Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns

by Joanne Durda

  As Ushi helped the princess up, he looked towards the door and saw the one snake dragging the ripped part of Savagio’s shirt in its teeth, the other snake slithering after, and Goldest hopping out the door behind them. No one else seemed to have noticed this except Ushi, who had a dark, cold look on his face.

  “Are you alright, Princess?” Ushi asked.

  “I am fine –just a little startled, maybe.”

  Ushi then proceeded to help Savagio up off the floor.

  “My apologies, Princess. I seemed to have tripped backwards – over what, I do not know.”

  “Well, I’m sure I know just what the problem is, and will handle it myself,” Ushi informed them.

  “Oh?” the princess responded questionably.

  “Do not concern yourself, Princess,” Ushi told her.

  An humiliated Savagio looked down at his torn shirt. “Please excuse myself while I go up into my room and change this shirt.”

  Savagio, disgusted with himself, walked out of the room as the gypsies straightened up the carpet and then continued on with their music.

  “I wonder what happened to the other half of my torn shirt?” Savagio muttered to himself. “I know there is a conspiracy of vengeance in this castle to make me believe that I am going crazy.”

  Ushi took the princess’s hand and tilted his head, meaning ‘would you like to dance?’. The princess giggled. They continued with the slow waltz side by side, as they conversed.

  “Savagio certainly has had his share of strange occurrences here in my castle lately.”

  “I’m not the least bit surprised.” Ushi spoke as if to himself, referring to Goldest. Then, to the princess, he said, “I do believe that Savagio has the same interest that I have, Princess.”

  “Being?” she asked slyly.

  Ushi responded with a smile and they continued to dance.

  Meanwhile, Savagio was in his bedroom on the second floor of the castle. He selected a gray woolen shirt from his hanging clothes and took off what was left of his other shirt. He admired his handsome, massive chest in a long floor mirror and smiled at himself. The mirror, admiring the handsome warrior standing in front of it, smiled back at him with shyness.

  Yes, I am a man for the princess, he proudly thought to himself.

  Unknown to Savagio, Goldest, with her two snake buddies, had their heads peeping inside the door to Savagio’s room. Unfortunately for Savagio, doors inside the castle open outward toward the hallway and not inward. The two ingenious snakes slithered over to a small table close to Savagio’s door inside the hallway. Goldest followed, hopping behind them. The two clever snakes wrapped themselves around the table legs and dragged the table over to Savagio’s door. The unlit candles fell to the floor. Goldest, giggling and hiccuping, helped to push the legs, as the two snakes gurgled. Goldest hopped into the door and quietly shut the door. Straining, the three managed to drag and push the table in front of Savagio’s door.

  Savagio was too busy admiring himself in the mirror, with the mirror admiring him back, as he drifted and dreamed, and then went to select a more elaborate shirt from his closet to grace himself in. He selected a white shirt with blue birds embroidered on the cuffs and collar, making it more dressier than the plain gray woolen shirt.

  Goldest jumped upward on to the tabletop, then jumped upwards, again, to snatch the door keys from off the castle wall, next to the door. She stood up on her hind legs and stretched, and she managed to lock Savagio in his room. The three slithered and hopped off down the hallway, hiccuping and gurgling. Then they disappeared to another part of the castle.

  Savagio finished the task of changing his shirt. He went to the door of his room to head back to the main dining hall, and once again enjoy the dinner and dancing.

  “I don’t remember closing my door,” Savagio said suspiciously to himself. He tried to open the door, but it would not budge. He stepped back.

  This must be Ushi’s doing – afraid that I might turn the princess’s affections from him to myself, Savagio thought to himself.

  Meanwhile, Ushi and the princess continued to dine.

  “I wonder what has happened to Savagio. He is missing the gypsies’ beautiful melodies. He must be quite famished by now!”

  An apprehensive Ushi stopped eating and slowly put his fork down. “You are right, Princess. You continue to enjoy the meal and music. I will go see what has happened to our Savagio.”

