Chapter II
Jahandri followed the woman into the magnificent house as she told her what her duties would be. "...You shall make sure my room is always warm enough but not stifling. Also you will-"
"Excuse for interrupting milady but what, may I ask is your name?"
"Oh heavens! I feel so foolish! I am Maríkina Yanria, Duchess of Sirizia and ninth in line for the throne. Don't worry about that dear, you can just call me Marí. Now over here..." her voice drifted off as Jahandri stood in shock. Ninth in line for the throne? She was chambermaid to the women who possible could be Queen someday? Quickly she realized Marí was waiting for her and hurried to catch up with her apologizing the entire way. "No need for that. I don't bother with the fact that I am royalty anymore. It makes people act strange. By the way, I told you my name but I do not believe you told me yours."
"Jahandri, milady"
"Now, to continue the grand tour." Marí showed Jahandri around the house telling her about what she was expected to do along the way. To Jahandri it seemed as if she was to be nothing but a companion to the woman. Marí's husband was away often and she did not like being alone. After she had been shown around the entire house Marí sent her to be measured for some suitable clothing. After she was measured she was to be sent to have lunch with her new mistress.
Jahandri couldn't help but wonder how she had gotten the job. Duchesses just don't come up to random girls in the street and asked them if they would like jobs. Could it have been the stone? Why was Geshri looking out for her? What had she done to deserve protection from a goddess?
After she had been measured Jahandri hurried back to the dining room. Marí was already sitting at the table. "Where am I to sit milady? At my previous master's house I ate in the kitchen but I have the strangest feeling that I will be different here." Jahandri smiled.
"You are quite right dear. You are to eat out here with me and keep me company." Marí smiled back. "You mentioned your previous master who did you work for?"
Jahandri thought carefully before she answered, "I was one of three servants employed. I come from the mountains. Things were becoming more difficult for my master and he had to let me go. When I was freed I decided to come to Tset Zhan to worship before finding a new employer." It wasn't completely a lie, just parts of it. Jahandri didn't want this woman to find out about her past. Marí seemed to believe the story well enough and continued the conversation. They talked about idle things for a while and then somehow happened upon the topic of marriage.
"Do you wish to marry, Jahandri?"
"I have never thought about it, milady."
"Well you seem to be around the correct age, how old are you? Sixteen?"
"Fifteen."
"You appear older. No matter. You are nearly of age and should consider a visit to the matchmaker. You do not need my permission to get married, unlike many people I do not care if my servants are married or not."
"I will think about it milady." Jahandri did think about getting married., she though about it often. She did want to get married and have a family but she didn't think she was ready. It seemed to her that she was still a young girl talking to the goddess Geshri.
Jahandri worked for Marí a year before she returned to visit Geshri's temple. She never felt the need, praying to the goddess from her room seemed enough. The girl also, after a time began to feel safer about Yujri and Jaffrix. However one day she felt a sudden urge to go to the temple. The girl asked Marí if she could go to the town for a few hours and she said yes.
Jahandri set out toward the temples of Tset Zhan. After about twenty minutes she reached Geshri's temple. She quickly slipped inside. Yet again she was the only one inside the temple. Jahandri walked up to the altar, lit a stick of incense and set it in the bowel. She bowed her head to the ground and sat up.
For a long time Jahandri sat in the temple just staring at the idol of Geshri. Questions ran through her head. Why me? Why was I chosen to speak with you? Why did you give me the stone? Why did I get the job working for Marí? Why? Why? Why? Why? She put her head in her hands. Her eyes were closed and she did not see the glass doors clouding over with a dark green smoke. She did not see the shimmering light in front of her and she didn't see the woman appear from thin air.
"Look at me, Jahandri."
Jahandri jumped up. In front of her was a woman that was all too familiar. She had black hair and aqua eyes. It was the goddess Geshri. Jahandri wanted to ask the questions she had thought about all those times but she found she couldn't speak a word. All she could do was stare into the goddess's eyes.
They just stared at each other for a while before Jahandri could finally look away. It was then she asked, "Why me? Why are you doing this to me?" Geshri didn't answer so she asked again, "Why are you doing this all to me? What did I do to deserve conversations with a goddess?"
