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 80: The Strigoi-Viu Cometh
"I only attended three celebrations of Longest Night atop the mountain," said Takri. "But the celebrations of the Narim echo those of Adyll. It is a time of fasting, reflection, and rebirth. A time for making vows to the Lady. At the celebrations I did attend at the Temple new acolytes shaved their hair as the sun set on Longest Night in memory of the Adyllian goddess's captivity before cloistering themselves in cells below the temple to meditate in silence until the spring equinox."
“Must you still refer to the demoness as a goddess?” asked Baraz. “It borders on blasphemy!”
“I did not say she is my goddess. But it is the way the people see her,” said Takri. “To many, she is as real as the air we breathe. They will not give up their traditions so easily. Adyll worshipped her since the beginning of time.”
“Perhaps we can use these traditions for our own benefit," said Mahleck. "The people are already fasting, albeit not by choice. The famine itself brings its own form of fasting, after all. They can break their fast on Longest Night when the Locusts bring forth food from across the desert. Adyll will be reborn in my image and take new vows of loyalty to me, the God-Among-Men, instead of their false goddess.”
"My God and King," said Baraz. "We still must contend with those who attacked our men in the Temple after the purification of the Zora. They interpret her words as divine prophecy from the mouth of their idol."
"This Longest Night will separate the wheat from the chaff," said Mahleck. "Those who refuse to pledge themselves fully to me will be marked as impure in my sight. They will not refuse. Their famine will bring them to their knees as I provide them with the sustenance their own goddess refused them."
"Perhaps there is a way in which we can use the witches’ words to strengthen your position," said Baraz. "All things do indeed work for your glory, my God and King."
"What of her words? The so-called prophecy she spoke at the moment of her burning? Nothing more than the ramblings of an old woman!" said Mahleck.
Baraz bowed his head for a moment in submission. "Forgive me, my God and King. I fumbled my words in excitement. I did not mean the blasphemy spoken by the old witch as she burned. There was another prophecy.”
“You may continue,” said Mahleck.
“One year before you liberated Adyll the three oracles prophesied of your coming,” said Baraz. “The people believe the Zorya speak the words of their cursed Lady. The demoness told the people to prepare for their desire to come quickly on the winds of the desert.”
Mahleck leaned back in his chair and regarded his high priest. "Go on, priest. This interests me. What did they say?"
"They spoke of desire unfulfilled consuming like the locust," explained Baraz. "This is an obvious reference to you as the object of their unfulfilled desire for truth and holiness!"
"I was in the temple when this prophecy was spoken," said Takri. "Usually, the Zora's prophesied blessings and good fortune upon the land. This was very different. It struck fear into the hearts of the people."
Baraz interrupted. "Is it true that each of the three spoke a portion of the prophecy with the Heresiarch gave interpretation to the people? I cannot imagine how women would control such proceedings without everything devolving into chaos."
"The oracles spoke from youngest to oldest, each giving one portion of the prophecy," said Takri. "But their words never became clear until the high priestess interpreted the meaning. It was as if they spoke from deep within a dream."
"Women never speak plainly," said Mahleck. "They live only to deceive. Takri, do you remember the second portion of the prophecy?"
Takri shook his head. "It mentioned death flying across the desert."
Baraz interjected, "It flies across the desert on wings of death. Those are the words you are looking for. I believe we can interpret this for them as their desire for the truth and safety of the God-Among-Men who brings death to false idols and religions."
"Ah... and the third part?" asked Mahleck. "The part spoken by the ancient crone? She had no love for me."
"The strigoi-viu cometh," Takri said in a low voice. "I do remember the final line."
"The Zora used the same term," said Mahleck. "Strigoi-viu. It is an old word. One I had forgotten until she spoke it."
"The foolish Adyllians cannot conceive of a male deity," said Baraz, parroting the words of the high priestess. "Especially heretics in the order of the Zorya. They called you the most powerful male entity they knew of - the immortal known as the strigoi-viu."
"It is the same as calling me a demon," said Mahleck. "Of course they could not see who I truly am. What else would those witches call me? These treacherous women blinded the nation to my greatness!"
"They could not comprehend what you truly are," said Baraz. "This is true. But their words contained truth. It is as you told me - the whole world sings your praises. Even the Adyllian witches could not but speak the truth of your greatness."
"And what of the high priestess' interpretation?" asked Takri. "She told the people the they must turn to holiness to avert a bad harvest by increasing the offerings to the temple."
"If the people chose righteousness in following the truth of God-Emperor Mahleck, their famine would have been averted," said the high priest. "Even the Heresiarch herself spoke truth unknowingly."
"This is valuable insight, Baraz," said Mahleck. "You once again prove your worth as advisor."
"I am but your humble servant," said Baraz. "Your greatness inspires loyalty in all those who seek truth."
"That word the witches used to describe me," said Mahleck. "What does it mean to the people of Adyll? The First Men have stories of a cannibalistic creature of some sort, if I remember correctly. The death that stalks in daylight, a man who is a curse."
"When we were children, my uncles would tell stories to frighten us at night," said Takri. "The ones of the strigoi-viu were the most terrifying. They told of men who committed such acts of evil the earth would not accept their bodies, and the carrion birds would not eat their flesh. They could not die and would roam the earth looking for blood and fear to feed upon."
"The Adyllians believe you to be immortal," said Baraz. "Incapable of death."
"Indeed," said Mahleck.
"I saw you pull a spear from your chest and laugh," said Takri. "You are immortal."
Mahleck laughed. "I am not this cursed being of which you speak, sweet Takri. I am God. And God cannot be killed with a piece of metal on the end of a stick."
Baraz picked up the scroll from his lap and handed it to Mahleck. "I found an ancient text in the temple on the subject that may interest you, my God and King."
Mahleck unrolled the scroll and began to read. His face turned serious. "Lord Prince Takri, you may leave now. You are far too young to find a dusty scroll of any interest. Go back to your rooms and enjoy your body slave."
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