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 ComfortsChapter 75: False Prophecies
How had he found one of the scrolls? There was only one answer. That stupid little girl. She will lead us to ruin just as her mother before her.
She took a breath before answering the priest in calm, measured tones. "The scroll must have been missed by the librarians during the panic, high priest. Or they thought it was of no importance. It is, after all, only a story told to frighten children."
"The Zora witch called the God-Among-Men a strigoi-viu." Baraz released her wrists, but Dasha remained kneeling on the floor. "The people do not believe it is a children's story."
"Ignorant people say ignorant things," said Dasha, as she felt about for her cane. "Tell me, is it a bad thing that they think he is deathless? They are simple people who cannot yet understand the concept of a male deity. The word strigoi-viu is the closest they can grasp - a man who cannot die, who wields power they can never know. And the fear of keeps them from open rebellion."
"I have watched many nations fall before the God-King," said Baraz. "None of which rejected the very idea of a God in favor of such weak foolishness as a demoness calling herself ‘the Goddess.’ The very idea sickens me."
"We have much to learn, and you have much to teach," said Dasha, recovering her cane and struggling to bring herself upright. "Tell me, where did you find the scroll? They were stored on the eastern side of the building. Perhaps there are more there, left behind in the panic before the city fell."
"The girl told me she found it in there on top of a shelf," said Baraz.
"If you find any others, I suspect they will be in that area of the library," said Dasha. "The librarians kept them free from direct sunlight inside wooden or leather cases."
"This one had no case," said Baraz. "The girl was inspecting it when I found her in the closet."
The closet. She must have found a way inside the stairs. Clever, stupid little girl probably believes the Goddess led her to the hiding place.
"The case must have been burned with the others." said Dasha. "That must be how it was missed. Are you pleased with the girl? I can replace her if you find her wanting. She can be flighty at times."
"It is best to keep the number of people who enter inside this house of dark knowledge as small as possible lest heresy spread," said Baraz.
"Very well, your holiness," said Dasha. "Should you desire a change, I am sure I can find someone who could easily take her place."
"Heresiarch, tell me. Who do the Adyllians believe the God-King is if they do not believe he is God-in-the-Flesh?"
"Some believe he is a military leader who has conquered the known world. They believe him to be a man. Others believe he is a demon made flesh allowed to overrun our country as punishment for their lack of faith in our false goddess. With time, they will see that Mahleck is truly God-Among-Men."
"They will believe, or they will be put to the sword," said Baraz. "It is the same everywhere. Those who change and adapt, live. Those who refuse him die."
"Of course," said the Holy Mother. "As is right. The people here lived gentle, comfortable lives. Now they are faced with famine and hardship. In our foolishness, they believed their demoness would care for them as a mother does a child. Rather than seeing Mahleck as the God-Among-Men that he truly is, they see him as bringing famine and death in his wake. The Zora's false prophecy may take their desperation and turn it to rebellion."
"Old women speak foolish words," said Baraz.
"The people of Adyll lived for hundreds of years listening to the demonic prophecies of the oracles known as the Zorya," said Dasha. "Basing their lives upon their every word. Their last prophecy told of an evil desert wind bringing the strigoi-viu. In my role as high priestess, it was my responsibility to interpret their fevered words for the people. I told the people to prepare for failed harvests to come, and to bring more offerings to the temple to avoid the foretold disaster. They brought their offerings, yet they remain hungry. What mother does such things to her children?"
"Enough talk of the past and your false goddess," said Baraz. "Your people are weak idolaters. This is why they fell before the righteous swords of the Swarm. Nothing more. The witches' prophecies mean nothing. Surely Adyll sees that now."
"Of course you are right," said Dasha. "As is our master in his infinite mercy. Famine and suffering will purify Adyll of those who are weak. And if all are dead, surely the God-King will plow the fields and resurrect the livestock. I have faith in his powers."
"Be careful, Heresiarch. Your words tread the line between truth and mockery."
"The people are hungry, High Priest," said Dasha. "My women tell me that there is not food enough in the whole of the capital to last a fortnight. Hunger renders mothers desperate to feed their children. In Adyll, we have a saying, 'where the mother goes, the family follows.' If you wish for the people to cleave to Mahleck, all he must do is feed the children of those who pledge an oath of loyalty to him. Surely he can bring food from other lands where the harvests did not fail. Otherwise, I fear he will not have an Adyll to rule over, and you will not have a temple."
"Our God is merciful, and he will provide," said Baraz. "We know these things already, old woman."
"Indeed, he is merciful and to be praised." Dasha bowed her head as a sign of respect. "I have been meditating on Adyll's blasphemy since the night I was summoned to the palace to speak with you and the King. With the correct interpretation, the prophecy of the Zorya two years previous could be understood as announcing the coming of a God to replace the false demoness known as the Lady."
"Need I remind you again that the words of women bear no weight?" said Baraz. "They are foolish by nature."
"You and I both know this to be true. And a land who reveres women is easily fooled, is it not?" said Dasha. "Desire unfulfilled consumes as the locust. The desire of the people is truth and safety, but they could not find it until the God-Among-Men revealed it to them. It ate their souls. It flies across the desert on wings of death. Their desire is here, their desire was Mahleck who brings death to false religions. The strigoi-viu cometh. Only heretics believe him to be anything other than the all-powerful God that he is. And the Zorya are heretics. Heretics who knew of Mahleck's greatness and could not help but to speak it forth!"
"You speak with such fervor, Heresiarch," said Baraz. "If your words did not come from your mouth, I might believe them spoken by a priest."
"Thank you, your holiness," said Dasha. "I am blessed that he took my eyes that I might see the truth.”
Baraz took a few steps towards the library door before turning to address the old woman. "One more thing before you leave, Heresiarch. If I find another scroll, I will know you to be nought but another silken tongued witch like your oracles, and I will cut out your tongue so that you will speak as much truth as you claim to see."
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