  Ushi, with apprehension mounting, left the main dining hall and headed up to Savagio’s room on the second floor of the castle. Ushi abruptly halted down at the end of the hall when he noticed the small table in front of Savagio’s bedroom door. The unlit candles on the tabletop were on the floor of the hall. He frowned as he quickly strolled over to Savagio’s door. Ushi noticed the keys to his door on the tabletop and not hanging on the castle wall as they should have been. Something is definitely amiss here, Ushi thought to himself. He unlocked Savagio’s door.

  Sitting on his bed with anger welled up inside himself, Savagio heard his door being unlocked. He immediately jumped up off the bed and burst out through his door, pushing the table away. Savagio stopped and took a long look at both Ushi and the table. He grabbed Ushi’s blousy black shirt at his throat. A very strong warrior, Ushi took hold of Savagio’s hands off his throat collar and threw them off of him. A stern, dark look covered the whole of Ushi’s face.

  “What is the meaning of this? Did you lock me in so that you could have this musical evening alone with the princess?” Savagio asked angrily.

  Ushi controlled his temper and very quietly, calmly, said to him, “I would never do such a thing like this to anyone, Savagio! I am angry inside that you would think that of myself!”

  Savagio took a deep breath and felt ashamed that he would think that of Ushi, who was an honorable warrior. He put his head down. “You are right, Ushi. It is foolish of me to have thought something like that of you.” He then looked at Ushi, eye to eye. “Who might it have been, then?”

  Ushi turned to walk back down the hallway as he said, “Do you not know? Think about it!”

  The Seedlings

  As part of their daily ritual, the Monks and Shamans within the Kingdom of Thorns tended to the flock of odd seedlings growing in rows within their fields. They were known to be the finest gardeners ever. At the finest height of the day, when the sun should be shining its brightest, only dark, dreary, eeriness lurked over this anomalous kingdom. The Monks’ task was of deviant origin.

  The Monks plucked away loose branches and thorns of the young growing seedlings, molding them into stick figures of fighting children for their Thorn Warrior Army. They had the tedious task of cutting away any bush that might be developing from their growth. These heteroclite stick figures were planted in the ground with seed, and were growing from below the knee on up, their feet, as their roots, being embedded in the mucky ground.

  Their original ingenious seed consisted of a concoction of the sacred mushrooms, harsh and aggressive herbs, a variety of thorns, rare and pure oils and nutrimental potions. Crystals of onyx were also mixed into the seed to protect against negative energy. The seed mixture was cooked over a fire in a large cauldron, which the Monks constantly watched and tended to, adding dried herbs of spinach from time to time for nutrition. They planted the seed mixture while it was still hot, ignoring the burns they received on their hands. Potions of special healing oils were put on their hands afterwards. After a day or two, the Monks’ hands were back to normal; no scars did they sustain.

  The seed grew into the thin branches filled with monstrous, hideous, thick thorns. They had a dark, woody appearance. The Monks had to be careful not to cut themselves or their clothing on their thorns, which were sharper and finer than a long knife.

  Theo and Octagon strolled through and watched the other Monks tending to these hideous thorn branches.

  “I see our breath of children have taken on form and are now ready to be trained as fighting warriors,” Theo remarked.

>   “Do you really think that they are matured enough? Do you not think it is too early to perform the ritual of the living breath, which will loosen their roots from the earth and make them unfleshly creatures of our kingdom?” Octagon questioned with concern.

  “No, it is not too early, Brother. They will continue to grow and strengthen as they learn to fight and obey. This, I am sure of.”

  Octagon was still not convinced by Theo that the unfledged thorns were ready to be uprooted. “Will the Shamans be a part of this ritual with us?”

  “Their healing powers will be needed to mend the thorns’ roots after they become loosened and are uprooted from the earth.” Theo stopped walking and looked deeply into Octagon’s eyes. “We don’t want them to be callow cripples, now do we?”

  At that moment Alme approached. “I have interesting news, Theo. Our Brother, Sectangle, at the Cuspid Castle has informed me that there is much discontent between the warriors Ushi and Savagio. Both are fighting for the princess’s favor and hand.”

