Jaspernon the Prince : The Rise of the Cult of the Goddess Ch.4 Part 2 : Changing The Cult Section 2 : Tarega the Priestess

Part 2 : Changing The Cult

Section 2 : Tarega the Priestess

 

   The High Priestess came into the Temple and spoke to Tarega, one of her closest colleagues. “Do you ever think about men?” Patience asked her friend. They were a similar age, both being 26 years old. Patience had achieved her prominence in the Cult because her parents had been leaders of it, not sole leaders, but amongst the top group

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     “Of course, but I try to concentrate on our work. It is difficult. The Goddess knows I often have undesirable thoughts, but she accepts me for what I am,” admitted the young woman.

 

     “I must confide in you now,” said Patience. “You will not criticise me amongst our members if I admit that recently I have not been entirely chaste?”

 

      “No I would not. Patience you know I would not. We have been together in everything. We lay our thoughts before the Goddess, for understanding or judgement. We do not judge ourselves or each other. If you have found solace in some physical release the Goddess can easily forgive and understand. You are not the first Priestess or Priest, or even High Priestess, who has done such. Some of our number have lived lives with partners or become married in the past. It was not actually forbidden.”

 

      “Thankyou for being understanding Tarega. I thought you would be. I have had relations with the Prince!”

 

      “With the Prince? I thought you seemed close when I have seen you with him at events, but I never thought. You must be careful Patience. How close have you been? I take it you have enjoyed a relationship of some attachment. I can imagine your suitability and attraction. Does he wish you to be a future Queen? Does he threaten to take you away from the Goddess?”

 

    “No. He does not want to take me from the Goddess, nor does he wish to put a ring upon my finger. He wants me to continue to be a leader to our Cult and to be guided by the Goddess. We are close, but not exclusive. He wants me to be what I am and to spread the words and deeds of the Goddess.”

 

      “Does he not have a lover already?” asked Tarega. “Rumour has it that the Lady Riala is his lover, who belongs to his own father!”

 

     “You have heard this rumour?” asked Patience, caught off guard.

 

     “The rumour of this has spread far and wide, but no one speaks of it loudly. Is it true?”

 

     “Yes it is,” Patience admitted boldly.

 

     “So my High Priestess, how is it that you too are his lover? It must be that you share him. He must be a great lover indeed.”

 

     “We do share him. I admit this to you, and yes he is a great lover indeed. There is something about him which makes him worthwhile. Although he is naughty he is also a man of vision.”

 

     “I do not know if I am really hearing this Patience. Are you saying a High Priestess can have a close relationship with the Prince, who also consorts with his own father’s concubine. Surely you risk all? If King Croesian finds out, you and all our Cult could be thrown out.”

 

     “You do not approve then?”

 

     “Not really. How can we, any of us? Surely you are blinded by his charm. This is dangerous, not just some normal marriage or relationship of passion, but something which threatens our position at Court and in this City.”

 

     “The Prince believes the Priestesses and Priests should not be held to vows of celibacy, that the Goddess and her love should be allowed to flow more freely through them,” explained Patience. “He believes we can unlock our passions and carry the spirit of our Goddess more honestly.

 

      “As to the King, he gives his son and the Lady Riala great freedom. He approves of this freedom, indeed he has practised it himself. The King sponsors our Cult, and so does the Prince and many at Court, but they do not seek to control us or bend us from our real work.”

 

 

     “Tarega, have you wondered what it is like to touch the shoulders of a strong man, to allow a man to open up your robe and take it off your shoulders, to have a man gaze at your breasts and move his hands to caress your flesh, to feel the kiss of a man upon your lips, and feel the snake of his tongue exploring your mouth.”

 

     “Oh Patience, please do not tempt me,” said Tarega. “I wish for these things often in my waking days, but I always thought it was wrong to do so.”

 

     “Tarega, I have come to believe that it is not wrong, either to think these thoughts or to practice them. What is important is to not let these thoughts rule you. By all means have the experience. I believe the Goddess wants you to do that, as she has wanted me to. I believe it was wrong for us to ignore the sexual, to pretend it was not there or did not exist. As soon as I began to allow myself to experience the sexual with Prince Jaspernon I knew it was the right thing to do. The Goddess told me herself, in dreams she told me what to do, before I did it. She showed me in my dreams. And she congratulated me after I had done it.

 

 

     The High Priestess offered Tarega initiation in sexual matters. She believed it would be good for her, that she would see the world more clearly and experience improved comfort from the Goddess, and achieve more for the Goddess. “You can be the chalice of the Goddess, carrying sustenance to the needy.”