"Is it not possible that you are one of my chosen prophets or maybe you are destined to be a priestess?"
Jahandri though a moment before answering confidently, "No. All of the priests, priestesses, prophets, all of them have some kind of magical gift, I can do nothing. The only magic I have ever encountered was in that stone and I don't even know how to use it's magic to help me," she looked up, her eyes full of questions, "Why was I chosen? Am I so different than everyone else? I mean my hair and eyes are but underneath all that?"
"Yes my dear, you are different, very different in fact. There isn't another remotely like you on this entire planet. I do not believe there is another like you in the entire creation."
"Why? Why am I so different that you have to come down and talk to me?"
"Because you're my daughter."
Jahandri was speechless. She could not understand what Geshri was saying. Her, the daughter of a goddess, it was impossible. Gods and goddesses were supposed to do great things, like move mountains or create storms. They were supposed to control nature and go on important quests and adventures. The only thing she would ever amount to was to be a servant and possibly someday a wife to a poor servant who was like her. Even if she was Geshri's daughter how did she come to be on earth? Gods lived in the heavens and only came to earth on rare occasions.
"Your... daughter? How, why?"
"I know it may seem hard to believe, but you really are my daughter."
"So you are telling me, and expecting me to believe that I am a goddess? Goddesses have magical powers! I don't! Goddesses are brave! I'm not!"
"But you really are a goddess! Well, at least half of one anyway. Your father was mortal. That still means that you are one half goddess and that means I have every right to talk to you. You are special Jahandri, can't you just understand that?"
"But why? I never asked to be a goddess! I just wanted to have a normal life. I wanted to get married, have children. Is that to much to ask?"
"No, and you will! Being a goddess doesn't mean that you cannot get married and have children. In fact that is why I came to talk to you today, we need to discuss your marriage."
"My marriage?"
"Yes. I still have to work out the details but I have performed my duties as a proper mother, arranging your marriage."
"You arranged my marriage? Who even told you I wanted to be married?"
"You did. Every night in your prayers you ask the gods to send you someone to marry. Besides as your mother I have the right to arrange your marriage if I wish to do so. Consider yourself lucky, the man I have chosen is better than most of the men out there."
Jahandri could not believe what she was hearing, first a mother who is a goddess and now a fiancée who she didn't ask for. "Who is this man?"
"A prince. Of a small country to the north of here, Q'Rhaz, but a prince all the same."
"A prince? When did get around to finding me a prince for a husband? I'm just a servant; I have no business marrying a prince! Do you have-"
"When will you understand that you are more that just a servant? You're that daughter of Geshri, goddess of the sea! I found a man who will take care of you for the rest of your life."
"What if I don't want to be anything more than a servant! I can't I won't! I finally found a mistress who treats me like more than a servant, she treats me like her friend. I can't just abandon her! She depends on me!"
"She hired you quickly didn't she? Her previous chambermaid had taken ill and then she just out of the blue came up to you and asked you if you needed a job. She can find another just as quickly as she found you!"
"Why should I trust you? You have never been there for me, when I was growing up I had no mother or father. Now you come up to me and tell me that you are my mother and I still don't know who my father is."
"He was a fisherman. He was stranded on an island in the middle of the Great Sea and I rescued him."
"Did he know who you were?"
"No, but I was going to tell him. Her knew about you, he was there when you were born. He was the one who thought of the name Jahandri. It was his sister's name."
"So? Where is he now? Or don't you know. You probably cared about him just as much as you care about me. Not at all."
"Think what you want. I loved your father. He was killed the night you were born."
"How?"
"My brother, Ithrán didn't want me to marry a mortal. He was so set against my marriage so he killed your father."
Jahandri sank to her knees and stared at her. Ithrán was always called "the merciful" yet he just killed her father fir wanting to marry his sister. Jahandri was still angry with her mother but she now had a new found sympathy for her. She did not know what to think. Geshri had never told her that she was the daughter of a goddess. Maybe she had felt just as lonely all those years without a daughter and Jahandri had felt without parents.
After a while she stood up, "Maybe I could give this a try. Just remember, I'm new at this," she smiled. So did Geshri.
