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 DaysChapter 86: Beneath the Palace
The eunuch shook his head. "I cannot believe I am telling you this. It goes against my better judgement. But I lost Yaril to my mother's better judgement."
"It was cruel what she made you do," said Yelena.
"It was what she thought was best," said Floryan. "I will never know how the love Yaril and I shared could have grown, or what it would have become. I do not know if she was being cruel, or simply a protective mother, or a strange mix of both. But she will never have grandchildren, and I have lost Yaril. Takri, I will do my best to make sure you at least know if Nasreen lives or dies, but you also must do what is best for the ones you have responsibility for here."
Takri nodded. "I will do whatever you ask of me."
"Good," said Floryan. "When my brother and I were young, before our mother assumed the title of Holy Mother, we were oft left unsupervised. We spent many days after our lessons exploring while our mother served at the side of her predecessor. I know the temple better than most. There are places aplenty to hide oneself if you know where to look. We spent our time exploring the catacombs and caverns that sprawl under the city. There are ways there that will help you find if your Nasreen still lives."
"Mahleck believes your mother would have spoken to Baraz if she suspected Nasreen was dead," said Takri. "You know your mother better than anyone else. Would she care so much for her?"
"For a woman of the temple, she would risk everything," said Floryan. "Her role as Holy Mother extends to every priestess of the Lady, and to a lesser degree to the men who serve as priests. Her role as Holy Mother is more important than anything else."
"Then there is a chance Nasreen lives," said Takri. "Tell me of the way beneath the city."
"First, promise me this - before you leave, you will send Yelena as a gift to your cousin Lilua to serve as her companion," said Floryan. "She will remain in the Court of Women until after the celebrations of Longest Night. If you still live by that time, she may return to you. Lilua's presence will offer her protection if you are discovered. There are few things Mahleck will refuse his favorite bride, except her freedom. And if you are discovered, Yelena will provide Lilua the comfort you will not be able to provide from the grave."
"Agreed. Please, show me how to get to Nasreen. I will do whatever you ask."
Below the kitchens there are storerooms.
Dressed in the plain garments of a low-ranking member of the Swarm, his head tucked inside his hood, Takri made his way through servants holding serving vessels of stewed mutton and root vegetables, dishes piled high with fragrant currant-studded saffron rice, and platters stacked with bread. Wine maidens garbed in transparent silks holding jugs on their hips paid him no attention as he pushed past, reminding him of Yelena safe in the Court of Women with his cousin.
The best time to leave and return without notice is during the serving of the evening meal when all are busy. Barring that, return in the wee hours of the morning as silently as you would stalk prey in the desert.
The kitchens still bustled with activity as Takri walked through, keeping himself to the left side of the room as Floryan instructed. He found the door and took the stairs leading down, his footsteps deadened by the clatter of plates and dishes and the cacophony of voices from the cook and scullery maids as they finished final preparations for the princes' evening meal.
Takri made his way down the stairs to the passageway below. On either side lay storerooms filled with food and wine, their entryways hidden in darkness.
Follow the passageway until you reach its end. Take the door to your right.
Takri stepped into the darkened room beyond the reach of the light spilling from the kitchens above. He reached into the bag hung from his belt and produced a small clay lamp and a bottle of oil. He filled the lamp and struck his flint against the rough stone floor of the chamber to light the wick. He stood up to search for the way into the caverns below.
In the corner farthest from the entry is a small door set into the wall. It may be covered by now, but it will be there. The royal cook used it as his own hiding place for the finest wine and cheese that never saw the Queen's table.
The corner furthest from the door held many boxes piled upon each other against the wall. Takri pushed them away to reveal Floryan and Luka's door, small enough for a man to fit through if he crawled on his belly. He lifted the latch and laid down, reaching his lamp through the door. Inside was damp air and the faint sound of dripping water. He put the lamp down inside the cavern, and then turned around, scooting inside backwards to his waist, pulling the boxes back into place as best he could to hide the entrance. He pulled himself inside the door, closing it behind him.
Once inside, he was able to stand upright and take stock of his surroundings. To his right, four terracotta wine jugs lay buried up to their necks, their lids still intact. To his left, wheels of ripe sheep cheese wrapped in muslin lay neatly on boards stacked one on top of the other. Takri wondered how long since the door was opened, and if the cook still managed to steal food from the table of the Locust as he had from the Queen. He unwrapped one of the smaller cheeses and hacked off a piece with his knife. He put it carefully it in his pack, alongside the bread and apples leftover from his breakfast.
He lifted the lantern and headed into the caves, following the sound of running water. If Floryan's instructions continued to hold true, he would reach the temple and Nasreen within a few hours.
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