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 79: A Test of Strength
Takri hesitated a moment outside the door to Mahleck's private chambers to gather himself. He still found the monarch unnerving despite spending nearly every day in his presence since being elevated to the rank of Lord Prince. No amount of promotion or favor could make Takri feel safe in the same room with the monster who murdered his people. He took a deep breath, straightened his clothing, and knocked. Mahleck himself answered the door.
"Ah, my fine Narim warrior!" said Mahleck, clapping Takri on the back. "We have important matters to discuss. Come, sit by the fire and I shall pour you some wine while we wait for the priest."
"Thank you, my King," Takri took a step inside.
Until now, time with Mahleck only occurred over meals in the private dining room above the royal quarters where he had last seen Nasreen. This was different. More intimate. This windowless room felt like a tomb in comparison, and the fireplace's heat did nothing to alleviate the uncomfortable closeness. Mahleck poured a glass of wine for Takri before sitting down in a chair next to the fire. He seemed unaware of the uncomfortable temperature within the room, just as he seemed unaware of the chill in the tower a few nights before.
"I have news of your young cousin in the training camp," said Mahleck. "It seems he attacked the best fighter in the empire armed only with a kitchen knife. He is fortunate Lord Prince Radu found his audacity charming. It is most unusual for a recruit marked with an initiation scar to gain favor with one of my household, but I trust the Radu's judgement in these matters."
"Lord Prince Radu?" asked Takri.
"I forget sometimes that you were raised among barbarians and not born into the greatness of my empire! Did you think you were the only Lord Prince within my vast kingdom?" Mahleck laughed. "My household is vast and spans my entire empire. The Lord Prince Radu of the First Men proved his heroism in his acts of bravery and loyalty to me, just as you did in your capture of the Zora witch. He has taken a liking to your cousin. I am sure you will all be fast friends once he arrives in the capital."
A knock on the door brought Mahleck to his feet. "Ah, the priest. We can finally begin."
Baraz entered the room with a scroll tucked under his arm. He regarded Takri with thinly veiled contempt. "I see the Narim boy is here once again."
"Yes. As befits his rank, Baraz." Mahleck ushering Baraz to the third chair before the fire. "I am sure he will provide valuable insight. You will be happy to hear the Lord Prince Radu arrived at the desert training camp last week to coordinate the gathering of tithes from the regions to the east of the desert."
"Of course, my King," said Baraz. "It will be most pleasant to see the Lord Prince Radu once again."
"I am given to understand the people of Adyll regard the winter solstice as a holy day in their calendar," said Mahleck. "We used their Day of Between to purify the land from the influence of the Zora witch. We shall use their Longest Night to purify them of their weakest. Takri, you attended the winter celebrations at the Temple, did you not?"
"I only attended a few of the winter solstice celebrations," said Takri. "Snow covers the mountain passes of the Way of Eagles a month before Longest Night. The Narim only came to the capital for celebrations if the winter was mild."
"Baraz, how close is the city to starvation?" asked Mahleck.
"A fortnight before food cannot be found for sale in the marketplace, more or less," said Baraz. "The poor already starve unless they steal."
"How long until the rich begin to suffer?" asked Mahleck. "I had hoped to time Radu's arrival with the solstice given the Adyllian beliefs surrounding the movement of celestial bodies."
"I would estimate a month's time," said Baraz.
"The solstice will fall a month later. What losses can we expect before then?" asked Mahleck.
"We will lose the weakest of the people," answered Baraz. "They were fat and pampered before. As long as they have water, which is available in abundance in this wretched climate, they can easily survive two months without any food."
"Some will survive longer once they realize rats are edible," laughed Mahleck.
"Indeed," laughed Baraz.
Takri stared at the two men in disbelief. "I do not understand. Why sacrifice the people if you have the means to feed them? Wouldn't they be grateful to you if you give to them in their time of need?"
"Once again, I forget you are not born to the ways of the Locust," said Mahleck. "When you feed the weak, they become parasitic. The famine is a test which separates the weak from the strong."
"Of course he does not understand, my God and King," said the high priest. "His own people were so weak they did not survive the initial tests given them through battle with your divine Swarm."
Takri felt his blood run cold. "What of the children? Surely you want the youngest to live so they may serve you?"
"Children are an easily replaced resource," said Baraz. "Surely you know this."
"And those born after the famine will know only the glory of life in my kingdom," said Mahleck. "They will know only strength. It truly is a mercy to them all. It is settled then. The Longest Night will mark Adyll's deliverance from famine while the Day of Between marked the beginning of their purification from evil," said Mahleck. "Takri, tell me of the Adyll's celebration of Longest Night."
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