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 TempleChapter 48: Caged Beasts
The equinox was not marked at the desert camp. Every day blended into the next in a never-ending cycle of rules and commands to be followed with unthinking instant obedience. Since Takri's departure, Zayaan began viewing the officers' demands as a game he once played as a child where ridiculous tasks must be carried out in a race. So far, this approach was successful at keeping him in good graces, but he had yet to gain enough favor to leave the camp. He was still assigned the most undesirable daily tasks along with the Adyllian youths he was training.
An hour before dusk, Zayaan set off alone on his nightly trek to the western checkpoint to stand watch until sunrise. As the days in the desert grew shorter, the nights grew colder, and the rags he wore in the summer to protect him from the heat and dust were now accompanied by woolen blankets. In happier days, the Narim would be striking camp further out into the desert in preparation for the trading season after the passing of the Day of Between. The cooler temperatures which came with the change of seasons allowed for better travel across the desert. Their lives were built on changes of seasons and changes of place. But Zayaan would not be traveling farther than the checkpoint until he obtained the full trust and confidence of his captain and commander. Even then, his dwelling would be wherever the Locust King dictated it to be.
As he neared the checkpoint, he called out, "Tarren! Anything to report?"
"Nothing. As usual. Only sand and sun. I don't know how you manage through the nights out here." Tarren shook his head as he gathered up his belongings. He was a year younger than Zayaan, and from a land much further east than the edge of the desert.
"We all must do what the Locust asks of us," answered Zayaan. At least here he would be left in peace to be alone with his thoughts. Since he began training the Adyllian conscripts in the afternoons, he relished his solitary night watches under the stars. Here he had no questions to answer, either from the recruits or from his overseers. Here he could see time pass by the changes in the phase of the moon and the movement of the stars.
He sat down to eat his rations and watch the sun dip below the horizon. Where it set marked where Lilua was held captive, and where Takri was sent by the commander. Do they feel the restlessness of the season's change as I do? He thought back to the creatures his uncles brought from the nations bordering the far side of the desert. Strange, wild beasts with hands like his own who would howl for freedom as they hung from their tails inside their cages. As long as the Locust reigns, we are all nothing more than caged beasts.
A blue pillar of light flared in the western sky, illuminating the desert below. Zayaan rose to his feet, shading his hand against the brightness. He marked the location of the fire on the mountainside before it winked out of existence.
The capital. What was that?
He reached into his pack for his lantern, which he lit and frantically signaled the camp. Mountain. Light. Capital. In the darkness he could make out Tarren sprinting back in his direction.
The signal came back from the camp. Hold. Watch.
Zayaan responded in the affirmative with the lantern as Tarren returned to the checkpoint.
"Did you see that?" asked Tarren.
"I think we all saw it. It lit up the whole desert. What could make a light like that? Lightning?" asked Zayaan.
"I will stay here with you. We should both be on watch in case anything else happens," said Tarren. "What if the gods are taking their vengeance on the God-Who-Walks-Among-Men?"
"There is no god other than Him. To think otherwise is heresy," said Zayaan.
"Of course, you are right," stammered Tarren. "I only meant to say that the light seemed unnatural?"
Zayaan nodded. "Take the lantern and notify the camp that you will stay here." He resumed his post. The light signified something was different. Something had changed.
A cold wind rushed down the mountain and across the desert floor, chilling the two watchmen to the bone. From the camp they could hear the alarm being sounded, rousing the other recruits from their rest. The commander would be preparing to march on the capital if needed by the next morning.
"Zayaan?" asked Tarren. "Have you ever killed a man?"
"Yes," answered Zayaan. "Before I knew the God-Among-Men, when the Swarm liberated me and my cousin from our idolatry. We fought the Swarm with our people. I killed three men. This is why I bear this scar, the mark of my idolatry and rebellion."
"What was it like? To kill them?"
"It was horrible. They were men, and then they were not. The same happened to my people. They were people, with lives and loves and stories. And then they were simply meat and blood." Zayaan turned his attention back to the mountain. "We should focus on our duties. You keep watch for messages from the camp. I will watch the mountain."
Aaysha, cover us all in the safety of your wings.
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