Jahandri followed the woman into the magnificent house as she told her what her duties would be. "...You shall make sure my room is always warm enough but not stifling. Also you will-"
"Excuse for interrupting milady but what, may I ask is your name?"
"Oh heavens! I feel so foolish! I am Maríkina Yanria, Duchess of Sirizia and ninth in line for the throne. Don't worry about that dear, you can just call me Marí. Now over here..." her voice drifted off as Jahandri stood in shock. Ninth in line for the throne? She was chambermaid to the women who possible could be Queen someday? Quickly she realized Marí was waiting for her and hurried to catch up with her apologizing the entire way. "No need for that. I don't bother with the fact that I am royalty anymore. It makes people act strange. By the way, I told you my name but I do not believe you told me yours."
"Jahandri, milady"
"Now, to continue the grand tour." Marí showed Jahandri around the house telling her about what she was expected to do along the way. To Jahandri it seemed as if she was to be nothing but a companion to the woman. Marí's husband was away often and she did not like being alone. After she had been shown around the entire house Marí sent her to be measured for some suitable clothing. After she was measured she was to be sent to have lunch with her new mistress.
Jahandri couldn't help but wonder how she had gotten the job. Duchesses just don't come up to random girls in the street and asked them if they would like jobs. Could it have been the stone? Why was Geshri looking out for her? What had she done to deserve protection from a goddess?
After she had been measured Jahandri hurried back to the dining room. Marí was already sitting at the table. "Where am I to sit milady? At my previous master's house I ate in the kitchen but I have the strangest feeling that I will be different here." Jahandri smiled.
"You are quite right dear. You are to eat out here with me and keep me company." Marí smiled back. "You mentioned your previous master who did you work for?"
Jahandri thought carefully before she answered, "I was one of three servants employed. I come from the mountains. Things were becoming more difficult for my master and he had to let me go. When I was freed I decided to come to Tset Zhan to worship before finding a new employer." It wasn't completely a lie, just parts of it. Jahandri didn't want this woman to find out about her past. Marí seemed to believe the story well enough and continued the conversation. They talked about idle things for a while and then somehow happened upon the topic of marriage.
"Do you wish to marry, Jahandri?"
"I have never thought about it, milady."
"Well you seem to be around the correct age, how old are you? Sixteen?"
"Fifteen."
"You appear older. No matter. You are nearly of age and should consider a visit to the matchmaker. You do not need my permission to get married, unlike many people I do not care if my servants are married or not."
"I will think about it milady." Jahandri did think about getting married., she though about it often. She did want to get married and have a family but she didn't think she was ready. It seemed to her that she was still a young girl talking to the goddess Geshri.
Jahandri worked for Marí a year before she returned to visit Geshri's temple. She never felt the need, praying to the goddess from her room seemed enough. The girl also, after a time began to feel safer about Yujri and Jaffrix. However one day she felt a sudden urge to go to the temple. The girl asked Marí if she could go to the town for a few hours and she said yes.
Jahandri set out toward the temples of Tset Zhan. After about twenty minutes she reached Geshri's temple. She quickly slipped inside. Yet again she was the only one inside the temple. Jahandri walked up to the altar, lit a stick of incense and set it in the bowel. She bowed her head to the ground and sat up.
For a long time Jahandri sat in the temple just staring at the idol of Geshri. Questions ran through her head. Why me? Why was I chosen to speak with you? Why did you give me the stone? Why did I get the job working for Marí? Why? Why? Why? Why? She put her head in her hands. Her eyes were closed and she did not see the glass doors clouding over with a dark green smoke. She did not see the shimmering light in front of her and she didn't see the woman appear from thin air.
"Look at me, Jahandri."
Jahandri jumped up. In front of her was a woman that was all too familiar. She had black hair and aqua eyes. It was the goddess Geshri. Jahandri wanted to ask the questions she had thought about all those times but she found she couldn't speak a word. All she could do was stare into the goddess's eyes.
They just stared at each other for a while before Jahandri could finally look away. It was then she asked, "Why me? Why are you doing this to me?" Geshri didn't answer so she asked again, "Why are you doing this all to me? What did I do to deserve conversations with a goddess?"
