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 Duty Chapter 90: Nightmares Chapter 91: Earth and Sun Chapter 92: Love and Creation Chapter 93: Until My Last Breath Chapter 94: Fruit and Flower Chapter 95: Two Days Chapter 96: Small ComfortsChapter 92: Love and Creation
Aaysha asked the Earth, "What of your lover? Has he no concern for your suffering that he leaves you each night as the children he fathered fight among themselves?"
"My lover is not a creator," answered the Earth. "His light and warmth and love give me the desire to create, but my creations are my own."
This is truth older than humanity, that mothers give of their own bodies to create new life within. Like unto this truth is another: men cannot create life from themselves, only love. Because of this, man is second to woman. First to serve his mother, for from her flesh comes his life. And then to serve his wife, for from his love she creates new life.
Aaysha removed her silken veil and considered the sons of the Earth, one born in Night and the other in Day. She wondered at their creation within the Earth's dreams. And she saw they were both fair of countenance, with hair black as the midnight sky, and eyes that flashed like the stars. And she loved them.
Her mother the Moon warned Aaysha to be wary of the children of her sister, the Earth. "These sons are not like us, for we live in harmony one with another, while they fight among themselves. Stay with your sisters and dance a while longer, Daughter."
But as Aaysha danced, her eyes returned to the sons of Earth. She watched as one gave all he possessed to his brother and set sail upon the Ocean alone. His eyes turned upwards to Her as She danced with her seven sisters, and he beheld the dance with joy. As the dance turned, Her eyes fell on his brother who wandered the land cursing the other. She asked her mother, "How are the sons of your sister so different when they come from the same womb?"
"Because one was born under the loving eye of his father, and the other born in his shadow," answered her mother. "Such is the lot of man who bears desire in his heart without the light of love."
"Is there no hope for the sons of the Earth?" asked Aaysha. "The Sun shines only in the Day, but the moon and stars guide through the Night. Surely where there is life there is also hope?"
"The love of sons is fleeting," answered the Moon. "For they are not tied to us as we are tied one womb to the next. In each of us lives every mother before us. But for them, they bear in themselves their whole existence. When a man leaves his mother, he must take a wife to guide him or he will be lost."
"I can be hope and life unto them," said Aaysha.
"If you heart is set, my Daughter, and if your eyes are clear, you may go to the sons of my sister," said Aaysha's mother. "But know this, you shall be changed as are all who love. You shall bear sons and daughters and know the pain of creation, being transformed by it until you can bear it no more and return to me in the heavens."
Aaysha embraced Her mother and turned Her face to the Earth, alighting on the shore of the ocean where the waves touch the land, sent from the heavens to give hope and life to those who love her.
Old Scribe joined the young librarian on the floor of the library, rolling on his back and purring loudly to gain her attention.
“You are certainly happy today, old man,” said Aisha. "Did you know the Lady loved both Thought and Desire before She came to Earth? You would think She would have realized how mean Desire was, since he took everything Thought had."
Old Scribe continued rolling on the floor as she rolled up the scroll and stuffed it back inside her robe. He followed her back up the stairs to the upper level where she secured it back with the rest of the hidden documents.
"Watch these while I am away, Old Scribe," she said, as she patted his head. "Sunlight is dimming, and I need to get back before it is too dark." She gave the cat one more head scratch before heading down the stairs and out the door.
Nasreen unwound the bandages from her hands and found shiny new skin underneath, still tender to the touch, but no longer bleeding. Her stomach growled. The last few days she felt ravenously hungry at almost any moment and the food served to the temple women no longer seemed to be enough to sustain her. She rested her hand at the base of her stomach, knowing it was too early to feel the fluttering movements within. A smile crossed her face at the thought of a newborn baby with black hair and the features of a desert nomad warrior.
It was fortunate how the timing of her hands healing coincided with the fifth day of her "cycle." No need to cut herself anew to fool the old priestess's Eyes to keep the abortifacient tea far from her. But she would need to procure a knife by the next full moon. Or better yet, be gone far across the mountain with little Aisha where a swelling belly would not gain any attention. She heard stories in the marketplace of shepherds living with their flocks in caves through the winter aided by the heat from the thermal springs which ran beneath them. Surely, she and Aisha could find a place like that to spend the winter. And they could forage for food on the mountainside. How much could two girls eat? And the baby would be born at summer's end. By then they would be safe, far gone from the reach of the Holy Mother and the strigoi-viu.
"Nasreen!"
She looked up, and saw the Procuress hurrying across the mostly empty room from the entrance to the brothel.
"Nasreen!" called the Procuress again. "Come with me! Now!"
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