Free Crowning Fantasy Book 1 by Coral Russell Page B

assured."
    Lurazat's eyes widened as it followed the needle until it passed from view behind him. He felt a small burning pain at the base of his skull, and then, he felt nothing.

Country: Varlid, Nation: Rike, City: Fond
    T o spend all your energy either embracing Goddess Gudina or avoiding Jakel leaves precious little for anything else. - Manskliga scholar
    Rike with its rolling hills and rich forests was a feast for the eyes. The Manskliga had ruled most of Varlid before the invasion of the Mikachiari and the Elyun. When the Asistan Ti invaded and went to war with the Mikachiari, the Manskliga declared neutrality while working to profit as much as possible from the conflict. After the blood from all sides had washed away they proposed with the Assitan Ti and Elyun to maintain a jointly occupied city, Enade. Wild territories, Galen, would be used as a buffer between the nations with the added benefit of funneling off dissidents from each of their countries. There were always dissidents. Those unsatisfied or unsuited to the life they were born into could take their chances in the wild.
    The Rektor was fielding an international emergency in the Dohla capital Rasima over the death of a son from the house of Esarotarahis. The Sayid and Ashiha of that house insisted that a secretary and dignitary were to blame. The Rektor had called for their immediate removal back to Fond and sent another Manskliga delegation to investigate. The Rektor didn't need the added domestic emergency that was unfolding at his own dinner table. 
    Gudina, the Goddess of the Manskliga was worshiped not only in Rike but in most of Varlid. Fina, his wife, was a devotee almost to the point of obsession. Rektor believed in part because of three failed births. But then Furstinna was born. Tall, shapely, perfect features like her mother. Rektor thought Fina's devotion would switch to their daughter.
    Instead Fina pulled Furstinna into her worship of the Goddess. All still seemed well while the child was young. Now, at dinner, Rektor realized how futile his hope for normalcy had been.
    "I won't," said Furstinna.
    "What do you mean you won't?" cried Fina, fanning herself as if she'd faint.
    "Now, now, dear, she has a right to not be involved as much in the worship rituals as you," said Rektor.
    "But she's not saying that at all!"
    "Furstinna, please tell your mother."
    "I have and I will not. Worshiping any Goddess is a waste of time. Fearing the Jakel is an even worse waste of time."
    "Blasphemy! How could this happen? You read the first holy book I gave you until it fell apart. You went with me every Gudina Dag to the cathedral. Helping those in need through our charities? Did you not feel the Goddess's spirit running through it all? It was with the blessing of Gudina you were even born!"
    "I feel the spirit of community with my fellow beings in Varlid and it has nothing to do with the Goddess. As for the rest I've come to a logical conclusion."
    Fina snorted, "Logical? Rektor it's all your fault for not being more involved in her life."
    Rektor stared into his drink so as not to make a biting reply.
    Furstinna looked from her mother to her father as if they were two strangers she'd never laid eyes on before. "You needn't worry. I want to be a good Manskliga but I don't believe I need to worship a Goddess for rewards, or worse, fear a Jakel for punishment in order to do that. Instead I consciously choose to be good and to do good."
    "The only reason you have any idea of what that means is because of Gudina, the Prast and my guidance all these years."
    "No, mother, because my idea of what constitutes a good person can and will change over time. What I decide is the right thing to do now may change in the future."
    Now Rektor saw the problem with his daughter's 'logic'. "Enough! We were supposed to enjoy a rare family dinner together. We can discuss this another time."
    "Meanwhile, you will continue your studies with the Prast," Fina added.
    "That's what I've