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 Temple Chapter 100: The Way of Eagles Chapter 101: The Gallu Chapter 102: The Cast Off Chapter 103: The Empty Bed Chapter 104: If It Is Her Will Chapter 105: Hunger Chapter 106: The Strigoi-Viu's Gift Chapter 107: Pennyroyal Chapter 108: Forgiveness Chapter 109: Fragile Chapter 110: Another Lord Prince Chapter 111: Divine Intervention Chapter 112: Chance to Live Chapter 113: Accusations Chapter 114: NegotiationsChapter 114: Negotiations
"Jealousy, perhaps?" Mused Mahleck. "Jealousy of the elevation of Baraz’s position, one you no longer hold? No... of course it would be something else. Something more feminine. Perhaps you wished to rid the whore of a child of a Lord Prince?"
"My King, I did not poison anyone," insisted the Holy Mother. "I am a caretaker for your women. Why would I do such a thing?"
Mahleck chuckled to himself. "I know of women's duplicitous natures, how they twist truths and use emotions to manipulate lesser men. But you... I almost believe you, old and frail as you are. I smelled the meal. I saw the priest on the floor, bent back as an archer draws a bow, and a young girl of your keeping lying in a pool of blood, the fruit of her womb staining the hearth. I know of the herb which produces these effects. Pennyroyal. It was smart of you to put it in food that would mask its odor under cumin and lamb. I credit your intelligence."
"It is true pennyroyal will cause the loss of pregnancy, but I did not know its effects on a man." The Holy Mother trailed off. "I have never seen it used in such a way."
"So, you used it to rid the whore of her bastard child," said Mahleck. "And for that, you have my thanks."
The Holy Mother furrowed her brow in confusion. "I tell you it was not me!"
"It matters not. The child is gone, and that removes a temptation from my dear Lord Prince Takri's heart and mind," said Mahleck. "And Baraz lives despite your plotting."
The old woman took in a deep breath of relief before succumbing to another coughing fit.
"Oh, do not think for a moment you are safe, Heresiarch," cooed Mahleck. "If this fever does not kill you, I may still choose to execute you at Longest Night before the entire city as an example to those who would try to harm someone close to me. But perhaps we can come to an agreement, if there is someone who can take your place? Someone must pay for this sin."
"I do know who put the poison in the stew," gasped the Holy Mother.
"Tell me," purred Mahleck. "All will be forgiven."
"It was the girl who serves as my Eyes," said the Holy Mother. "And the cook, Jul. Both are held in your dungeons at this very moment. I heard them talking about how they plotted together. How they wished to kill the High Priest's new body slave because they were jealous of her new status."
"Jealous of the body slave?" chuckled the King. "Oh, how your mind surprises me, crone! Not only are you willing to send your closest companion to the executioner, but you contrive a believable motivation for both her and the cook. A cook who the jailer tells me berates you for your cruel nature at every moment!"
"I did not poison the man," scoffed the old woman. "If I had, he would be dead."
"I do not doubt that," said Mahleck.
"And my Eyes will confirm my story," said the Holy Mother. "If you wish a confession before her execution all you must do is ask her and she will tell you."
"That may be helpful, given my Lord Prince's need for both justice and vengeance for unborn child," said Mahleck. "I do need one more thing from you, Heresiarch. More than this placement of blame for a silly accident. Your cooperation solving a question of doctrine for your people."
"What question?"
"The prophecy of the three stars given before my liberation of Adyll," said Mahlek. "My high priest in his great wisdom suggested there could be an alternative interpretation. It would help if the people heard it from their fallen holy woman. Perhaps they would trust your words over that of an outsider."
"And what are these words I must say?"
"That you mistranslated the last prophecy of the oracles," said Mahleck. "Do you remember their words?"
"Desire unfulfilled consumes as the locust. It flies across the desert on wings of death," intoned the high priestess. "The strigoi-viu cometh. I could never forget that horrible day."
"Why is it horrible if it was a prophecy of the coming of a true and just God?" asked Mahleck. "A God come to deliver them from the tyranny of a demoness who they unknowingly served as a false idol?"
He says my own words back to me, thought Dasha. The same words I planted in his fool priest's mind. These men in all their might have weaker minds than half my women!
"Your words are true," said Dasha. "But I am an old woman, and frail. I will taste death soon. perhaps it is best if you put me to the sword as well as the young one and the cook. I am responsible for all the women of the temple, after all. And it is I who am guilty by allowing such evil to fester among my own."
"Why the sudden contrition, Heresiarch?" Mahleck asked. She could smell him again, closer than before. She had rattled him.
"There is one thing I wish before I die, my God and King," said the Holy Mother. "To hear the voices of my sons once again. My sons which you took to guard your brides. Perhaps you remember them? They rode out from the city alongside their Queen, strong and beautiful the day she surrendered our city to you. One of the last things my poor eyes saw before you took my sight."
"You are not in a position to bargain with me, crone." She felt his spittle against her cheek, and along with it the scent of blood.
"You are correct, my King," said the high priestess. "I am only an old woman who loves her sons. And who serves you. Surely you have the mercy to grant your servant this one request."
"If I bring them to you, will you speak to the people?" asked Mahleck.
"I shall, for I believe the desire of the people is you," said the high priestess. "The safety and truth you provide through your strength. You are their true desire. The oracles spoke of you in fear. The people will speak of you with respect and love as you deserve."
"You shall have your sons," said Mahleck. "And you will tell the people the truth of my godhood on Longest Night as you stand over the body of the prostitute you poisoned. You will stand at my side as the girl who served as your Eyes and the woman named Jul are executed."
Dasha's blood ran cold. "Nasreen is dead?"
"Your poison worked better than you could have hoped," said Mahleck. "Not only did you remove the babe, but the mother as well. Your service in this matter is most appreciated."
"I submit my will to you," said the old woman. "For you are the truth. And you are truly God Among Men."
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