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 6: Inside the Black Tent
The Locust King's tent was larger than the rest of the Swarm's tents, and it was hung in black cloth, except for the red and gold tapestry depicting a locust with wings extended. Light seeped from around the flap of fabric covering the door, and the soft sound of a lute came from within.
Mahleck pulled back the door covering and ushered the Queen and her bodyguards inside. “This is much more befitting your station, my lady, rather than the blood and mire of the battlefield.”
Inside, the tent was opulent, decorated in rich silks of red and gold. In one corner a Narim girl of no more than thirteen summers, dressed in purple and gold silks, sat on an upholstered stool strumming the lute. Her unbound hair hung down in a shimmering black curtain. She stood up and dropped the instrument as soon as they entered, then prostrated herself on the carpet at Mahleck’s feet, but not before the Queen saw the fear in her hooded eyes.
“Lilua, you may go.” It was a command. Lilua stood up, snatched the lute from the floor and almost ran for the door.
The Locust King seated himself on a carved ebony chair. “Kneel before your King, my lady. You would do well to remember your place.”
She swallowed hard but knelt. “Yes, my King.”
“You wished to speak of terms? Remember you have no position from which to bargain.”
“And may I remind you that a meek, submissive populace is much easier to deal with than a rebellious one? I can deliver this to you, along with the wealth of our nation. Let there be no more bloodshed.” She looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke.
“Queen Mila, the Adyllian blood that has been shed already is upon your head and the head of your husband. Did you receive my gift, lady? He fought most valiantly, even if he was easily defeated.” He watched as a quick flicker of anger crossed her beautiful face. “How is your daughter? I am sure she would make a good friend for my wife the Princess Lilua. She has been very lonely since losing her parents and leaving her home in the desert. Her brother will not be arriving until his training has been completed – and that could be years. I believe you know of Prince Zayaan, do you not?”
“Yes. He was betrothed to our daughter.” The fall of the Adyllian allies, the Narim, was the beginning of the end for Adyll. Seeing Princess Lilua reduced to prostrating herself in fear before this monster was worse than she had imagined, and the thought of Irinya in the same situation was unbearable. “We had hoped to unite our kingdoms.”
“Zayaan will be a valuable asset when he has completed his training. And he will be loyal. I am sure he will understand that his betrothed is serving a higher purpose. As terms of the surrender, you will give your blessing on my marriage to Princess Irinya.”
Mila cast her eyes downward. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Irinya is dead, my lord. Shot through by a stray arrow. She lays in state before the Goddess even now. You have taken my husband and my daughter from me. Soon you will take my life, and I will join them. At least you will give me that mercy. Now I lay my country at your feet. You have all that I can give you. All I ask is that you allow the people of Adyll to live and serve you. There is nothing else I can give.”
He rose to his feet and towered over her as she wept. “Your daughter is dead? I gave no orders to shoot into the palace!”
“She is dead, my Lord. My daughter is dead. My beautiful, innocent, perfect child is dead!” Queen Mila collapsed onto the floor before him, sobs wracking her body, while he paced around her. Her mind was racing. It was said that he was strigoi-viu, that the blood he drank granted him mystical powers, allowing him to see the thoughts of his enemies. She prayed silently and forced herself to think of the child lying dead on the altar and the blue flowers on the windowsill.
Finally, he sat again. “This makes your proposal more interesting, lady. Although I would rather have your daughter to lay my claim to your country’s throne, Adyll's complete surrender and your command to the people to obey me would be sufficient to secure my place as rightful ruler of this country. I am a reasonable man. But you must do exactly as I say and obey me in everything. Do you understand, lady? I am willing to spare the inhabitants of your city, if you will lay down your life for them. Will you do so?”
She swallowed, then spoke in a whisper. “Yes, my Lord and King. This is the way of the Goddess, to lay down one's life for Her children.”
"Where has your Goddess been, my lady? Where was she when I bought my way into the country through the greed of one of her children? Where was she when I tortured your husband? She must have hidden herself, afraid of my strength when I cut off his head. Maybe she has no more use for her weak children, so she allowed your daughter to be killed? Your demoness has forsaken all of you!" he railed. "But I, I the God-King Mahleck, will have mercy upon the people of Adyll, even if she would not! Give your people the command to obey me, and I will be merciful. Give yourself wholly to me. Make me your God. Sacrifice yourself to me, and I will spare your people."
Outside the tent she heard the birds welcoming the dawn. It did not matter what this strigoi-viu did to her, her Goddess had answered her prayers. Her daughter and the people of Adyll would live. The blood of the Goddess would survive.
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