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 BedChapter 103: The Empty Bed
Nasreen could hear the High Priest as he paced around her, his feet sinking deeply into the carpet where she lay prostrate on the floor.
“Get up.”
She rocked back on her heels, standing up in the manner of trained sacred prostitutes; shoulders back and down, neck lengthening, hands crossed over her heart. She bowed her head slightly, eyes focused through the red veil she wore on the floor ahead of her.
“I will not copulate with a woman who has lain with other men, even if other men of the royal house decide to demean themselves with whores,” sneered Baraz. “I wonder what your Lord Prince with think about you once he learns you are now my body slave? No matter. He will never see you again because you will never leave the walls of my apartments. You will no longer wear the red of a temple woman, but white as befits my rank. I will have clothing brought for you that befits the personal attendant of the High Priest of the Locust. Take care to never be without your veil in these walls unless I ask for you to remove it. You are here to serve as a slave and nothing more. Nod if you understand.”
Nasreen nodded silently.
“You will serve my meals in this apartment. You will pour my wine and make my tea. You will learn to serve me as all women serve their men in the Land of the Locust: in piety and submission, anticipating my every need and comfort,” said Baraz. “And if you ever question me or speak to another man without my permission, I will take your tongue from you.”
“Yes, my Lord,” said Nasreen.
“You will address me as Your Holiness from this point forward,” said Baraz.
“Yes, Your Holiness,” said Nasreen.
“I desire sleep,” said the High Priest. “Follow me to the bedchamber. I will show you what I wish done before I sleep every night. I expect these tasks to be completed shortly after I dine, and for the bed to be warm before I lie down. Your frame is small, but I know your sins make you burn hot. Hopefully, that will be enough to warm the sheets before I sleep. I am glad you have already bathed. I do not like the smell of unwashed female flesh.”
Nasreen followed him into the next room and shut the door behind them. Longest Night is coming. He won’t keep me from my freedom.
When Aisha woke from a fitful night’s sleep, Nasreen’s cot was still empty. She dressed quickly against the chill of the morning, eating her morning gruel quickly while she waited for the Holy Mother and her Eyes to begin their daily inspection. Once done, she returned to her bed and reassured herself the boy’s clothing and contraband food were safely out of sight.
Across the room, the Holy Mother and her Eyes began winding their way through the women’s quarters, stopping to say a few words to each woman they encountered. Aisha smoothed her clothing into place and tried to make her expression pleasant before they arrived at her bedside.
“Aisha is here,” said the Eyes. “There is no blood. Her garments are clean.”
“I thought I smelled ink and animal hide,” said the Holy Mother. “Do you have something you wish to ask, child? Usually, you scurry away before we reach your bed for inspection.”
Aisha swallowed; her throat suddenly tight. “Yes, Holy Mother – I mean... Mistress. My friend Nasreen... Do you know when she will return?”
“I will speak plainly with you, child,” said the old woman. “I do not know if she will return, much less when.”
“Is there any way I can see her?” asked Aisha. “Can you tell me where she is? Is she safe?”
“She is as safe as any of us are,” sighed the Holy Mother. “She is within the walls of the temple. I can tell you that much. Do not attempt to find her. It would only cause her harm. I cannot tell you more.”
The old woman motioned for her Eyes to lead her to the next bed. Aisha began to sob. The Holy Mother wheeled back to face the younger woman.
“I have told you before, child,” scolded the old woman. “Learn to control your emotions. Your sorrow accomplishes nothing except to show me you are still too young for your position. Perhaps you are not meant to serve with adults.”
“Nasreen did nothing to you!” cried Aisha. “She sacrificed her own body so that we would not have to, just as you asked her to! And you do not care! If you are supposed to be our mother, you should fight to protect us! But you cower behind your veil and lean upon your Eyes and do whatever Baraz and the Locusts demand of you at the cost of all of us!”
“Quiet! How dare you speak to me that way!” shrieked the High Priestess. All the women still in the dormitory turned to watch her outburst. “Aisha, who I took in out of the generosity of my heart when you were orphaned! You, who I tried to guide in the ways of life and kept safe! You, who were allowed to serve safely secluded in the library! Spoiled child! Eyes, see to it that Nasreen’s pallet is cleared away before nightfall. She will have no need of it. And precious Aisha needs a reminder that her friend will not be returning.”
The girl who served as the Holy Mother’s Eyes nodded and said, “Of course, Mother. I will make the arrangements once we have completed the inspection.”
“Aisha, you would do well to show respect from this point forward,” said the Holy Mother. “I will not forgive another outburst from you. Eyes, lead me to the next bed. I do not wish to waste more time with this one.”
“Yes, Holy Mother,” said the Eyes, and led her away, leaving Aisha curled up in a ball sobbing on Nasreen’s empty bed.
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