wills,” Brigid echoed. “With Beris as a full priestess, that still only leaves us with three.”

“Prica will not be ready, at least for not another season.”

“And Iora?”

Rian shook her head. “She has been through so much. It would be too soon.”

“Then it must be Prica.” Brigid sighed. “I will take over her training to allow you to focus solely on Iora.”

“Why? Why the urgency?” Rian demanded. “Haven’t they been through enough? Haven’t we?”

“Yes, yes, we have. But something is coming, Rian.”

“Something?”

“I’m not allowed to see fully, but change is not finished with our village. We have to be ready.”

Rian sat down, her mind working furiously. What other changes could be coming? What would they be preparing the girls for?

‘As the Goddess wills,’ she told herself. “Very well, Prica will train with you tomorrow. She has been struggling with herbs.”

Brigid nodded. “I will see what I can do about that. Until tomorrow, sister.”

“Until tomorrow.” The Goddess only knew what it would bring.


Part IX Rian felt Iora tremble as she took her place beside her. But she doubted it was the early morning chill that caused the girl to shiver. She placed what she hoped was a reassuring hand on the girl’s arm. Villagers talked softly among themselves behind her. She thought it was more spectacle than piety that brought them out this morning. For Iora’s sake, she had hoped that the crowd would be smaller. Yet the girl’s gaze never wavered. It remained fixed on the sight before her, never moving from her family. Her twin, Iona, stared back at her. The crowd fell silent as Brigid stepped forward. “Spiller of blood, you have angered the Goddess and brought her wrath upon the village.” “I do not fear your goddess, woman,” Lugh growled. “Then you are truly a fool.” Lugh suddenly moved toward the high priestess. However, his sons quickly pulled him back. He glared at Brigid, who had never moved. She returned his gaze evenly. “For your crime,” she continued, “you and your family are cast out of this village. Your names will no longer be spoken. Your fields will lay fallow, cursed by the Goddess. Your faces will fade and be forgotten. You are banished, exiled, cast out. Be gone.” Brigid took another step forward and then turned her back to the family. Beris and Brigid followed suit. Many of the villagers did the same. Rian gave Iora’s arm a squeeze before she turned her back as well. Lugh was calling the villagers fools. They were cowards to bend to the rule of women, these sham priestesses of a non-existent goddess, he cried. There were no real men left in the village. He may have found supporters a few days ago. But the storm had changed things. The Goddess had made her presence known and the villagers were fearful of further vengeance. Lugh’s sons began to get the family moving. Ritual decreed that they had to be gone before the sun reached its zenith. If they were still present in the village by then, the family risked stoning. Despite the noise of the cart and Lugh‘s shouting, a quiet voice could be heard. “Iora.” The girl went white. “Iona.” Rian’s heart broke as she saw Iora turn her back. The girl quickly pulled her hood over her head. Her shoulders started to shake as her sister began to sob. “Iora! Sister!” Lugh jerked Iona behind the cart. “You have no sister.” The priestesses stood with their backs turned to the exiles until they disappeared into the forest outside of the village. Many of the villagers had wandered off by then. Rian was glad as she pulled the still trembling Iora into an embrace. The girl immediately began to sob. “My sister. I want my sister.” Rian embraced the girl harder. Each sob tore at her heart as Iora continued to cry. Another family was being torn apart by Lugh‘s actions. Rian hoped that it would be for the last time. * * * * * The village was slowly rebuilt. The injured recovered and left the shrine for their new homes. People returned to their routines. Rian lit the last of the candles in the sacred chamber, bathing the room in flickering, mellow light. She sat on the dirt floor in front of the three-sided figure that represented the Goddess. As she slowed her breathing, the heady scent of the herbs faded away. The peace of the Goddess descended upon her. All strife and stress melted away. This was where she could focus on her problems and receive the answers she needed. She thought about the training with Prica. The girl was struggling with the herb lore, which was needed in so many aspects of being a priestess. Without a good knowledge of herbs, a priestess could not effectively heal, properly perform rituals, or deeply meditate. She was still dwelling on the problem with Prica when she became aware of another presence in the room. Rian reluctantly returned to reality. As she opened her eyes, she saw Brigid was seated on the opposite side of the statue. “I am sorry to disturb your meditation, sister.” “I know you have reason, Brigid.” “I do. I wanted to talk to you about the girls.” Rian rose to her feet, stretching out her stiff muscles. She had been meditating for a long time. “What about them?” “Beris is ready to handle all the responsibilities of a priestess,” Brigid said as she followed Brigid to the outer room. “I have no reservations about her abilities.” “I agree, but is now the time to present her as a full priestess?” “You are worried about her chances for marriage.” “I am,” Rian replied, staring at her sister in confusion. “Brigid, as her mother, you should be, too.” The high priestess sighed. “Marriage may not be in Beris’ future.” “Are you certain? “Nothing about the future is certain.” “As the Goddess wills,” Rian said softly. It was not unheard of to have a spinster priestess. And as a priestess, Beris would command more respect and resources than even the most privileged widow in the village. But part of her heart broke for the girl. It would be a long, lonely life, one that she would not wish for her daughter. “As the Goddess wills,” Brigid echoed. “With Beris as a full priestess, that still only leaves us with three.” “Prica will not be ready, at least for not another season.” “And Iora?” Rian shook her head. “She has been through so much. It would be too soon.” “Then it must be Prica.” Brigid sighed. “I will take over her training to allow you to focus solely on Iora.” “Why? Why the urgency?” Rian demanded. “Haven’t they been through enough? Haven’t we?” “Yes, yes, we have. But something is coming, Rian.” “Something?” “I’m not allowed to see fully, but change is not finished with our village. We have to be ready.” Rian sat down, her mind working furiously. What other changes could be coming? What would they be preparing the girls for? ‘As the Goddess wills,’ she told herself. “Very well, Prica will train with you tomorrow. She has been struggling with herbs.” Brigid nodded. “I will see what I can do about that. Until tomorrow, sister.” “Until tomorrow.” The Goddess only knew what it would bring.


Part X Back