Blood of the Goddess Book I: The Locust King
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Locusts at the Gate Chapter 2: A New Name Chapter 3: The Capital Prepares Chapter 4: The Princess is Dead, Long Live the Princess Chapter 5: Outside the Gates Chapter 6: Inside the Black Tent Chapter 7: Surrender at the Temple Chapter 8: The Cult of the Locust Chapter 9: The Locust's Tenets of Faith Chapter 10: Mourners on the Cliff Chapter 11: The Eye of Betrayal Chapter 12: The Dead King's Bedchamber Chapter 13: The Arms of the Goddess Chapter 14: Zayaan of the Narim Chapter 15: The Eyes of the Priestess Chapter 16: A More Permanent Disguise Chapter 17: Tribute Chapter 18: Sacrifice of the New Moon Chapter 19: The Lost Bird Chapter 20: Manah and the Priestess Chapter 21: Desert Creatures Chapter 22: Become the Swarm Chapter 23 The Price of Betrayal Chapter 24: Life Under the Locust Chapter 25: Wild Rose Chapter 26: The Lady Wren Chapter 27: Thought and Desire Chapter 28: The Lady's Captivity Chapter 29: The Wine Maiden Chapter 30: End of Childhood Chapter 31: The Children of Aisha Chapter 32: The Forest Runner Chapter 33: Three Sisters Chapter 34: The Hunt Chapter 35: Bones in the Forest Chapter 36: Lullaby Chapter 37: The Hunter's Horn Chapter 38: Ways Between Ways Chapter 39: Morning Star Chapter 40: A Prophecy for Baraz Chapter 41: Equinox Fires Chapter 42: The Lord Prince Takri Chapter 43: Evening Star Sets Chapter 44: Chaos in the Courtyard Chapter 45: Dasha Chapter 46: Memories Chapter 47: The Body Slave Chapter 48: Caged Beasts Chapter 49: Message from the Capital Chapter 50: Heresiarch Chapter 51: The Color of Blood Chapter 52: Winter Winds Chapter 53: The Bookmaker's Closet Chapter 54: Wrapped in Dignity and Beauty Chapter 55: Vessel of the Goddess Chapter 56: Cracks in the Walls Chapter 57: Two Brothers Chapter 58: The Court of Women Chapter 59: Favored of the King Chapter 60: The Sweetest Fruit Chapter 61: Daughter of the Temple Chapter 62: A Nation of Bastards Chapter 63: The Lute Player Chapter 64: Aisha's Prayer Chapter 65: Promises Chapter 66: Lives Lost Chapter 67: The Tea Maker Chapter 68: Object of Desire Chapter 69: Empty Shelves Chapter 70: Darkness and Light Chapter 71: The Love of Men Chapter 72: The Cursed Ones Chapter 73: Hiding Places Chapter 74: Old Men's Tales Chapter 75: False Prophecies Chapter 76: The Lord Prince Radu Chapter 77: Love Becomes Life Chapter 78: Mistress and Mother Chapter 79: A Test of Strength Chapter 80: The Strigoi-Viu Cometh Chapter 81: Scraps from the Table Chapter 82: A Fool's Errand Chapter 83: The Little Ghost Chapter 84: Stolen Honeycakes Chapter 85: Breathe Chapter 86: Beneath the Palace Chapter 87: Red Pebbles Chapter 88: Common Men Chapter 89: Love and Duty Chapter 90: Nightmares Chapter 91: Earth and Sun Chapter 92: Love and Creation Chapter 93: Until My Last Breath Chapter 94: Fruit and Flower Chapter 95: Two Days Chapter 96: Small Comforts Chapter 97: Heroes Chapter 98: Fire, Water, and Wax Chapter 99: Beneath the Temple Chapter 100: The Way of Eagles Chapter 101: The Gallu Chapter 102: The Cast Off Chapter 103: The Empty Bed Chapter 104: If It Is Her Will Chapter 105: Hunger Chapter 106: The Strigoi-Viu's Gift Chapter 107: Pennyroyal Chapter 108: Forgiveness Chapter 109: Fragile Chapter 110: Another Lord Prince Chapter 111: Divine InterventionChapter 111: Divine Intervention
Takri made his way towards his chambers, his route taking him past the doors to the Court of Women where Floryan and Luka stood guard.