"Is it not possible that you are one of my chosen prophets or maybe you are destined to be a priestess?"
Jahandri though a moment before answering confidently, "No. All of the priests, priestesses, prophets, all of them have some kind of magical gift, I can do nothing. The only magic I have ever encountered was in that stone and I don't even know how to use it's magic to help me," she looked up, her eyes full of questions, "Why was I chosen? Am I so different than everyone else? I mean my hair and eyes are but underneath all that?"
"Yes my dear, you are different, very different in fact. There isn't another remotely like you on this entire planet. I do not believe there is another like you in the entire creation."
"Why? Why am I so different that you have to come down and talk to me?"
"Because you're my daughter."
Jahandri was speechless. She could not understand what Geshri was saying. Her, the daughter of a goddess, it was impossible. Gods and goddesses were supposed to do great things, like move mountains or create storms. They were supposed to control nature and go on important quests and adventures. The only thing she would ever amount to was to be a servant and possibly someday a wife to a poor servant who was like her. Even if she was Geshri's daughter how did she come to be on earth? Gods lived in the heavens and only came to earth on rare occasions.
"Your... daughter? How, why?"
"I know it may seem hard to believe, but you really are my daughter."
"So you are telling me, and expecting me to believe that I am a goddess? Goddesses have magical powers! I don't! Goddesses are brave! I'm not!"
"But you really are a goddess! Well, at least half of one anyway. Your father was mortal. That still means that you are one half goddess and that means I have every right to talk to you. You are special Jahandri, can't you just understand that?"
"But why? I never asked to be a goddess! I just wanted to have a normal life. I wanted to get married, have children. Is that to much to ask?"
"No, and you will! Being a goddess doesn't mean that you cannot get married and have children. In fact that is why I came to talk to you today, we need to discuss your marriage."
"My marriage?"
"Yes. I still have to work out the details but I have performed my duties as a proper mother, arranging your marriage."
"You arranged my marriage? Who even told you I wanted to be married?"
"You did. Every night in your prayers you ask the gods to send you someone to marry. Besides as your mother I have the right to arrange your marriage if I wish to do so. Consider yourself lucky, the man I have chosen is better than most of the men out there."
Jahandri could not believe what she was hearing, first a mother who is a goddess and now a fiancée who she didn't ask for. "Who is this man?"
"A prince. Of a small country to the north of here, Q'Rhaz, but a prince all the same."
"A prince? When did get around to finding me a prince for a husband? I'm just a servant; I have no business marrying a prince! Do you have-"
"When will you understand that you are more that just a servant? You're that daughter of Geshri, goddess of the sea! I found a man who will take care of you for the rest of your life."
"What if I don't want to be anything more than a servant! I can't I won't! I finally found a mistress who treats me like more than a servant, she treats me like her friend. I can't just abandon her! She depends on me!"
"She hired you quickly didn't she? Her previous chambermaid had taken ill and then she just out of the blue came up to you and asked you if you needed a job. She can find another just as quickly as she found you!"
"Why should I trust you? You have never been there for me, when I was growing up I had no mother or father. Now you come up to me and tell me that you are my mother and I still don't know who my father is."
"He was a fisherman. He was stranded on an island in the middle of the Great Sea and I rescued him."
"Did he know who you were?"
"No, but I was going to tell him. Her knew about you, he was there when you were born. He was the one who thought of the name Jahandri. It was his sister's name."
"So? Where is he now? Or don't you know. You probably cared about him just as much as you care about me. Not at all."
"Think what you want. I loved your father. He was killed the night you were born."
"How?"
"My brother, Ithrán didn't want me to marry a mortal. He was so set against my marriage so he killed your father."
Jahandri sank to her knees and stared at her. Ithrán was always called "the merciful" yet he just killed her father fir wanting to marry his sister. Jahandri was still angry with her mother but she now had a new found sympathy for her. She did not know what to think. Geshri had never told her that she was the daughter of a goddess. Maybe she had felt just as lonely all those years without a daughter and Jahandri had felt without parents.
After a while she stood up, "Maybe I could give this a try. Just remember, I'm new at this," she smiled. So did Geshri.