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 DutyChapter 89: Love and Duty
Takri followed his guide down a stairway and into a large open room where men and women copulated openly on the floor and in darkened corners where the torchlight did not quite reach.
"Welcome to the King's pleasure," said the woman who had escorted him.
Here there was no quiet, orderly line of beautiful young women from which to choose. Instead of perfume, the air smelled of sweat and piss. Takri looked around the room, simultaneously hoping and fearing Nasreen was among these prostitutes, but she was not to be found. The women here were older than those he was presented at his last visit, some even past the age of childbearing.
Takri swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "I did not think..."
"I am sorry, sir. You did say this is not your first visit?" asked the woman.
"On the day I was here, there were very few... others," said Takri. "I had my pick of women."
"Then you can consider yourself blessed," said his guide. "What you are describing is reserved only for the Princes of the Locust King's court."
"It... It must have been before the reinforcements arrived," stammered Takri.
His guide nodded and bowed before returning up the stairs leaving the young Narim alone before the undulating crowd. Two temple eunuchs stood guard next to the base of the stairs in case a fight broke out among those seeking pleasure. Takri approached the older of the two.
"I need to speak to the Procuress," said Takri.
"If you have a complaint, you can register it with me. But unless you are a Prince, you will not speak to her," said the eunuch. "She has important duties to attend to in serving those of rank above. She does not have time for commoners."
"Could you take her a message for me?" asked Takri. "Tell her I was sent to speak with her about Yaril. She will understand."
The man leaned closer to Takri and examined his face. "How would a Locust hear that name?"
"It is a message from someone who cares about him very much," said Takri. "I cannot say more unless it is with the Procuress."
“You are certainly sure of yourself for one who hides his scars,” said the guard. “Wait here.” He turned and spoke a few words to his companion before disappearing up the stairs. A few moments later another eunuch replaced him at his post, casting suspicious glances towards Takri, who backed himself against a wall where he could keep one eye on the door and another on his surroundings. The other Locusts paid him no attention.
Fifteen minutes later, the guard returned and gestured for Takri to follow him. He led him up the same stairs, and past the room with the old woman where Takri was inspected.
"I do not know who you are, young Locust," said the eunuch. "Or how you know of Yaril. But I do know this: my duty is to protect the people of this temple. That duty is strongest in my service to the Procuress. If you lay a hand upon her to harm her, I will harm you. And as we both know, if you are who you act to be, you would not know of Yaril. Keep in mind that one member of the Swarm is easily missed, and the temple has many places to dispose of a body unnoticed."
"I understand," said Takri.
"Good," said the eunuch. "We will keep each other's secrets, then."
He set off down the hall with Takri following until he stopped at a simple door set in the wall. "She is waiting inside."
Takri opened the door and found himself in a small kitchen empty except for the Procuress standing unveiled at the table, a carving knife in front of her.
"I am unveiled, young Locust. Would you do me the same courtesy and show me your face? I have seen many scarred faces since your people arrived in Adyll. I don't think yours will shock me," she said.
Takri pulled back his hood and unwrapped his face.
"Just as I suspected," she said. "The Lord Prince Takri, hero of the day. The one who brought the dangerous Zora to be burned alive on one of the holiest of days! Why are you here? It isn't to tell me of dear Yaril. No. It must be to seek out Nasreen and humiliate her once again? To finish what you started?"
"Then she lives?" gasped Takri, choking on his words.
"You do not deserve to know how she fares."
"I only wished to know if she lives," said Takri. "Baraz..."
"What of him?" snapped the Procuress. "He does not care for us. Women are beneath the notice of the High Priest of the Locust."
"Nasreen and every woman in the brothel is in grave danger," said Takri. "Mahleck has decreed that no prostitute will speak to any member of the Swarm. Those that do will have their tongues cut out."
"Baraz has not told us of any such thing," said the Procuress.
"He would not tell you," said Takri. "Because he wishes for you all to be caught in your disobedience and punished. The punishment is his goal."
"And how do you know this?" asked the Procuress. "And if you are privy to these conversations, why did you not stop them if you care so much for Nasreen?"
"I was not there. If I was, then perhaps I could have softened their cruelty. My body slave, a young Adyllian girl named Yelena overheard them as she hid behind a wall."
"You have an Adyllian girl as a slave?" spat the Procuress. "I should take this blade and put it in your chest. If it were not for the sacred prostitutes whose safety I am charged with, I would try."
"I have not touched her," said Takri. "She is slave in title only, so that I may keep her safe. We wish to fight the Swarm from within. Floryan helped me find my way to you. He said to tell you that you were right about Yaril. That love is more important than duty."
"That is only true when one has the luxury of safety," said the Procuress. "Which is something we have none of at present."
"Love is what makes us brave enough to resist," said Takri. "To take risks. Floryan should have fought for the man he loved. I need to fight for Nasreen now. Please. I need to know she is safe. Safe from Baraz. Safe and alive. So that I can fight for her."
"The Lady fought for her children," said the Procuress. "She fought for them, yet She lost all but her youngest daughter. And the Lady sacrificed her own life as well. Are you willing to love as She did?"
"I am willing to lay down my life for Nasreen's," said Takri. "I swear it upon the memory of my people."
"And what do you wish for her?" asked the Procuress.
"I wish for her to be free," said Takri. "Free from this bondage. Free from her forced servitude."
"And if she wishes to be free from you as well?"
"Then so be it," said Takri. "For at least I will have known what it is to love."
"Wait here," said the Procuress. "And you will have your chance."
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