The Goddess of Death and Her Empress

"Chief!" The shaman ran into the tribal chief's tent in an agitated state. The chief frowned.

"Shaman Luha, what is the meaning of your..." His eyes narrowed. "Behavior?" The shaman's cheeks colored.

"There has been a messenger sent from the goddess!" The chieftain's eyes returned to normal, and respect was shown.

"Speak of her words."

"The goddess has said that it's time to send some girls to the temple! No younger than five, no older than ten, ones who will be trained to serve the Empress in the temple, and become dedicated to the goddess." He calmed himself. "The ones dedicated will give the families, the tribes, and the nation, the right to trade with the temple." The chieftain nodded slowly.

"This is an opportunity. Just their presence alone is enough to earn the right?" He asked.

"Their service to the goddess, and the Empress chosen by the goddess, gives the rights. I believe they will be trained to serve, and become dedicated to the goddess for life." The shaman said. "The Others, they were once dedicated to the goddess as humans. When they died, she took them to Haven."

"This hasn't happened in centuries." The shaman said. "No acolytes have ever been chosen from the southerners in their cities. None from the tribes. All from below the Great Desert are the chosen ones." The chieftain slowly nodded.

"It is a great opportunity for our young. Only girls?"

"All the Others are female. She only accepts girls." The shaman said. The chieftain gestured to his youngest daughter. She came over to his side, her head down respectfully.

"Little Ge. The Empress wants some of our people to serve at the Great Temple. Are you willing to go, and speak for your tribe?"

* * *

"No males may enter the gates of the Great Temple." Valina said. She pointed to the side. "There is salt, salted fish, and iron ore. There will be grains next year. There will be vegetables as well. Which ever tribes bring a young daughter to serve, they may trade with the temple, and with the nearby town."

"It is our blessing to be allowed to bring our daughters here." An older woman knelt down beside her husband. "Little Gli, help your family, and speak for the tribe. Serve the Empress and the goddess well." Valina saw tear streaks on their cheeks, but waited until the families said their goodbyes, and loaded their horses with the packs.

"Is monthly acceptable?" The tribesman asked.

"It is. If you need more of one thing, tell us, and it will be prepared." The tribesman bowed, and guided their horses back to the north. Valina looked down at the young girls.

"Follow me, girls. You three are special." Valina said with a soft smile. "You are the first three dedicated to the goddess in five hundred years, and the first ones dedicated to serve the Empress. Your place is a special one." The three girls, Wei, Ge, and Gli, all with long black hair, and skin kissed by the sun, followed beside the shadow guard.

"You will first meet the Empress. Then you will be assigned a bed, blankets, robes, and shoes. You will be fed after that. Your chores will be simple at first. As you grow stronger, and get taller, you'll learn different things, and can choose an occupation." Valina explained, and watched the confused faces. She smiled.

It wasn't a surprise to her that the children might be confused about their roles, but once they learned about what was expected, they should calm down.

Once guided into the temple, they saw the exquisite stonework, and how clean everything was. They were shown to the front of the temple, where a young woman sat.

"Empress, these are the children sent by the tribes of Jie, of the tribe of Telgean. They are Wei, Ge, and Gli." Valina said, and watched the Empress smile a little.

"I have heard of the strength of your tribe." Lena said. "When I was a citizen of the kingdom, they feared the tribes of the plains and the mountains, and called them savages. I see now that the ones in the cities were liars. They have raised good children, and ones they haven't starved." The girls were surprised to hear the Empress praise their tribes.

"Let me explain a little about the goddess, and why you've come to me." Lena said. "I am the High Priestess of the goddess. She is the goddess of death, but also life from death." The girls looked confused.

"You wonder how she can be both?" Lena watched as they all nodded. "Rachel." A red mist filled a corner, and Rachel walked out of the mist. "This is someone from Haven. She was once a girl like you. She lived in this temple, and was dedicated to the goddess. When she died, the goddess turned that death into life, and made her so that she can live for thousands of years."

"Really?" We asked. Lena smiled.

"Yes. I have seen how they can not die. We humans can die, but she makes us different when we do. But only those dedicated to her, and who serve her." Lena pointed at Wei. "You have a name of a child in the tribes of Jie. When you grow older, you earn a name, correct?" Wei nodded.

"When you start, you keep your name, and become what is called an initiate. As you learn about the goddess, and learn to love her, you can decide to become an acolyte. Acolytes are different from the ones outside. They are dedicated to the goddess, and when they die, they become like Rachel. When you become an acolyte, you will be given a new name, earned by your service to the goddess." She smiled at how their gazes changed, even if it was only a little.

"Only the ones from the tribes of Jie will earn a name. The tribes are special in that they obey the word of the goddess, and do not provoke her anger. The children of Jie are special to me." Their eyes held a bit of a smile, though they tried to stay calm as they were trained to.

"The acolytes also have an opportunity to become guardians, who are trained to protect the initiates, and the acolytes. Acolytes can also become Temple Priestess, and Altar Guardians." Lena smiled gently. "In short, your decisions affect you. By being here, you give the tribes the right to trade with us. By choosing to be dedicated, your decisions affect you, not your tribe."

"So you won't prevent our families from trading?" Gli asked.

"Your presence here guarantees that right. After that, your choices affect your life only. You can be happy, or sad. You can work, earn a share of the temple's provisions, including a blanket and clothes, as well as food. You can also be lazy, and be fed, but only porridge. You can also help in the fields, help fish, do all kinds of things. Everything is in your own hands." Lena said.

"The tribes didn't trust girls to do these things. We worked hard, but were only valued for our bellies." Ge said. "I am the chief's daughter, but I would be traded to another tribe to make friends later."

"We don't do that here. Initiates are children of Imera. Acolytes are children of Kyrie, the goddess of death, and life from death." Lena smiled.

"That is as much as you can learn for now. Too much may make your eyes cross. Valina, guide the girls to the kitchen, and let them have some oatmeal, with a touch of honey."

"Nikki, once they are finished eating, guide them to the initiate's quarters, get them blankets and pillows, and check to see if the robes fit. If they do, assign them two sets each. Shoes too." Lena sighed.

"Children of Imera, welcome to the Great Temple."