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 DesireChapter 45: Dasha
A ladder used for cleaning the rafters from cobwebs was found and placed against the dormitory windows that faced the courtyard. Two of the younger priestesses held it firm while Aisha climbed up and looked out. Below her, men and women pushed against the soldiers, attempting to create a barrier between the Swarm and the rest of the populace while mothers with their children did their best to escape the confines of the temple. A handful of young men and women fought to keep the gates open to allow them safe passage into the streets. Those on the walkways atop the temple walls threw anything they could find upon the soldiers below.
The procuress called up to Aisha, "What do you see?"
"The citizens are fighting against the Swarm while the mothers and children flee!" said Aisha. "The people are unarmed except for what they have been able to find. Some have armed themselves with unburned wood from the fire. Some fight only with their fists."
"We should go and fight with them!" cried one of the women.
"There is no use in fighting," said the old high priestess from her place on the floor. "He has already won. The Locust King will not stop until he has consumed us all."
One of the other women spoke up "But the oracle..."
"And where is that oracle now?" asked the old woman, struggling to her feet. Two of the former priestesses rushed to help her rise. "The oracle is dead. Just like we will be if we try to fight. The Swarm is unstoppable. It is the nature of locusts to consume, never stopping until all is gone except rock and dust."
"Ignore her," said the procuress. "Little librarian, what do you see?"
"Most of the mothers, children, and elderly have escaped through the gate. The younger women have taken off their veils to be better able to fight."
"You mean better able to be recognized when the Locusts come looking for slaves and flesh to feed their master," said the former high priestess. "The foolish girls will all be killed. And for what? For nothing. The Goddess has forsaken Her children, if She ever existed."
There was a collective inhale of shock from the assembled women. "How can you say such things?" asked one of the women.
"How can I believe otherwise?" asked the Holy Mother. "She has allowed Her hallowed capital to be overrun by filthy foreigners who killed our men, enslaved our children, and slaughtered our Queen, tossing her body aside like a piece of refuse. Even my own sons who dedicated themselves to a life of serving Her have been gelded and taken from me. If you do not wish to die like all the others, you must listen to me. If She ever existed, She is unworthy of our worship."
"It is you who are unworthy," said the procuress. "The Lady has not betrayed us. You have! The Lady warned us through Her oracles two years ago upon the Day of Between. You are the one who twisted it for your own gain, giving the interpretation that we only needed to turn to piousness to insure a bountiful harvest. It was you who told the citizens the Lady required more offerings be given to Her temple to ward off unhealthy winds from the desert instead of preparing for war."
Another of the higher-ranking priestesses spoke up. "It was also you, Holy Mother, who told the council of grandmothers to convince the Queen to turn away emissaries from the lands across the desert. You told us they were only here to steal from us. You told us that The Lady would provide. That we had no need of filthy foreigners polluting our Queen's mind with doubts!"
A clatter on the roof above followed by horrible scraping noises interrupted the argument below.
"Eyes! What is it?" called the procuress.
"Some of the citizens from the walkways are on the roof, trying to flee the Swarm. They are throwing tiles down upon them." Aisha called down.
Below her, the courtyard was strewn with bodies, mostly Adyllian. The Swarm fought with swords and spears, while the people held only makeshift weapons. Reinforcements from the battalions camped outside the city poured through the temple gate to bolster the Swarm's numbers. Residents fled in whatever manner or direction they could. As they fled, the citizens on the rooftops of the temple buildings facing the courtyard rained rocks and tiles upon the soldiers below. Soon, the courtyard was empty except soldiers, corpses, and the wounded.
"The people who fight below will want to kill you, Dasha. The same people who wish to 'destroy the destroyer' have learned what you are. They will seek your head as well," said the procuress.
"So be it," said the old woman. "At least I shall die without fucking those filthy beasts, like you and your whores."
"We should give her to the mob," said one of the temple prostitutes.
"No," said the procuress. "At one time she dedicated her life to the Lady. The Lady cares for all her children. She does not desire death for any of us, even those who spit in Her face."
"She is still the Holy Mother," said the elder priestess. "Chosen by the Lady to serve in this era of captivity. She is still the ordained leader of those who choose to serve Her. And we should remember this, no matter how distasteful we find it to be."
"It's quiet," said Nasreen, her eyes on her friend. "Aisha, what is happening outside?"
"The citizens have fled. Only the Swarm and some prisoners remain."
"I told you," mumbled the old high priestess. "He will always win. We cannot defeat the strigoi-viu."
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