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 GiftChapter 105: Hunger
Nasreen opened the door to the next room expecting to find her new master, but instead she was greeted by the savory smell of braised meat and spices. Across the room, The Holy Mother’s Eyes stood at the High Priest’s table stirring the contents of a steaming clay dish which she quickly covered with its lid.
“What is it?” asked Nasreen. “It smells delicious!”
“Spiced lamb with garlic and root vegetables straight from the temple kitchens,” said the girl. “There is more here than even Baraz could eat. The Holy Mother made sure there would be enough for you as well.”
“Why is she suddenly concerned for me?” asked Nasreen. “She never cared that I ate enough before. Or anyone else for that matter.”
The Eyes looked confused. “She wants the best for all of the Lady’s daughters. Why would she not care for you?”
“I haven’t eaten meat in longer than I can remember,” Nasreen lifted the lid and inhaled deeply.
“The head cook said it was the meat in the temple,” said the girl. “I don’t know what we will do if the food stores run out before spring.”
“Let us hope we will have enough,” said Nasreen. “Could you do something for me? My friend Aisha - the girl who slept next to me in the dormitory – can you tell her I am all right? She will worry for me if I do not return.”
“Of course,” said the girl as she made her way to the door. “There is flatbread in the basket next to the stew. I suggest putting everything near the fire lest it turn cold. The High Priest is particular about his meals.”
Nasreen smiled and closed the door behind her visitor. Her stomach grumbled as she moved the dishes before the fire and set the table in readiness for the meal. Before she placed the last dish, Baraz returned. She prostrated herself on the floor before him and waited for his permission to rise.
The priest passed Nasreen on the floor without a greeting and made his way to stand by the fire. “I do not like this climate. The winters leave me chilled. I will never understand why your people would choose such a place to build their city.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.“
“When I arrive, you will put the meal on the table immediately. I will be hungry and expect to eat quickly. Surely you should know this,” chided the priest, sitting down at the head of the table.
Nasreen hurried to obey. When she removed the cover from the dish, the fragrance of garlic, cumin, coriander, and lamb filled the room, causing her stomach to growl.
“Pour two flagons of wine and warm them by the fire, then you may join me at table.” He gestured to a clay jug set on a table on the far wall. “This wine travelled with me from my ancestral lands. Do not spill it.”
Nasreen did as she was told, pouring two flagons and setting them near the fire to warm while Baraz sopped up the stew with pieces of warm flatbread. She watched the flames as he ate, keeping her back to her new master.
“Your country, while lacking in climate, does give birth to talented cooks and flavorful sheep.” Baraz leaned back in his chair, licking his fingers clean. “The wine should be warmed enough by now. Come, sit next to me and we shall share a drink.”
Nasreen returned with the wine and placed it next to Baraz’s plate.
“Remove your veil,” said Baraz.
Nasreen uncovered her face, careful to keep her eyes downcast.
“You have fair enough features. I can see why the Lord Prince had such interest in you. It is a pity you have sullied yourself in lechery, or I might take my pleasure with you.”
Nasreen took a drink from her flagon and felt her face grow hot under Baraz’s gaze. He pushed the dish of lamb towards her. “It is best not to drink on an empty stomach. "You may eat your fill of what is left."
She tried to eat as the Procuress had taught her, slowly and daintily, but the hunger from weeks of watery lentils and gruel and the new life growing within her won out. She devoured every bite of the stew with abandon as Baraz drank the rest of his warmed wine, never taking his eyes from her face.
“Who am I to you?" asked Baraz.
"You are the High Priest of the Locust, and my Lord and Master," said Nasreen.
"To you, I am God," said the High Priest. "I provide food for you. I clothe you. I give you safety and protection under my name."
"Yes, Your Holiness," said Nasreen, her stomach suddenly lurching under the weight of the food she consumed.
"Say it." Baraz stood up from the table and grasped her jaw in one hand, forcing her to look up at him. "Say that I am your God. Look at me so that I may know you do not lie."
"You are my God." Nasreen barely croaked out the words. Her hands suddenly seemed coated in sweat, and Baraz's face blurred before her. She clutched her belly and fell forward, retching the contents of her stomach onto Baraz's priestly robes. He kicked her away from him in disgust.
"This is the price I pay for feeding vermin delicacies," said Baraz, covering his mouth to keep from gagging. "Clean this up and prepare water to bathe me. I will be in my bedchamber." He took two lurching steps before he collapsed on the floor, making gasping noises as if his throat had closed upon itself. Foam appeared at the corners of his mouth as he convulsed, his body drawn back as a bow is drawn by an archer.
Nasreen crawled towards the door as the room spun around her. As she pulled herself up into a standing position, she looked downward where a red stain grew impossibly large below her belly.
"Help!" she screamed. "Help!" She pushed open the door and shouted into the darkness. "Help! Help us! Someone, please..." She grabbed her belly in pain as she made her way down the passage, leaving a bloody trail behind her. Someone picked her up and carried her back to the High Priest's chambers where they left her before the fire. A few feet away, the High Priest convulsed as men tried to hold him still.
"Send a man on the fastest horse to the palace. Inform the God-King his High Priest does not have long to live."
Nasreen closed her eyes against the pain and slipped into warm darkness.
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