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 81: Scraps from the Table
Takri bowed and left the room, breathing a sigh of relief as he pulled the door shut behind him. He hovered outside for a moment in case the king and priest’s continued conversation filtered out into the hallway. But the door was thick and the stone walls were thicker. Mahleck would not be so careless as to allow unwanted ears passing by hear his private counsel. There was no point in lingering at the entry to the monster’s chamber any longer.
Whatever information the scroll contained disturbed Mahleck on some level. As had the term strigoi-viu. Takri knew Mahleck was not a god as he claimed to be. If he was, he was unworthy of worship. Any god who would starve children was not a god worth serving. Perhaps the old tales were true, and he truly was a monster who fed on fear and blood.
The scraps from his dinner could feed the city.
Takri turned and walked down the hall towards his own chambers.
How can I eat from this monster’s table while others starve?
A self-satisfied smile spread across Baraz’s sharp features as Mahleck continued his examination of the scroll in silence before the fire. After months of reviewing heretical texts in the library, Baraz finally found something of value to bring before his God and King.
"Where did you say you found this?" asked Mahleck, not looking up from the scroll.
"In the temple library," answered Baraz. "This is the oldest original Adyllian writing I have come across. It references an Adyllian female's travels in the lands beyond the great desert. As you know, Adyll guarded its women and forbade..."
Mahleck held up his hand to silence the priest. "I can read, priest. Were you the finder? Or was it another?"
Baraz swallowed. "I have an Adyllian cataloguing the contents of the library. She is the one who found it."
"She?" Mahleck looked at the priest with disgust. "You have an Adyllian female working in the library sorting books?"
"Yes... I..." Baraz stammered as all sense of confidence left him. "The Heresiarch suggested a young woman who could read Adyllian script work sorting the books. I did not wish to contaminate any of our men with the heresies contained within the walls of the library."
"Did you not think to find an Adyllian male to serve in this capacity?" asked Mahleck.
"Those who can read were zealots of the highest order in the service of the demoness," said Baraz. "Such as your bride's bodyguards. I could not trust them..."
"Enough!" Mahleck rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Who else knows the contents of this scroll?"
"The Heresiarch," confessed Mahleck. "Only the bookmaker and the crone, who dismissed it as a story told to frighten children, nothing more."
"As it should be." Mahleck tossed the scroll into the fireplace. "And as it will remain. A story to frighten children."
"I have yet to find scrolls you tasked me with finding," said Baraz. "But this is a step closer. Perhaps the Queen did not burn them all."
"Perhaps," said Mahleck. "If the story was ever transcribed."
"If it was, I shall find it," said Baraz.
"You mean your bookmaker will find it," said Mahleck. "And hopefully give it to you?"
"She is very young and terrified of me," said Baraz. "She would not disobey me. If you saw her, you would understand. She is like a timid mouse who shakes in fear in my presence."
"Have you forgotten the tenets of the Locust, priest? That woman's purpose is to deceive man?" asked Mahleck.
"No, my God and King," said Baraz. "Forgive me."
"I am beginning to wonder if you are worthy of your new rank, Baraz," said Mahleck. "It is almost as though you cannot control what lies within the walls of your own temple. First the prostitute, now the bookmaker.”
“The prostitute?” asked Baraz.
“Yes, Baraz.” Mahleck’s voice dripped with condescension. “The temple prostitute you supped with less than a fortnight ago. She seduced the Lord Prince’s body as well as his heart and mind. How do you propose to keep this from happening in the future to any other impressionable young warrior in my service?"
"I shall forbid the women in the brothel from speaking," said Baraz. "They will no longer be able to cast their spells upon men as they once did. I will cut out the tongues of those who disobey."
"What of the whore Takri was so enamored of?" asked Mahleck. "Is she dead?"
"I... I assume so," said Baraz. "She was left on the street as you instructed. Surely she froze to death or the patrols killed her."
"But you do not know for certain," said Mahleck. "Do you? Did the Heresiarch come to you and inquire as to her whereabouts? She cares so much for the lives of her precious temple dwellers, surely she would ask if one went missing."
"She has not spoken of it," answered Baraz. "The death of one whore means nothing."
"The Heresiarch was called 'Holy Mother' before we liberated Adyll," said Mahleck. "Did you know that, Baraz?"
"Of course, it is common knowledge"
"Do you know why the word 'Mother’ is used to describe her?" Mahleck’s voice fell into a low growl. "Because mothers care for their children, they watch over them. And if one goes missing, they search for them until they find them. If she is not searching, then the girl is alive."
"Then I shall find her and kill her," said Baraz. "Or I could bring her to you to enjoy as a sacrifice."
"I vowed we would not kill any of her temple dwellers so long as she delivered us the city's surrender," said Mahleck. "And I keep my vows. We set her outside to allow the cold or the city to kill her. It appears they did not. As long as she remains in the temple and under the Heresiarch's protection, the whore lives. And if the whore lives, she can influence the Lord Prince."
"The Lord Prince will not seek her out," said Baraz. "You showed him what she is, nothing more than a common whore."
"The first woman a man lies with is hard to forget," said Mahleck. "Especially if you only taste her once. She has her claws in him. If he does not seek her out, she will seek him."
"If he will listen to a woman, he is not worthy of the title of Lord Prince," said Baraz. "Especially if he will listen to a fatherless whore."
"If he does, I will hold you responsible." Mahleck stood up from his chair. "Find a way to keep her hidden. Confine her if you must. Do not let her trouble my men again."
"Yes, my God and King."
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