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 DaysChapter 19: The Lost Bird
Mahleck strode across the flagstone of the temple courtyard to inspect his newest tribute: the surviving remnant of the street people rounded up for the New Moon Celebration. Only the young and strong remained. His boots splashed in the blood of the old and weak while the men and women of the tribute huddled together in fright, still sluggish from the drugged wine they consumed while toasting his reign as God Among Men.
“I hope you will find these selected candidates to your liking, my Lord and King,” said Baraz as he trailed behind like a skeletal blood-soaked shadow.
“They are acceptable,” answered Mahleck.
“Then they will be sent to the palace to be made fit for your purposes,” said Baraz. “I have had a feast prepared for us of the finest delicacies of Adyll. This country is fertile, my King. The streams are full of fish, the orchards of the Temple and castle grounds are so heavily laden with fruit the branches hang close to the ground. The vineyards already purple with ripening grapes. The Temple itself boasts multiple flocks of goats and sheep. The forests run wild with game, and the peasants till the fields on mountainside terraces to bring forth grain. This land will sustain the Swarm for decades to come.”
He motioned to a corner of the courtyard where the temple priests had set a table away from the other men of the Swarm who were still gathered in celebration.
“Baraz, while I appreciate your work in cataloging my newly acquired riches and removing the stain of idolatry from this place, I am more interested in the pretty little bird that left her cage. What progress have you made there?” demanded Mahleck as he made himself comfortable at the table.
Baraz swallowed uncomfortably. “Your Majesty, your bird is nowhere to be found. While we know she escaped, it is unknown to where she could have flown. The country is surrounded by desert on all sides save one, and that leads only to the sea which has been guarded by the Swarm for months. She could not have flown far. Yet my spies have heard nothing.”
“Who have you told of this?” asked Mahleck, leaning close to Baraz so no one else could hear.
“I have told my men that the King desires a young golden-haired maiden for his harem, and that the man who brings one to me will be rewarded handsomely. That is all, my Lord and King,” answered Baraz.
“Good. She is either dead or in hiding. There is nowhere she could run to. All the lands surrounding this kingdom are under my control, and there is no way in or out. If she lives, we will find her.” Mahleck leaned back into his chair. “A golden-haired maiden would be a welcome addition to my household, Baraz. If you find one, bring her to me.”
“It shall be done, my King,” said Baraz.
“And what of the two who served as bodyguards for the late Queen?” asked Mahleck. “I believe they were sons of the blind crone?”
"They serve within these walls. As you so wisely dictated, we removed the testes of all the males who served the demoness so that they may not father any of her demon children. The two you inquire about survived without infection," answered Baraz.
"I would like those two brought to the palace along with the tribute," said the Locust King. They will make excellent harem guards when the other princesses arrive. Do you not agree, Baraz?"
"As you wish, your Majesty," answered Baraz.
Priests of the Locust arrived bearing platters of roast lamb with fresh herbs, freshly baked bread, roasted vegetables, and cheeses. The King ate little and drank sparingly of the dark red wine offered to him by the attendant priests, as was his custom. The wine flowed freely among the other men of the Swarm as they continued their New Moon festivities, which included groping the women among the King's tribute.
"My King, if I may suggest something to pass your time until we have recovered your little bird," said Baraz. "There is an order of women the Adyllians consider sacred who live as hermitresses deep in the mountain forests. They serve as voices for the demoness during the days of equal night and dark each year. They are known to the people as Oracles. The texts I have studied show they lighten their hair to appear in the manner of their goddess. I believe this is the same concoction used on the body of the false princess."
"I am very interested in these women. Instruct your men to search the forests and bring what they find to me. I would like to hear the voice of their demoness for myself. Tell the men whoever first brings me an Oracle will be rewarded with a place in my own household. And any man who brings me a golden-haired virgin will be granted stewardship of one of the lands in my empire."
"You are most generous," said Baraz. "Your little golden bird will soon be safe in her gilded cage under your watchful care."
"I have eaten my fill, Baraz," said the Locust King, pushing himself away from the table. "Give the rest of this feast to the men who serve here. Tell them of my thirst for golden-haired women."
"As you have decreed, my Lord and King," said Baraz, motioning to a soldier to bring Mahleck his horse.
Mahleck considered the street people, huddled together under guard. "Have the young man who tried to protect his mother sent to my chambers. Send his sister as well. I will need additional sustenance tonight before I sleep, and their spirit pleases me."
Mahleck took the reins from the returning soldier and mounted his horse, riding off through the darkened streets of Adyll. Tonight he would feast and satisfy his lust with the blood of beggars and then dream of Her voice.
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