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 WatersChapter 121: Changing Waters
Aisha walked along the edge of the river deep beneath the mountain, the river growing wider as she went and the shore narrower, no longer space enough for two people to walk side by side. When she slept, she lay down facing the cave wall, the scrolls held in front of her to keep them from the water's edge. Soon there was not room enough to sleep lying down. She instead leaned against the cave wall with her feet in the water, the sound of the river a sweet lullaby.
Sleep by sleep, for she could not determine day or night, she followed the river's flow as it inched up the shore. When she stopped to drink she found the water brackish instead of sweet. She raised her lamp and peered into the darkness ahead where the river met the walls on either side.
I have to be close. The river tastes of salt and I have been walking for days.
She started in the opposite direction, following her own tracks until she found a place where the rock wall made an alcove where she could sit on dry land. Unpacking her almost empty bag of rations, she spread the map of the deep waters in front of her and traced the twisting line that led away from the lake to the west, eventually emptying into the ocean.
The west, where the waves of the ocean beat against the cliffs. No boats sail there lest they be dashed to pieces against the rocks. But here is also where the shepherds keep their flocks, and where the webbestre weave wool in the spring, and gather silk when the leaves change from green to yellow.
This water must touch the sea if I can taste the salt. Which means I must find a way leading up if I am to find safety. The way forward will be wetter than the way behind me.
She looked at the remaining rations, enough dried meat and fruit for two more meals. Ahead, she may not be able to stop to eat, and the food could be ruined. If she ate the food now, and rested, perhaps she would have strength enough to make it back to the surface before the ocean could smash her against the rock walls like it had so many unwary ships that sailed to close to Adyll's protected borders.
Leaving her lamp on the shore, she took two steps out into the water and bent down to taste it. It was fresh here compared to further downstream where she made the decision to turn back. She refilled her water skin before returning to her small camp to eat half of her remaining rations, keeping the rest to eat upon waking. She gave the map another look before she rolled it back up and placed it in her now empty bag. Storing the scroll case and her final meal behind her, she lay back to rest knowing she may not sleep again until she reached the surface or sleep forever beneath the anger of the sea.
Women gathered in small groups in the temple courtyard, huddling together for warmth and whispering among themselves. Laundresses, prostitutes, serving women, kitchen staff, all roused from their tasks by soldiers and herded into the cold, a sea of red veils and murmurs.
A bell rang out from the arched classroom windows above them, and they all turned as one to find their former High Priestess standing in the window, arms outstretched as if in blessing. Next to her was a younger woman, a head shorter than the priestess. Both were dressed in fine black wool and veils the cold did not penetrate.
Ayn addressed the crowd in accented slurring words. "Heed the words of the forgiven Heresiarch, and the God-King's blessings will be upon you as they are upon her!"
The Adyllian women greeted her words with whispered jeers and insults. Filthy foreign spy! Heathen bitch!
The Holy Mother took a step forward to stand at the edge of the window, the wind whipping her robes about her and pressing her veil against her face outlining her features in black. Ayn reached for her Mistress to keep her from falling into the crowd below, but the old woman stood firm, waiting for her audience to quiet themselves as she towered over them.
"The Locust King in his mercy has granted me my life, and I have begged for yours." The priestess's voice rang out over the courtyard as clear and strong as it had when she served as sole authority inside these walls. "The death of one of our own has left us all shaken and angered. But the murder of Nasreen the sacred prostitute was not done by the Locusts, but by two of our own."
The wind lifted up the whispered accusations from the women below.
Murderer. She wears his colors.
"Do not listen to those who would lie to you and tell you otherwise! Their words are poison far worse than what killed our sweet sister! The end of those accusations is only rebellion which will end in all our deaths! Place the blame where it belongs, upon the cook who prepared the meal, and my Eyes who conspired with her to strike the High Priest. Their plot was turned against them, and Nasreen - an innocent - fell victim to their murderous intent!"
Traitor.
"Nasreen chose to live her life in service. She herself volunteered to lay down with the men of the Swarm. She even felt the love of a Lord Prince of the royal household." A gasp went up from the crowd. "Yes, and she loved him. A man of the Locust who serves at the right hand of the God King had love stirred in his heart by sweet Nasreen. And when she was chosen to serve the High Priest, one of our own killed her! I implore you all to live in service as Nasreen did. To serve as Nasreen did. This is the life we must lead if we wish to live, for the days of Adyll are over and the age of the Locust is upon us."
She took a step back off the window ledge and faced Ayn.
"They will come to understand the wisdom of your words soon enough," said Ayn.
"If we wish their cooperation, I will need to speak with the elder women alone. They are suspicious of foreigners."
"They will become used to me in time," said Ayn. "We are all women of the Locust after all."
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