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 119: New Eyes
Day and night passed in a blur for the Holy Mother, isolated above the palace in her tower cell. Her fever dreams brought her frightening visions: King Pytr's severed head mocking her as rivulets of blood ran down the sanctuary stairs, filling the cracks between the cobblestones in the temple courtyard where a golden haired Irinya skipped and played among the dead.
Dasha awoke in a sweat on her straw mattress and threw back the thick woolen blankets which covered her. She did not remember when these niceties had been brought to her, or how long she slept. Pulling herself up into a sitting position caused burst of pain to shoot through her temples. She held her head in her hands for a moment waiting for the pain to subside. Outside, the sound of soldiers' metal shod boots rang on the cobblestones as they practiced marching in formation in the courtyard below. Each step sent red hot pain through the place where her eyes once were.
A few moments later she heard the door open and soft slippers among the straw on the floor. Instead of Mahleck's expected scent, the comforting smell of herbal tea and fresh bread wafted towards the old woman.
"Oh! Good, you are awake," slurred a young female voice. "I brought you some bread and tea."
"Who are you?" The old woman's voice cracked with suspicion. "What day is it?"
"My name is Ayn," said the girl, placing the cup of hot tea in the high priestess' hands and wrapping her fingers around it. "It is two days until Longest Night. Come, eat. The God King needs you strong enough to travel to the temple today."
"Ayn?" asked the Holy Mother. "What kind of name is Ayn? Where are your people from, child?"
"Far away from here," said Ayn. "I was taken to serve before I was old enough to remember."
The high priestess drank some of the tea and ate a few bites of bread before speaking again. "Who brought me blankets and bedding? Is it you I have to thank for that?"
"All is the God King's doing," said Ayn. "I am only a servant."
"You are lucky to be alive if that is the case," said the old woman. "Some say he eats young girls like you."
"I would never be one of his chosen, mistress," said the girl. "I am too ugly."
"Well, I have no sight," said the old woman. "Come here and let me feel your face, child."
The younger woman took the cup from her hand and put it to the side, and then placed the older woman's hands on her face allowing her to trace her features. Dasha could feel the girl's eyes and crooked nose above thick wet lips. Ayn's slack jaw seemed to recede into her neck under the old woman's fingers. She took her hands back and wiped the spittle on the bedclothes.
"There are more important things than beauty, child," said the old woman.
"I might be ugly, but I am strong," said the girl. "And I can see which is better than you."
Dasha let out a snort. "Indeed. You and I make a pair I think."
"Finish your food," said Ayn. "I will bring you new clothes. We are to go to the temple so you can meet with the high priest and the God King."
"You are coming with me?" asked the Holy Mother.
"Yes," said Ayn. "I am to be your new Eyes since you lost your old ones."
Dasha could hear the younger woman hurrying out the door as she finished the tea and bread. When Ayn returned, Dasha had regained enough strength to bathe and dress herself in the robes provided by her new Eyes. The girl was capable enough to serve as her guide, but the idea of a foreigner leading her through the sacred walls of the temple and lying by her side at night, much less listening to her every word angered Dasha. But she dare not refuse. If Mahleck wanted this slack jawed girl by her side, she would stay there.
"Ayn, these robes feel different," said Dasha.
"The God King instructed I was to dress you in black instead of red," said Ayn.
"Do you know why?" asked the Holy Mother.
"I do not ask questions of God, Mistress," said Ayn. "I only obey."
Ayn assisted the Holy Mother with her boots before leading her out of the tower cell and down the stairs to the courtyard and into a waiting carriage. As soon as the old priestess heard the curtains drawn against the cold, the familiar scent of leather, wine, and blood hit her nostrils.
"Do you like my gifts, Heresiarch?"
"You are most generous, my God and King," said Dasha. "Ayn seems most capable."
"She is most capable," said Mahleck. "She came to us as a child, and what she lacks in beauty she makes up for in resilience. I believe she will be a great help to you as your new Eyes."
"I am most grateful for her as well as the new garments," said Dasha.
"Did Ayn tell you they are no longer red?" asked Mahleck. "Black is more suitable for someone of your rank."
"My rank?"
"You remain the Heresiarch, and that title will forever hold the stain of your past," said Mahleck. "But your loyalty and obedience have bought forgiveness in my eyes. No longer will you wear the color of blood like the stained women of the temple, but the color of my house. This will show your temple dwellers my blessing and protection. From this day forward you will dwell in private quarters within the temple. You will no longer need to sleep alongside the others in the cold. Ayn alone will serve you."
Dasha sat up straighter in her seat as the carriage jostled down the street to the temple. "And what is it you wish in return, my God and King?"
"Only your continued loyalty," said Mahleck. "The temple seems to be a breeding ground for rebellion and treachery. We cannot have another attempt on my high priest's life. In two days time, food will arrive from across the desert, enough to feed the people of Adyll until the first spring harvests. You will honor our agreement we made in the tower and speak truth to the people so they may know me as the God I am."
"I will honor our agreement," said the old woman. "When will you bring me my sons?"
"They will stand by your side as you address the people," said Mahleck. "And they will remain with you until the sun sets on the festivities of Longest Night. This I promise you."
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