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 PebblesChapter 78: Mistress and Mother
Winter sun shone down upon the high priestess and the young bookmaker as they crossed the courtyard headed for the library. The winds from the past week seemed to have quieted themselves overnight after blowing away the grey snow clouds of the last week. Despite the change in weather, the Holy Mother’s steps were not as quick as they had been when Aisha last served as her eyes less than a year ago, although the old woman’s grip on her shoulder was as strong as it had ever been.
"Slow your pace," said the older woman. "There is no need to run."
Aisha carefully shortened her steps to accommodate. "Yes, Holy Mother. "
The high priestess abruptly stopped in her tracks and let go of Aisha’s shoulder. Aisha turned to see what was wrong.
"Stupid child,” hissed the old woman. “Never call me by that title outside of the woman's quarters! Someone will overhear you and you will end up getting us all killed!"
"What am I to call you then?" asked Aisha.
"You may call me mother," said the high priestess, putting her hand back on Aisha’s shoulder. "Or you may call me mistress if you wish a more formal way of addressing me.
Aisha clenched her fists under the sleeves of her robes. You are not my mother. My mother gave her life for her people. You are nothing like her. You will never be like her. I will never call you mother.
"Yes, Mistress."
The old woman’s grip on Aisha’s shoulder tightened. “I would prefer you call me mother given that your mother gave me charge over you before she died. It would be a sign of respect to her."
“Yes, Mistress,” said Aisha.
“I see,” chuckled the old woman. “Mistress is just as well. It implies the relationship of a superior authority to a servant or slave. I would have thought you would have chosen otherwise. It is just as well given what we need to discuss.”
Aisha’s mind began to race through every possible reason the Holy Mother would want to meet with her.
Could she have overheard Nasreen and I talking of our plans to escape?
Did the Procuress tell her the things I said the night Nasreen came back from the palace?
What if the Holy Mother knew about the scrolls?
She couldn't know. She could not navigate the stairs without help from her eyes. And she could not see the scrolls if she did.
Mother said the high priestess knows everything because the Goddess speaks to her directly.
But the Holy Mother no longer believes in the Goddess.
Baraz. Could he have told her of the scroll?
By the time they reached the library doors, Aisha's palms were almost too slick with sweat to open them properly. Once inside, Aisha wiped her hands on her robe before pulling the door shut, making sure it latched securely. She turned back to the Holy Mother who stood just inside the doorway. "Would you like me to find you a chair, Mistress?"
"Yes, child." The older woman’s hand shot out in Aisha’s direction. She felt around the younger girl’s hand and drew her closer, taking her face in her hand to whisper in her ear. "Make sure we are alone first."
Aisha allowed the Holy Mother to feel her nod in understanding before beginning her normal inspection of the library to assure they were alone.
She must know about the scrolls. Why else would she want to speak with me alone here? Once she was sure they were alone, she returned to the Holy Mother and led her to a chair at the library table.
"We are alone, Mistress," said Aisha. "I have checked everywhere. But perhaps it is best to keep our voices low nonetheless. The High Priest does not visit often, but he walks like a cat. He has taken me unawares at times."
"He has told me he did indeed catch you unawares on more than one occasion," said the Holy Mother. "Most recently, he found you with a scroll of great age, containing the story of a blood drinking foreign king. Why did you not tell me of this encounter with the High Priest?"
"I... I... I thought you would be angry with me, Holy... I mean Mistress," stammered Aisha. "I should have told you about the scroll. And the High Priest."
"You still have not answered my question! Why must I hear from that wretched man that he discovered you with such a thing? With a piece of our country's heritage? Did you hope to embarrass me in front of him?" asked the old woman.
"I was afraid," explained Aisha. "I know you think I am a burden and a danger to everyone. Every day I try my best to make myself as small and unnoticeable as I can. I did not want to anger you."
"Where did you find it?" demanded the old woman. "Tell me now, stupid child. WHERE DID YOU FIND IT?"
Aisha shrunk inside herself while her mind raced. Do I tell her of the books hidden under the stairs in the bookmaker's closet? Does she know of the hiding place? What did Baraz tell her? Does he suspect anything?
"Must you continue to disrespect me, child?" asked the older woman. "Or is your head so addled that you do not remember where you found the scroll? Do not lie to me. I will know. I know you were reading it. He told me you were repairing it in the closet when he stumbled across you. But I know better. You were off in your own little precious dream world so engrossed you didn’t hear a grown man walk across the entire library to find you!"
"I found it on the top of a shelf on the east side of the library," lied Aisha, the words tumbling out of her mouth.
“Baraz told me that is what you said,” said the old woman. “The older books were all destroyed during the siege. You will not find any others. Do not go looking for them. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mistress. My curiosity got the better of me. It will never happen again,” said Aisha.
"You are right. It will never happen again," said the Holy Mother. "I thought of replacing you as librarian. There are other tasks to be done more suitable for your intellect that will keep the men of the Swarm from sniffing you out. Perhaps you would be better suited to cleaning latrines in the healing wing. The smell there would be far worse than vinegar, piss, and sheepskin."
Aisha stared at her feet. "Yes, Mistress."
"You are no better than any of us," said the Holy Mother as she put her hand on Aisha's shoulder again to push herself to a standing position. "The virtue of your birth has become a curse to all Adyll. And your thoughtless actions may yet be the death of us all. Come, lead me back to the kitchens."
"Yes, Mistress."
"It would be best if you refrained from reading at all," said the Holy Mother. "Nothing here holds any value to a woman living under the rule of the Locust King. It is better for us to be ignorant. Anything else only gives false hope."
"Yes, Mistress. It will not happen again,” said Aisha as she led her towards the door to the courtyard and a sun the old woman could never see.
The Holy Mother lies. She knows the rest of the books are hidden beneath the stairs.
And now I know I can lie just as she does and the Goddess will not betray me.
Find your way!
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