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 38: Ways Between Ways
There are ways between ways, said the spider, her voice a mere whisper of thought separate from Vasi's own.
"What do you mean, little spider?" said Vasi.
The All-Mother lives in the heart of the sky and in the depths of the mountain. The path to Her is a path not walked with flesh. You have come far, young one. Look to the west. The Evening Star has almost set. In the east a new Morning Star shall rise. Will you finish your journey to Her?
"How do I walk without flesh?" asked Vasi, suspiciously. "I do not wish for death."
The spider alighted on the rock and released her web. It is only a taste of death. Those who traverse the sky as Stars walk pathways between worlds. They see beyond flesh.
"And how do I receive a taste of death? I suppose I have tasted worse things."
My venom can release you and open your eyes to the ways between ways. For I am Lina, the Opener of Ways, and it is my web upon which hangs all the stars and planets. I shall guide you on your journey if you wish to take it.
"Where will this path take me? To the All-Mother? To madness? And after that?"
The path leads where you wish, Morning Star. Give me your hand.
"I have already made my way to madness, spider." Vasi only hesitated a moment before extending her hand to the small guide. Lina crept delicately forward up Vasi's extended fingertips and over her palm. Vasi raised her hand to look closer at this being who claimed to weave the web between the stars and make ways where there were no ways. Her body was striped orange and white, with long rust-colored legs which felt like the lightest breeze as she moved across Vasi's hand.
Look at the stars, child. She calls for you.
Vasi looked up into the night sky as the white-hot flame of venom shot up her arm.
It is done, Vasi. Do you see the web where the stars hang? Do you see how we are all connected and woven together?
Vasi collapsed against the rock, her eyes wide to the expanse of the sky. Stars, and more stars beyond those. Pinpoints of light all connected and glistening like dewdrops on a spider's web.
It is beautiful, Lina. Your web is beautiful.
Deep inside the clouds that lay below the mountain peaks, horses' hooves muddied the waters of a mountain stream. The hunters were in a foul mood, their prey having eluded them in the fog that still covered the mountain. Mahleck rode at the head of the party astride his black warhorse. Several of the men bore marks of injuries sustained by falling branches or falls from horses slipping on ice.
Mahleck held up his hand to signal a halt. In the air he could smell smoke. He motioned for his man-at-arms to approach.
"I smell a campfire," said Mahleck. "Someone is sheltering nearby. Keep the horses and the injured men here. Gather your four best men, and we shall proceed on foot. Be it the treasonous wench, or something else we will find it and we will kill it. This hunt will not be for nothing."
As the man-at-arms returned to the riders, a form emerged from the fog ahead, splashing through the stream towards them. Mahleck dismounted and watched as the figure drew closer. A young man, bare to the waist, ran through the ankle-deep water towards the hunting party. Mahleck recognized him as one of the two Narim boys banished to the training camp two years previous. The Narim had fought well before they fell to the Swarm. Mahleck's favorite bride was this boy's blood relative. He could smell the same sweet wildness in this prince's sweat as he did on Lilua as she slept next to him each night. He licked his lips. He would not sacrifice his bride's sweet music to sate his own appetites, but this boy would be just as delicious.
The young man dropped to one knee before the King. "Your majesty. I have news."
"Have you found the traitorous bitch?" asked Mahleck.
"No. We... I found someone else. One of the Zorya witches who lives in the forest. She is close enough you can smell her fire. She has captured two of my fellow soldiers. Only I escaped."
A smile spread across Mahleck's face as he offered his hand to the obeisant Takri. "Rise, Prince. Now we have better prey than a mere girl!" He raised the hunter's horn to his lips and blew a long blast into the mist. "We have witches to hunt!"
Mahleck mounted his horse and offered Takri his outstretched arm. "You may ride with me at the head of the hunt, Prince. No one else has been able to track these Adyllian witches in the forest. I have a bounty on their heads, you know."
Takri stared for a moment at the hand offered to him by the monster who killed his father, his mother, and his entire tribe. The same man who kept his cousin locked away like a toy. What am I doing? he thought to himself as he mounted the horse behind Mahleck.
"Follow the stream to where it bends to the left, then follow the path that leads to the right. She isn't far," said Takri.
What am I doing? Helping this monster hunt the oracle who healed Lod?
"Once we have her in our custody, I will bring her out to be executed in front of the entire city. We will burn her alive as an example to this heathen country of what it means to hold on to their demonic practices," said Mahleck. He brought the horn to his lips and blew another mournful wail. "That should let her know we are coming, and that we do not fear her false magic!"
Mahleck's warhorse took off at a gallop through the water, followed by the rest of the hunting party. When they reached the bend in the stream moments later and turned onto the path, the smell of smoke became overwhelming.
Once again, Takri felt the warm hand of the Morning Star upon his shoulder, and her instructions echoed in his head, Take them to her.
"The witch lies this way," said Takri. "About 200 paces."
They dismounted and Takri started up the path towards the source of the smoke, wondering in what state he would find his friends once he reached them.
Ahead, the fog and smoke glowed red and orange reflecting the light of what had been the campfire, now grown to the size of a funeral pyre. And a funeral pyre it was - fed not with wood, but the bones that had surrounded the oracle's hut. Lod and Jacu huddled to one side in fear, while the old woman danced around the fire singing.
All-Mother
Moon Daughter
Dance on ocean foam, free to fly
Walk between the worlds, free to fly
Afraid of no man, dancing round the fire
Silly little man, she needs no Desire.
Wanted by all, but none can have her
All-Mother
Moon Daughter
"What heresy is this, witch?" yelled Mahleck.
"I should ask you that question!" exclaimed the old woman. "She has told me much about you, strigoi-viu. You cannot hide your true self - an impotent blood traitor."
"Take her!" Mahleck commanded. Two men took the oracle and forced her to the ground.
"You know what impotent means, don't you? It means his member doesn't work anymore!" cackled the old woman. "I have it on good authority he hasn't fucked a woman since before your grandfather sired you, boys!"
"Put a gag in her filthy mouth," said Mahleck. "And once those two have recovered from their injuries, send them back to the desert. It is obvious they were released from training prematurely. Unlike you." He turned to Takri with a smile, "I find it hard to believe they trained in the same camp as yourself."
Takri nodded.
"The reward for bringing me one of these witches is a place in my own household. When we return to the palace, you will no longer share quarters with the other men, but will move to the royal wing where you will have access to my private gardens and quarters. And the harem, aside from my brides."
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