The Redemption (Part 5)

 Women offered themselves to become Fush-urah’s priestesses for various reasons.

Some saw Her temple as a way out from poverty, while some just wanted to escape from their cruel husbands.

But the real chosen ones are those handpicked by Fush-urah Herself when they were still in their mothers’ womb.

She would grant them wisdom and knowledge, give them the eyes to see the world from Her perspective, and the ability to reach out to the Froyalean women.

Jeyah has sensed that Gurgini and Fruimuah were among the chosen ones, as they learned fast under her guidance.

“Your affinity with Fush-urah can neither be created nor destroyed. It does not matter if you are a Froyalean or a Khebite.”

“Sawart once told me that it is possible for the goddess to make a priestess the Prophesier of the nation,” said Jeyah.

Gurgini has heard of stories how the Prophesier’s word could affect a king’s decision, how her words could calm the crocodiles in the Senio River, set a tree on fire to keep the homeless warm and even bringing the dead to life.

“No one knows if the miracles truly happened. It has been almost five centuries since the goddess appointed the last Prophesier,” explained Jeyah when Gurgini sought verification. “But one thing for sure, is that the Prophesier is meant to do great things.”

“Could the Prophesier be one of the Red Priestesses too?” Fruimuah asked, out of a sudden.

“The Red Priestesses…” Jeyah paused.

“Theirs was a system born out of a reformation. A reformation undertaken by the councilmen, who were the King's men.

“In the past, it was only the women who prayed to Fush-urah on matters related to fertility.

“The worship system was restructured when the previous kings felt the need to sustain the supremacy of the nation by strengthening its military.

“The men felt the need to be involved because they thought priestesses’ prayers were not powerful enough.

“But they could not challenge the ancient worship system established by the goddess. The scriptures have stipulated that the religion was only meant for women.

 “And then they introduced the Red Temple, which consists of priestesses who act as intercessors to seek blessings from the goddess to boost male fertility.”  

“Priestesses from the main temple can also intercede on their behalf. Why establish a separate system?” Gurgini asked.

Jeyah inhaled deeply, looked around the room and asked them to take a sit.

“Many priestesses claimed that they have heard Fush-urah calling them to enter the Red Temple,” Jeyah explained in a suppressed voice.

“But from what we know, some had secret affairs with the councilmen.”

Fruimuah and Gurgini were taken aback by the revelation.

“In the traditional Fush-urah discipline, a priestess found to have committed the sin with men would be impaled to death. The Red Temple has become the only way out for these priestesses.”

Jeyah grabbed their hands and looked into their eyes. “You do not have the freedom to choose where you will.

“But you can influence their decision.”

The sisters were puzzled but eager to find out what she was about to say.

“As long as you have a smooth face like a porcelain jar, you will most likely be taken to the Red Temple.”

Gurgini and Fruimuah’s eyes were immediately drawn to Jeyah’s face. That explained the scratch marks and scars on it.

“You want to avoid the councilmen from noticing your beauty if you have no wish of entering the Red Temple.”

“Give it a thought. One of the councilmen will be here anytime in the next few days.

“Just bear in mind that priestesses will help you,” said Jeyah, and left the girls.

***

The scroll recorded that Gurgini eventually heeded Jeyah’s advice and had her face disfigured while Fruimuah was not willing to sacrifice her beauty.

The mutilation process on Gurgini face was not recorded in the scroll. The written document has only recorded to the day when the girls were brought to meet the council.

Gurgini, with scars on her face

The Council Man walked into the inner court of the main temple. 

His throat-clearing sound echoed so loudly in the spacious hall that caused the girls to shiver for a second.

Gurgini and Fruimuah were too afraid to turn around to see the man but they could hear his footstep coming at them from behind.

“Bless you, high priestess of Fush-urah,” the Council Man greeted Sawart who was already seated in the court. She paid no attention to his greeting.

“Sisters. Gurgini left, Fruimuah right,” said Sawart.

Gurgini and Fruimuah raised their heads and saw the Council Man. 

They were surprised that the man was not stern-looking at all.

The Council Man’s body was in a good shape despite being in his late forties. To their surprise, the man did not have a terrifying face, which they had pictured over and again on their mind.

The Council Man inspected the girls. First, he had a good look at Gurgini and realised she had scars on the face. The Council Man automatically turned around to look at Sawart and smiled.

“Bless you, Gurgini,” he said.

He walked up to Fruimuah and studied her deeply.

‘Fruimuah, an unusual name,” he said.

“I supposed she has been very careful in keeping her face scar-free,” he said sarcastically.

He then announced: “Gurgini shall offer her service in the Main Temple while Fruimuah be brought to serve in the Red Temple.”

“What a surprise,” Sawart responded emotionlessly, stood up and left. She did not even bother to look at the girls.

Hence, the sisters were separated. Gurgini wished the best for her sister, though she was unhappy with the choice she made.

To Fruimuah, she felt her stay in the temple was just temporary and did not see the need to disfigure her face just to escape from Red Temple.

It will be over soon. I will be out of here in no time.

A senior Red Priestess named Senti was arranged to guide Fruimuah.

Like Sawart, Senti was a woman of discipline.

She knew what went on between priestesses and some of the councilmen in the Red Temple but tried hard to stop them.

“Do not be blinded by greed for what men could offer you in exchange of your service for the wrong purpose,” Senti warned Fruimuah from time to time.

Just when Senti thought Fruimuah might one day succeed her place in the Red Temple, she found out Fruimuah had already started an affair with the Council Man - the man who sent her to the Red Temple some two years ago.

And he was, at that time, already a married man.

“The curse of the Red Temple will never cease.”

But Senti did not step in to stop their relationship, as she believed the goddess would have Her way of dealing with Fruimuah.

Gurgini has no idea on what Fruimuah had gotten herself into. 

Though they met in the Court of Ceremony for prayers every morning, they hardly spoke to each other because of their identity.

The sisters have begun to drift apart from each other.

(to be continued…)