  Theo raised an eyebrow at this information. “Really now, Alme. Are you sure?”

  “May I suggest that given Ushi’s intelligence, he would be the favorite to train our thorns to fight,” Alme suggested.

  Theo thought for a few seconds. “I wholeheartedly agree with you. But there is some consideration with reason to be had here. Ushi holds more honor in fighting than Savagio. He would become highly suspicious of us and therefore could never train such an army as ours. He would immediately see disorder and unrest being brought about within the Domain of the Billowy Masses.”

  Octagon cut in. “My choice is Savagio. He has always been a drifter amongst the many kingdoms and has fought with many kingdoms and therefore, is more adaptable to train such an army as ours.”

  “Savagio it shall be,” stated Theo. “You, Octagon, are to be the messenger. You must ride tonight and bring him back in haste, before he becomes the favored choice of the princess.”

  Octagon bowed his head in acknowledgement at Theo’s spoken words, turned and took his leave of them.

  Octagon prepared himself for the long, fast ride. Nightfall was hastily creeping upon them. He must leave quickly. He dressed himself in his black-hooded robe with gray sash. He put on dark woolen socks to keep his feet warm inside his dark bark sandals, while Sicar saddled up their finest gray-dappled horse.

  Octagon walked out into the courtyard and saw Sicar holding his mount steady. Rolling thunder and spidery lightning lit the sky. As Octagon went to mount, Sicar put his hand on Octagon’s shoulder. “Ride carefully, Brother. Theo can wait another day or two for your safe return. You are important to us, Octagon, because you take the time to contemplate and reason first before all others,” Sicar told him.

  Octagon smiled and mounted. “Thank you for the compliment, but it was not necessary,” he informed Sicar. He turned his horse and trotted out through their dreary kingdom. The obscure shadows amongst the trees seemed to whisper words of vexation. He closed his ears to them.

  The thunder and lightning was more fierce now as he left the edge of their kingdom. Soon the rains came. Octagon galloped his horse as the rain wept itself into puddles. So great was the howling wind that it had dislodged the gray cord wrapped around Octagon’s waist. His hooded cloak blew wildly behind him in the wind. He told himself, I must not disappoint Theo, and I must continue onwards, no matter how fierce the weather is becoming.

  He shivered, and for a moment he sensed the hostile shadows wailing and weeping themselves into puddles. His mind was being ransacked by the enshrouded forces of nature that had let themselves run rampant into the night.

  The light, soft rain is formed from the grievous souls’ gentle tears, as storms are spurred from maddened tears of desperation, hurt and anger, there being no shame in death. As the melodrama unfolds, the sinful, ugliness of death is foretold in the brutal tears of evermore, found within the monstrous thunderstorms, in saddened remembrance of the flesh dwelling in past time, the poetic Octagon recited to himself as he closed his eyes briefly.

  Soon, the harsh pounding of the constant thunder drowned out the hard galloping of the horse’s hooves as they hit the ground. Onwards the dauntless Octagon rode into the night, devoid of all thought.

  Commitment to a Cause

  The rains had stopped in the early morning hours. Rainbows were painted across the skies and the kingdom. The bright sun’s rays had dried the wet earth. A bored Ushi strolled out into the pond area, deciding to skip his usual morning ride on Niciu. His heart just wasn’t in it. He took a deep breath and looked around. He noticed dirt was being thrown up into the air in the distance.

  Ushi shook his head with disgust and murmured, “Now what?”

  He strolled over to see what was taking place, even though he had an idea of his own. He looked down inside the hole. Goldest noticed a shadow had come over her. She sheepishly looked up, along with her two pastel snake buddies. All three gulped when they saw Ushi’s angered face.

  “What are you doing now, Goldest? Another booby trap for Savagio as he takes his morning walk with the princess?”

  Silence came over the trio. Goldest started to hiccup.

  “Alright, you three – out!” Ushi shouted. “Meta and Methna – leave us!”

