The Locust King's tent was larger than the rest of the Swarm's tents, and it was hung in black cloth, except for the red and gold tapestry depicting a locust with wings extended. Light seeped from around the flap of fabric covering the door, and the soft sound of a lute came from within.
Mahleck pulled back the door covering and ushered the Queen and her bodyguards inside. “This is much more befitting your station, my lady, rather than the blood and mire of the battlefield.”
Inside, the tent was opulent, decorated in rich silks of red and gold. In one corner a Narim girl of no more than thirteen summers, dressed in purple and gold silks, sat on an upholstered stool strumming the lute. Her unbound hair hung down in a shimmering black curtain. She stood up and dropped the instrument as soon as they entered, then prostrated herself on the carpet at Mahleck’s feet, but not before the Queen saw the fear in her hooded eyes.
“Lilua, you may go.” It was a command. Lilua stood up, snatched the lute from the floor and almost ran for the door.
The Locust King seated himself on a carved ebony chair. “Kneel before your King, my lady. You would do well to remember your place.”
She swallowed hard but knelt. “Yes, my King.”
“You wished to speak of terms? Remember you have no position from which to bargain.”
“And may I remind you that a meek, submissive populace is much easier to deal with than a rebellious one? I can deliver this to you, along with the wealth of our nation. Let there be no more bloodshed.” She looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke.
“Queen Mila, the Adyllian blood that has been shed already is upon your head and the head of your husband. Did you receive my gift, lady? He fought most valiantly, even if he was easily defeated.” He watched as a quick flicker of anger crossed her beautiful face. “How is your daughter? I am sure she would make a good friend for my wife the Princess Lilua. She has been very lonely since losing her parents and leaving her home in the desert. Her brother will not be arriving until his training has been completed – and that could be years. I believe you know of Prince Zayaan, do you not?”
“Yes. He was betrothed to our daughter.” The fall of the Adyllian allies, the Narim, was the beginning of the end for Adyll. Seeing Princess Lilua reduced to prostrating herself in fear before this monster was worse than she had imagined, and the thought of Irinya in the same situation was unbearable. “We had hoped to unite our kingdoms.”
“Zayaan will be a valuable asset when he has completed his training. And he will be loyal. I am sure he will understand that his betrothed is serving a higher purpose. As terms of the surrender, you will give your blessing on my marriage to Princess Irinya.”
Mila cast her eyes downward. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Irinya is dead, my lord. Shot through by a stray arrow. She lays in state before the Goddess even now. You have taken my husband and my daughter from me. Soon you will take my life, and I will join them. At least you will give me that mercy. Now I lay my country at your feet. You have all that I can give you. All I ask is that you allow the people of Adyll to live and serve you. There is nothing else I can give.”
He rose to his feet and towered over her as she wept. “Your daughter is dead? I gave no orders to shoot into the palace!”
“She is dead, my Lord. My daughter is dead. My beautiful, innocent, perfect child is dead!” Queen Mila collapsed onto the floor before him, sobs wracking her body, while he paced around her. Her mind was racing. It was said that he was strigoi-viu, that the blood he drank granted him mystical powers, allowing him to see the thoughts of his enemies. She prayed silently and forced herself to think of the child lying dead on the altar and the blue flowers on the windowsill.
Finally, he sat again. “This makes your proposal more interesting, lady. Although I would rather have your daughter to lay my claim to your country’s throne, Adyll's complete surrender and your command to the people to obey me would be sufficient to secure my place as rightful ruler of this country. I am a reasonable man. But you must do exactly as I say and obey me in everything. Do you understand, lady? I am willing to spare the inhabitants of your city, if you will lay down your life for them. Will you do so?”
She swallowed, then spoke in a whisper. “Yes, my Lord and King. This is the way of the Goddess, to lay down one's life for Her children.”
"Where has your Goddess been, my lady? Where was she when I bought my way into the country through the greed of one of her children? Where was she when I tortured your husband? She must have hidden herself, afraid of my strength when I cut off his head. Maybe she has no more use for her weak children, so she allowed your daughter to be killed? Your demoness has forsaken all of you!" he railed. "But I, I the God-King Mahleck, will have mercy upon the people of Adyll, even if she would not! Give your people the command to obey me, and I will be merciful. Give yourself wholly to me. Make me your God. Sacrifice yourself to me, and I will spare your people."
Outside the tent she heard the birds welcoming the dawn. It did not matter what this strigoi-viu did to her, her Goddess had answered her prayers. Her daughter and the people of Adyll would live. The blood of the Goddess would survive.