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 Intervention Chapter 112: Chance to Live Chapter 113: Accusations Chapter 114: Negotiations Chapter 115: Dark Memories Chapter 116: Forgotten Chapter 117: Questions and Obedience Chapter 118: Twisted Ways Chapter 119: New Eyes Chapter 120: Justice and Mercy Chapter 121: Changing Waters Chapter 122: Council of Grandmothers Chapter 123: Rising Tides Chapter 124: Dawn of Longest Night Chapter 125: One Blood Chapter 126: Winter Flowers Chapter 127: Trust Chapter 128: Bearer of SorrowsChapter 126: Winter Flowers
Inside the sanctuary, Baraz stood over the coffin where Nasreen's body lay in splendor on a bed of finest furs. Cloth of gold draped her obviously pregnant form, hands clasped lovingly above her belly. Her dark hair lay in curls about her shoulders while flowers from the Court of Women surrounded her. Faint blue shadows lingered under her eyes and at the corners of her mouth, but her cheeks blushed with the joy of youth. Even in death, her beauty remained preserved by the hands of the men who kept her captive and used her as a plaything.
Baraz reached out as if to touch her cheek, but pulled back his hand as an unseen person cleared his throat among the shadows in the back of the room. A man bent with age stepped forward and bowed before the high priest.
"I hope you are pleased with my work, your Holiness. It has been some time since I have been called upon to preserve a body for display."
"You have done well, Hetem," said Baraz. "She looks as if she sleeps in a field of flowers."
"She will be eternally beautiful," said Hetem. "Just as the God King wishes her to be. She may serve him in death better than she did in life."
"Your work is truly remarkable," said Baraz. "The God-King will be pleased."
The doors to the sanctuary opened behind the high priest, sending a burst of cold air through the room, followed by Baraz's assistant. He rushed to close the door behind him as Hetem rearranged the flowers inside the coffin.
"Your Holiness, the God King will ride through the gates at any moment."
"Is all prepared?" asked Baraz.
"All is as you have commanded," said the younger priest. "We only await your presence."
"LIght the fires," said Baraz. "And we shall welcome our God to his house of worship."
Radu and Zayaan stood outside the sanctuary, garbed in the royal livery of the House of the Locust. Standing in the cold and itching from the stiff fabric, Zayaan momentarily wished he was in his travel weary furs instead of this new finery, even though it smelled much better.
Priests rushed to and fro across the courtyard, quickly setting up tables which they filled with rations unloaded from the caravan. Closer to sanctuary steps, others stacked firewood inside braziers. Archers took their places along the top of the temple walls, while soldiers armed with pikes stood guard in pairs by every entrance.
"Do they fear violence?" asked Zayaan.
"Men of the Swarm do not fear violence," answered Radu. "Do you remember what I taught you of cities?"
"Yes." Zayaan put his hand on the dagger at his waist. "Cities are full of knives you do not see."
"Those archers above and the soldiers below are simply a warning for those with hidden blades, Tea Maker. Often the best way to discourage violence is to show strength. If they know we will shed their blood if they try to take ours, they will never draw those blades."
Below them, priests lit the braziers, sending flames leaping upwards. Zayaan could feel the heat on his face, reminding him of the sticky warmth of the boy's blood earlier, and the trembling hands of the high priest.
"Do the priests always use blood in their rituals?" asked Zayaan.
"Stop asking questions, Tea Maker," said Radu. "You have too many, and I am tired."
"But..."
"Do you know how to read?" asked Radu.
"Read?"
"That is what I thought," said Radu. "We shall teach you to read, and you will be able to answer every question you can come up with... Without having to pepper me with them as if I am some sort of stew. Perhaps you can ask the high priest, I can hear the rapping of his staff coming now. He is the sort who loves the written word. It can be a source of power for those who love questions as much as you do. For now, please just stand there and look heroic."
"I think you are still angry the temple brothel is closed," said Zayaan. "The priest was unhappy with your suggestion he give you a prostitute before he gave you your clothes."
"Did you see his face?" Radu did his best to imitate the priest's dour expression. "'Surely you do not wish to defile yourself on this holiest of days?' Yes, as a matter of fact, I would very much like to defile myself repeatedly as soon as I possibly can!"
Baraz made his way over to the two laughing princes, a scowl on his own face. He could feel the exhaustion which had plagued him since the day he took the poison deepen with each step. Mahleck had brought him back to life to serve him, but he had not cured him. He left him to serve in suffering instead. By the time the night was over, the priest would be spent. By tomorrow he would be fortunate if he was able to walk.
"Blessings upon our heroes." Baraz managed to force a smile with half of his face.
"And blessings upon you, Baraz," said Radu. "You look as though you need it more than we do."
"The Adyllian winters do not agree with me," slurred Baraz. "I prefer warmer climates."
"I find them invigorating," said the Lord Prince. "They remind me of the mountains where I was born. What about you, Prince Zayaan? What are your opinions on Adyllian winters?"
Zayaan opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a horn atop the temple wall cut him off. Across the courtyard, soldiers rushed to the gates, pulling them open to admit their God and King.
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