“What news is there, Lord Prince?” asked Floryan. “We have heard rumors of trouble at the temple.”
“There is truth in those rumors.” Takri looked up and down the hallway to make sure they were alone. “Both of you should know, your mother is held in the dungeon below suspected of poisoning the High Priest.”
“Is that so?” said Luka. “I suppose she finally has a residence in the palace like she always thought she deserved.”
“She is your mother,” said Takri. “Are you not concerned for her safety at least?”
“She is our mother,” said Floryan. “And yet what my brother says is true. She may be our mother, but she never treated us as her children.”
“Baraz was not the only one to consume the poison,” said Takri. “The sacred prostitute Nasreen is another victum. Both will live. But Mahleck wants vengeance.”
“The strigoi-viu wants engeance for a temple prostitute?” said Luka. “Somehow, I think it is for his priest. Perhaps you are the one who wants vengeance for her?”
“You would be right,” said Takri. “Do you believe your mother capable of murder?”
“Our mother is capable of anything in pursuit of power,” said Floryan.
“Thank you,” said Takri. “I was beginning to think I was losing my mind accusing a high priestess of murder. How fares my cousin? And Yelena?”
“As well as songbirds fare when kept in a cage,” said Luka.
“I am to ride out with Mahleck at dawn,” said Takri. “I need your help while I am gone. The Procuress said she needed greens and meat and oranges to help Nasreen’s recovery. I cannot take them to the storeroom and be back before dawn. Can one of you help?”
Luka nodded. “We have already reached an agreement with the palace cook. His loyalties lie with himself, but if he can keep his cheese and wine he does not care where the rest goes. We can take supplies to the catacombs tonight.”
“The two boys,” said Takri. “They will be needing more food to distribute. You can follow their trail from the storeroom to a break in the wall which leads to their house. Just follow the lentils and the footprints. Leave the food across from the break in the wall. The greens and other food for Nasreen should be left by the rubble pile in the storeroom. I have someone inside the temple who will be able to get it to her from there.”
“We will take care of it,” said Floryan. “Just like when we were boys. Only this time we won’t be beaten by our mother when we return to our rooms since she is locked up under the palace!”
Luka snickered. “We should not laugh, brother.”
“What else can we do?” said Floryan. “If we stopped long enough to think we might end up weeping instead.”
The next morning, Takri rose from a fitful sleep before dawn and dressed himself in thick woolen garments and fur lined boots. He strapped his sword to his belt and fastened a cloak at his neck, his mind racing between Nasreen and Zayaan. It had been months since he last saw his cousin at the desert training camp. In many ways, it had been an eternity.
Now that Zayaan is here, I can leave without guilt. He can care for Lilua while I care for Nasreen somewhere far to the south where Mahleck will never find us.
...I hope he does not hate me for the things I did to survive in the camp. I hope his scars have healed.
He strode down the hallway and out to meet Mahleck already astride his horse, dressed just as he was the day he led the hunt in the bone forest. The King appeared to not feel the cold, just as he did not feel a spear stuck in his chest, or the need to sleep. Takri mounted his horse and the two rode out of the palace and through the capital. The city gates opened before them, allowing them to not slow their pace.
The sun rose higher in the sky, making the snow blush pink and the shadows glow blue where the light shone through the drifts.
Two hours later, they came upon the caravan’s camp. Round tents set in a circle in the snow, animals tied to trees, men working at building a fire in the center of the camp. Smoke streamed from the center of the largest tent. As Mahleck and Takri came close enough for the sentries to recognize their royal heraldry, shouts rang out around the camp.
“One!”
“God!”
“One!”
“Man!”
“One!”
“Lord!”
“One!”
“King!”
“One!”
“Swarm!”
“One!”
“LOCUST!”
The call and response repeated until they halted in front of the largest tent, where Radu and Zayaan stood ready to welcome them. All members of the camp dropped to their knees, heads bowed and fists to their heart as the two dismounted. Mahleck smiled at the man kneeling before him.
“Radu, how I have missed you!”