  All three flinched at Ushi’s command. Meta and Methna slithered out of the hole and away from the scene. Goldest hopped out of the hole. Ushi turned and walked over to a huge, bright boulder by the hole. He sat down and motioned for a hiccuping Goldest to come sit with him. Goldest reluctantly hopped over to the boulder and jumped up next to Ushi. She was not excited about this. She knew Ushi was madder than ever, and that she was about to be reprimanded, again. Whatever happened to his morning ride on Niciu? Goldest wondered to herself.

  Even though he was seething with anger, so great was it, Ushi decided to reprimand her quietly and moderately, since no reprimanding worked anyway with Goldest.

  “I see your obnoxious escapades will never end, Goldest.”

  “But it is you who should be taking the princess’s morning walks with her instead of Savagio,” Goldest pouted.

  Ushi sighed heavily. “To be truthful with you, Goldest, I have tired of the courtship game and yearn for adventure. You know, it’s been months and the princess still has not given me an answer.”

  “That is because she is enjoying the attention with this game of courtship that you two dizzy warriors are playing with her. She will never make her decision with the both of you kissing her hand all the time!” Goldest cried indignantly.

  Ushi pondered at Goldest’s spoken words for a few seconds as she continued to hiccup. His smile held humor as he looked down at her.

  “You are right, Goldest. I say it is time for me to take my leave and go for a long ride throughout the kingdoms looking for adventure.”

  Goldest almost freaked at Ushi’s spoken words. “And don’t think that you are going without your best buddy! I am not just an entity, but a heart of all hearts! Why, who would protect your heart without me being there?”

  Ushi laughed at her. “Somehow, I thought you would say that!”

  “It is time to leave the princess alone with her dreams and fantasies,” Goldest remarked tartly. She thought to herself, I wonder if the princess will realize that the wish her heart made was a gift to her, and that she just threw away that gift… She was referring to Ushi being the gift that her heart wished for.

  As Ushi and Goldest sat together having their little discussion on that rock, Savagio was strolling through the peach trees looking for a plump peach to present to the princess to munch on as they took their morning stroll together.

  “Today, I must find the most succulent, plumpest peach for my princess to enjoy during our morning walk together.”

  Savagio heard a galloping horse in the distance and looked up. He saw the rider approaching fast twards him. Why is an ancient Monk riding so hard? Savagio thought to himself.

  Octagon approached Savagio and reined in his
gray-dappled horse. Having spent some time here inspecting his Brother Monks who dwelled in the Cuspid Castle, he knew that the warrior in front of him was Savagio. Looking down from his mount, he introduced himself. “I am Octagon, and I know that you are Savagio, the fighting warrior.”

  Savagio looked at the sweaty, tired, overheated mount. “That I am. What brings you, Octagon, to the Cuspid Castle, that you ride so hard?”

  “You, Savagio!”

  “Me? What does a fighting warrior like myself have to offer a bunch of ancient Monks who grow and cultivate the strange?”

  Octagon laughed at Savagio’s response. “Why, Savagio, you have lain and played around here for the past several months senselessly, which has done nothing but soften up your skin and probably the essence of your very soul and mind! You may not have realized it yet, but you are slowly becoming a weak man. I have come to wake you up out of your imaginary dream of courtship with the princess and draw out your fighting spirit.”

  “And how is that?” Savagio questioned with suspicion.

  “By coming back with me to the Kingdom of Thorns and training our Thorn Warrior Army for us ancient Monks!”

  Savagio was surprised and taken aback with Octagon’s spoken words. “Thorn Warrior Army? I know you Monks perform bizarre and peculiar rituals, and can grow and cultivate some strange stuff, like the Tooth Warrior Army for the princess – but why should you grow and cultivate a Thorn Warrior Army for yourselves?”

  “It is not fair that all the kingdoms have warriors except ours. We want our kingdom to be like other kingdoms. Why not grow our own army? We have done it for others.”

  Savagio pondered at Octagon’s spoken words. An uneasiness crept over him. “The Domain of the Billowy Masses does not need another warrior army to cause havoc.”