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 ComfortsChapter 95: Two Days
Takri kicked open the brothel kitchen door, his eyes flashing in pretend rage. The guard posted outside grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall, pinning him there.
"I warned you once before, Locust," said the eunuch. "There is to be no violence in this holy place. Don't think I would hesitate to break your neck if you continue to fight."
"Where is your Procuress?" Takri's voice came out through gritted teeth hidden behind his face covering. "I know she is close. She would never allow her pet have that much freedom."
"You would be right in your guess," said the Procuress from a doorway across the hall. "I take it you are not pleased with the girl's answer?"
Takri scoffed. "I am done with her. And I am done with you!"
"As you should be, my lord," said the Procuress. She motioned with her hand and the eunuch dropped Takri to the floor.
"Heed the warning I brought with me, Procuress!" said Takri as he struggled to his feet. "I will not be back to deliver any more. You and your whores can reap the consequences of your actions alone from now on."
"Do you require any assistance in finding your way back where you belong, my lord?" The Procuress pulled her veil forward to cover her face. "There is an exit to the courtyard just down the hallway. I trust you know your way from there."
Takri turned on his heel and headed in the direction she pointed. A few moments later he joined the crush of men in the courtyard. A few moments more, and he was down the steps and entering the storeroom. He stopped to catch his breath before he climbed over the pile of rubble into the catacombs.
Two more days and I will hold her in my arms again. Two more weeks and we will be free.
Nasreen turned her back to the open door to hide her smile as she listened to the exchange between the Lord Prince and the Procuress. She broke off a small bite of the cheese hidden in her pocket and savored it while the sound of Takri's footsteps disappeared down the hallway. She rested her hand on her belly and the new life beginning there.
Two more days and I will see him again.
She felt the Procuress's hand on her shoulder. "He is gone, Nasreen. You are safe. I know it was not as you would have wished, but it is for the best. He showed who he truly is before he left. Just another man who makes decisions based on his own selfish desires. They are incapable of thinking of anything else."
Nasreen turned towards her and the older woman enfolded her in her arms.
"Will you tell the Holy Mother?"
"I think it would help get you back in her good graces again. I need to inform her of Baraz's plans for the brothel, and she will ask how I know." The Procuress ushered her charge out of the kitchen and in the direction of the women's quarters.
"Would it be going back on my vows if I asked to be removed from my duties in the brothel?" said Nasreen. "I do not wish to run the risk of his return, or the affections of another man of rank. And I never wish to see the inside of the palace again."
"We shall see," answered the Procuress. "I will speak with the Holy Mother."
"What of Baraz and his plans for the brothel?" asked Nasreen.
"We will adapt." The Procuress stopped and took Nasreen's hands in her own. "We are a nation in captivity. We shall overcome just as the Lady did. We must be patient and wise and silent as She was, and our release will come."
Nasreen squeezed the older woman's hands in reassurance. "My prayer is the same."
Two more weeks and we will be free.
Only two days' ride until we reach the foothills. Two weeks until I see my sister.
Zayaan and Radu rode side by side across the sands towards their destination at the base of the mountain. Far in the distance, the plateau of Adyll rose blue and green out of the sands of the desert silhouetted against a pink and orange sky. A day's ride past the western checkpoint, the lights from the capital shone like a cluster of stars before the sun fully set on the horizon. Zayaan could see snow atop the mountain's peaks. Another day's ride and they would lose sight of them behind the steep cliff faces of the plateau, but they would be able to camp on something other than sand.
Zayaan could already feel the air change as they rode closer to the mountain. It seemed somehow softer, like it always did when returning from a trading expedition across the desert. Water carried on the air had never smelled so sweet. He thought back to his father's lessons from his first journey across the great desert.
Take a deep breath, do you smell the change? We can forget that water has a smell when we are camped close to the mountain. But after weeks in the desert, the smell of water in the air is the sweetest smell. It is the smell of growing things and life. The air on the eastern edge of the desert smells of water and plants, but also of cities and people. Our desert's edge smells of the mountain, of evergreens and wild rose, aspens and silvery Lady's Breath.
"Whatever you are thinking about, Tea Maker, stop it! Your face is as long as your horse's, and it is spoiling my mood!" teased Radu.
"I can smell the water in the air," said Zayaan. "Normally you can't smell the mountain until you are closer."
"How long have you been stuck at the camp?" asked Radu.
"More than two years," said Zayaan.
"It is strange, isn't it?" said Radu. "How the smell of home brings back so many memories? I remember when I returned to my family's lands after my time in the camps. The crops in the fields had just been put to the scythe, and the smell was overwhelming."
Zayaan nodded. "Yes. I don't understand how I can smell the evergreens this far out."
"It probably took this long to get the latrine smell out of your nose," Radu laughed. "Not to mention the smell of Gunnr's tent. Come on! Let's see if we can cut some more time off our trip!" He put his heels to his horse's side and took off, leaving Zayaan struggling to keep up.
Two more days until I am home.
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