Radu looked up at his King and grinned. He stood upright and Mahleck gathered him in an embrace, clapping him on the back as both Takri and Zayaan looked on.
“This is the Lord Prince Takri,” said Mahleck, gesturing to his companion. “And this must be the Narim hero I have heard so much about! Zayaan, brother to my favorite bride. We are kin, you and I.”
Zayaan stared expressionless at the man in front of him. The man he had dreamt of killing, who killed his family and took his sister. His scar twitched.
“Zayaan is overwhelmed, sir. Please excuse his lack of words,” said Radu.
“There is no need to explain,” said Mahleck. “His sister is not one for words either. His cousin Takri, on the other hand...”
Zayaan turned his focus from Mahleck to his cousin. Takri hung back behind Mahleck. He had changed since he left the camp. He seemed taller and stronger, but no longer the smiling laughing Takri he knew growing up at the base of the mountain. He seemed pale, and dark shadows lay heavy under his reddened eyes.
“Come, everyone. Come inside,” said Radu. “And out of the cold. When I sent the bird yesterday, I did not expect you to answer it in person!” He ushered them inside the tent and offered a place by the fire for all to sit down.
“I miss campaigning, Radu,” said Mahleck. “Life in the walls of a palace is not the same at all.”
“And I miss life in a palace,” said Radu. “Especially the harem. I haven’t tasted female flesh since I left the lands to the south of the desert. Takri, tell me of the women of Adyll. Are they round and plump? Or tall? Do they have any tricks to them? No one knows outside this land. But I am sure you have tasted your fair share since arriving.”
“I am sure there is something to satisfy you here,” said Takri.
“You will have to excuse my new Lord Prince,” said Mahleck. “He fell enamored of a temple prostitute. I do not know if his heart will ever recover.”
“Temple prostitutes?” Radu was incredulous. “They have prostitutes in the temple?”
“From what I understand, it is a deeply ingrained custom in Adyll for sacred prostitutes to serve in the temple,” said Mahleck. “Both male and female. And both serve both sexes. Some men even masquerade as women in rare instances. This is what happens when a people worship a demoness who acts like a whore! I did keep some of the tradition alive for the sake of our troops. But now it is only women who serve in my temple.”
“I find this fascinating,” said Radu. “Tea Maker, why did you not tell me of such delights?”
“I was too young to participate in such things,” said Zayaan. “But my cousin seems to be very educated.”
“Indeed,” marveled Radu. “Takri, tell me of your sacred whore. Could I purchase her if I wished?”
“No,” said Takri. “She is in no condition to serve anyone.”
“Did he do something to her?” Radu asked Mahleck. “He does not look to be the type to enjoy violence with women. His face is too sweet.”
“There was an incident at the temple recently.” Mahleck turned serious. “You remember Baraz, my advisor.”
“I remember Baraz,” said Radu. “Thin man, overly fond of rosewater if I remember correctly.”
“Yes. I promoted him to High Priest,” said Mahleck. “He has served well, but in recent days he took Takri’s cast off whore as his own body slave.”
Radu made a disgusted face. “Oh. I can see how that would cause some discomfort in the royal house.”
“As much as I relish your wit, Radu, I am not here to gossip like old women,” said Mahleck. “Baraz was poisoned along with the whore. He is recovering at the temple now.”
“And the girl?” asked Radu. “Not that I am interested in something Baraz laid hands on...”
“She lives, but barely,” said Takri, his face downcast.
“I see,” said Radu. “How does this effect your plans for Longest Night?”
“They are the same,” said Mahleck. “But we shall be making an example of the ones who poisoned my priest as we feed the people.”
“As you should,” said Radu. “Tell us what we need to do for you.”
“You will enter the city at noon with the caravan on Longest Night,” said Mahleck. “And you will stay out of sight until then. We need the people to see this festival as one where I provide both sustenance and justice. No one is to know you are coming. It will be divine intervention at my hands. Do you understand?”
Radu nodded. “I think we all understand. Right, Tea Maker?”
“Yes,” said Zayaan. “I understand.”
Find your way!
Resources
WHO WE ARE
LEGAL
Get the news
Listen to our Podcast
Our Allies
