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 15: The Eyes of the Priestess
Aisha awoke in the women's dormitory drenched in sweat. The place between her shoulders blazed with pain when she moved. She did not know where she was.
Rows of straw mattresses lined the floor of the large room while light poured in from the windows set high in the walls near the slanted ceiling. She could see a few small birds flitting among the rafters where she noted a nest might be. In Adyll it was considered a sign of the Goddess’ blessing to have a bird build their nest inside a building.
A few other women moved about the room. Aisha looked for Nasreen and found her sitting on the mattress next to hers watching the birds. The side of her beautiful face where the Locust King had struck her was swollen black and blue.
“Nasreen,” said Aisha, “How long have I been asleep?”
“Since the night before last. The High Priest declared all of us who were branded that night unfit for work until our wounds closed.” Nasreen lowered her voice to a whisper, “The men had it much worse than we did. Each day they are bringing in more of us women to be branded, but they castrated all of the men the first night. The barbarians nailed what they cut from them to the sanctuary door as sacrifice to the Locust. They do want us alive. If they didn't, they would be working us to death hoping our brands would fester and kill us.”
Aisha sat up in bed. Nasreen pressed a water jug into her hand. Aisha drank deeply.
“Is the Queen still alive?” asked Aisha in a whisper, afraid of the answer she would receive.
“No." answered Nasreen, her voice shaking. "The tyrant had her body dropped in front of the Temple yesterday. She had been tortured.” Nasreen said.
Aisha took another drink of water and Nasreen scooted over to her pallet. “We must be strong, Aisha. We need to take care of each other, little sister.” She wrapped her arms around Aisha, being careful not to touch the mark between her shoulder blades.
They sat there together on the pallet, crying silently. Somehow, it was easier now that her mother was gone. There was no more uncertainty. She was alone except for Nasreen, a girl who called her sister, despite only meeting two days ago.
“When I woke I had hoped it was all a nightmare. That I had dreamt it. But it is worse than it was when I started to dream, Nasreen,” said Aisha. “If the Queen is dead, we have no one to stand in his way. The High Priestess gave us over to his hand, and he will show no mercy.”
There was a commotion at the far end of the room. The women who had been resting on their pallets sprang to their feet as the Holy Mother moved among them, led by a small girl. The old priestess' eyes were bandaged with a linen cloth, and she walked gingerly. The little girl led her to a pallet near the door. The women of the Temple dutifully hastened to make her comfortable, even though any former status in the Temple had been stripped from her.
“All of you, please come here,” said the old woman. The women gathered around her, including Nasreen and Aisha. “I have returned from meeting the new High Priest Baraz and have news. Each of us will be assigned to duties that Baraz sees fit for women to perform. Cleaning, cooking, shepherding, serving tables, and serving men.”
There was murmuring from the women. There had always been female and male prostitutes in service to the Lady at the temple. But this had always been a choice, and these holy prostitutes were allowed to refuse service to any they did not desire to serve.
“I have asked Baraz that the women who prostitute themselves to the men of the Swarm be those who volunteer first, as this is an honorable vocation in our land. He has agreed, but he made it clear to me that we are naught but chattel. He can change his mind at any time. Under the laws of the Locust, rape does not exist. As unmarried females we are nothing more than a warm hole to these men. Those of you who decide to volunteer to be temple prostitutes will be sacrificing yourselves for the sake of your sisters, both within the temple walls and without. By offering yourselves you give these men a way of release that will not involve rape,” explained the High Priestess.
Nasreen stepped forward. “I volunteer, Holy Mother. My mother was a temple prostitute until she married a merchant. It is not a disgrace to me to serve men so that my sisters may be safe. Any act done in love is blessed by the Goddess, is it not? I do this for the love of her daughters without shame.”
Others came forward, many of them who were previously of the same order of holy prostitutes that served the worshippers of the Lady at the temple.
“Good, it is settled, then. The rest of you will be assigned duties as I see fit. Is the acolyte called Aisha here?” asked the holy woman.
“Yes, Holy Mother, I am here,” answered Aisha, stepping forward to the front of the dispersing crowd.
“I see your manners have improved since the last time we spoke, daughter,” said the old woman. “Come sit with me and hold my hand so that I may talk with you more plainly.”
Aisha sat down next to the old woman, who grasped her hand so tightly it caused pain.
“I am sure you know by now that your mother is dead, child,” whispered the woman, covering her mouth with her hand so that no one could see her words. “She was a braver soul than you. You are my responsibility now, and you will obey me as you would your own mother. I will do my best to keep you safe. If you are discovered, it will be the death of us all.”
“Yes, Holy Mother.” Aisha could feel the grip on her hand tightening.
“What happened at the cave entrance can never happen again. Do you understand me, daughter? All of the youngest daughters of the Goddess were put at risk because of your weakness. You have been coddled and spoiled by your mother and father for too long. Now you will have to pay the price for that. You are undisciplined and unworthy. The only reason you are not dead is because of the sacrifice your mother made for you, and I am unsure she made it wisely.”
Aisha bit her lip to keep herself from crying.
“Baraz has taken an interest in you since you brought so much attention to yourself. I told him you are the youngest acolyte in the Temple, and that you are frail from a childhood illness. I have asked that you be my eyes to protect you. Baraz understands that if he kills me he would destroy a valuable asset because I know the workings of the temple and I have the respect of the women. The Swarm thinks women are weak and worthless creatures, but Baraz knows the truth – that without some semblance of hope we would not obey. And without our obedience, his work is much more difficult. Besides, I am just an old woman, aren’t I?”
She let go of Aisha’s wrist leaving welts where her fingernails had been.
“Be thankful, daughter. If not for me, you would be cleaning shit from the latrines. Or Baraz would have you on your back serving the soldiers of the Swarm like your friend, even though she is older than you.”
“Thank you, Holy Mother.”
“I have given up everything for you. My sight. My sons’ manhood. Our family line died with the knife the night you were branded as betrayer. I wonder if that sacrifice is worth what it bought – a scared, weak little girl.” The old woman spat out the last words. “Now, return to your pallet and leave me alone. I will call when I need you.”
Aisha bowed and headed back to her pallet where Nasreen was waiting for her.
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