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 SunChapter 90: Nightmares
Zayaan woke in a cold sweat to the sound of footsteps in the sand outside his tent followed by whispered greetings between the soldiers on night watch in the camp. The footsteps and voices faded into the night and with them the fleeting images of a nightmare he could not remember. He forced himself to slow his breathing as he tried to recall the dream, but nothing was left except an overwhelming sense of terror and helplessness. The same feeling he had overcome him the night the Swarm massacred his people two years previous in the foothills of the Adyllian mountain range, one hundred miles to the west.
He had done his best to forget, to push thoughts of that night behind him and bury them as Radu taught him. A man who controls his emotions controls himself. Zayaan felt his heartbeat slow and his breathing ease as he pushed the memories of his family away, leaving only the thought of his sister, Lilua. Radu told him that the Locust King’s brides lived peaceful protected lives in his court, safe from men’s lusts and surrounded by the company of other women. They wore the finest silks, slept on the softest beds, and dined on the best food. His new mentor made the Court of Women sound like a paradise. Zayaan hoped his sister felt the same about her new life among the Locust’s brides.
Morning light began filtering through the seams of the tent, as well as the sounds of soldiers’ voices. Zayaan pulled himself out of bed and stretched, taking a moment to splash his face with clean water from the washbasin before putting on his new uniform marking him with the rank of captain. He pulled his hair back into his customary topknot and secured it with a strip of leather. Before he tied the final knot, the tent flap was thrown back and Radu pushed himself inside.
“Tea Maker, you take more time with your hair than a princess in the Court of Women!” teased Radu. “Finish your preening. I am hungry and the smell of food from the fire outside the commander’s tent is too much to bear.”
Zayaan tucked the loose ends of the leather strap into place, and the two set off to break their fast with the other ranking officers of the camp.
“How are you enjoying your new rank and the tent that comes with it?” asked Radu.
“I think I like the tent more than the rank!” answered Zayaan. “Thank you for recommending my promotion.”
“It is nothing. It should have been done a year ago,” said Radu. “Old Gunnr is easily influenced by whatever ranking voice sits next to him. That happens to be me now. He will do anything for me. Either that, rr he knows I will spill his secrets to Mahleck and he will be stuck out in the sands for the rest of his life. And he likes his comforts too much for that.”
“I can’t believe he made me captain,” said Zayaan. “A year ago, my old commanding officer had me on watch at the western checkpoint at night and digging latrines during the day. Now I am going to be sitting at table with him as an equal. The same man who told me I would dig shit until I knew I was shit!”
“You will have to point him out to me once we get inside,” said Radu. “I think I might have to shovel some shit in his direction.”
Zayaan and Radu were still laughing as they entered the commander’s tent and took their places next to each other at the table with Radu next to the commander. The other officers arrived in ones and twos and took their places around the table while the commander ordered his new tent attendant to begin serving the meal.
“Which one is he?” whispered Radu behind his clay mug of tea.
“The short one who just came in,” said Zayaan.
“The one shaped like a turnip?” asked Radu.
Zayaan choked on his tea but nodded yes to the Lord Prince through his coughing. His former captain took the last seat at the table and noticed Zayaan’s new uniform.
“Who did you steal that uniform from, desert rat?” asked the captain. “Anyone here missing a uniform? I think the rat boy might be wearing it!”
A few snickers came from the other officers around the table. Radu put down his tea and stared at the captain for a moment until the table quieted.
“It is a good thing he didn’t steal one from you. It never would have fit!” said Radu. “I didn’t know they made uniforms short enough for a woman!”
The captain’s face turned purple as the table erupted in laughter, but he remained silent.
The Lord Prince turned to the commander. “Gunnr, perhaps you could get this one grown to full size if you put him on latrine duty for a month or so? I know shit helps plants grow. Perhaps it will help him grow to full size?”
“I will take that under advisement, Lord Prince.” The commander chuckled. “I do so love your wit.”
“I know you do, old friend,” said Radu, helping himself to a piece of ripe fruit and bread, and elbowing Zayaan in the process. Zayaan did not even bother to hide his smile at the expense of his old captain.
“I received a message for you from the capital this morning,” said the commander. He produced a small roll of parchment from the folds of his uniform. “I kept it sealed as it was marked with the God-King's seal.”
Radu took the parchment and unrolled it, read its contents, and turned back to the commander. “I regret to tell you our God and King has decided to take me from your side sooner than I had anticipated, old friend. You have been a wonderful host, but I cannot say I will be saddened to be back in the Court where the beds do not contain as much sand as they do cushion.”
“You will be missed,” said the commander. “We will make sure the supply caravan is ready to start tomorrow morning as soon as it is light.”
“The sooner we can leave, the better,” said Radu. “Adyllian winters are as harsh as the ones in the mountains of my people, and we must bring the supplies before the way is closed from snow and ice. Zayaan and I will leave after the noon meal. The caravan will meet us at the base of the mountain and we will lead them from there.” He turned to Zayaan. “Have you traversed the pass in winter?”
“Three times,” said Zayaan. “The Way of Eagles becomes impassable after the first hard snowfall of the year. If we leave now, we will have ample time.”
“The Way of Eagles?” snorted his former captain. “Sounds like more barbarian nonsense.”
“It is what it has always been called,” said Zayaan. “The pass is treacherous even in good weather.”
“Which is one reason you are coming with me,” said Radu, clapping him on the back. “And not that short fuck across the table. He couldn’t see over the snow enough to make his way through the mountain to the capital. That’s why they keep him here, you know.”
Zayaan laughed, while the captain shrunk lower into his chair.
“Three days, Tea Maker. Three days and we will be ready to traverse your Way of Eagles, bringing life and health to the people of Adyll.” The Lord Prince stood and raised his cup, the others following. “To the God-King Mahleck, all praise to his name!”
Zayaan began the chant and the officers followed.
“One!”
“God!”
“One!”
“Man!”
“One!”
“Lord!”
“One!”
“King!”
“One!”
“Swarm!”
“One!”
“LOCUST!”
Only a few hours and I will leave this camp. Only a few days until I reach the mountain. And then I will take my place with my sister. Just a little bit longer, Lilua.
Find your way!
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