by Joanne Durda
Ushi, hearing enough talk of the Monks, changed the subject. “Goldest will be happy to find that her ladybugs have flown home here where they truly belong.”
The King had been silent, taking in the sight of the Monks’ camp, the battlefield and the kingdom itself. His thoughts had turned to the present and he now joined the men. “I never would have believed it unless I had seen it with my very own eyes. Where did they go, anyway?”
“They have flown far back, away from the castle, among the ponds and lakes, where luscious new vegetation is sprouting forth,” Ushi told them.
The King chuckled. “Good for them!” The King took a mighty sip of his cider. “And that frog? Where’s that frog?” He laughed heartily to himself.
At that moment Octagon approached a reserved Savagio. He had wanted to speak with him. He bowed his head in respect to the warrior. Savagio bowed his head in respect to Octagon.
“My heavy heart is sorrowful and weeps for what has happened here today. My soul will carry the misery from today throughout all of eternity. Please forgive us,” Octagon said, with true sorrowfulness within his heart, clearly visible in his eyes.
Savagio put his hand gently on Octagon’s shoulder, knowing full well that if Octagon tried to stop anything, Theo, out of spite, would have caused merciless trouble and quite possibly harmed the kindly Monk in some way. Savagio, at times, had caught Theo looking at Octagon with dark malevolence upon his face.
“I know you are a good and kind-hearted Monk, Octagon. You really should take over the affairs of your Brothers and do what is right for them,” Savagio told him with kindness.
“Sad to say, Theo is our leader here. The other Monks follow him. I hold no control.”
Frangelico cut in, “That is too bad, Octagon. Henceforth, my Gypsy Warriors and I will, from time to time, come pay the Monks and Shamans a visit in your Kingdom of Thorns – make sure all is well and right.”
“And we will bring our gypsy women and our dancers and singers, you know, entertain for a night – add some color into your life – that is what you need!” Carlos roared with his laughter and mocking fun.
“Come, Frangelico. Let us have a word with our friend, the notorious Theo,” the King told him.
The King, with Frangelico, walked over to a very unhappy Theo and the other wretched Monks by their campfire. The Monks were disheartened, and drank their hearty soup and cider slowly and in silence, waiting to be released so that they could return to the comfort and safety of their own kingdom. All the Monks, except Theo, felt uncomfortable under the circumstances. Their once gentle, considerate nature now appeared to show malignity after today. They had left their kingdom, hoping they never had to return. Now, they were anxious to get back to it – it being their natural Domain – so that they could hide behind their guilt, which they knew they had brought about by their own doing. Theo’s only major concern was what he could find to vent his spleen against. Having lost the essence of his deep-rooted soul today, his vengeance would come before long, and he would make sure he did not lose a second time.
The King and Frangelico approached Theo, who had withdrawn himself from immediate reality, from behind. The King bluntly informed him, “The Monks have brought dishonor upon the Domain of the Billowy Masses. A watchful eye will be kept upon your kingdom forever.”
Their sin enshrouded them. Theo’s submerged mind was held in a trance-like state by the roaring flames of their fire. He ignored them all and remained in this state for the rest of the evening.
Inside the Ladybug Castle, the main dining hall was filled with wine, soup, cheeses, breads, stuffed chickens and fresh vegetables from the gardens. The Queen of the Willows was with some of her Court, with Aparicio, Lowilla and Augean intermingling. Augean was holding her baby brother, with Shadow at their feet. A delighted Aparicio and Lowilla were getting reacquainted with the Queen’s Court and meeting new faces in the assembly. The courtiers were surprised to see Aparicio and Lowilla together with the royal family. They held their restless tongues with questions not answered, not wanting to lose favor with the Queen, and would gossip about it later amongst themselves.
The King, Ushi, Frangelico, Savagio, Carlos and Esbri briskly walked into the main dining hall. They had left the Willow Warriors to stand watch while the Monks broke camp and prepared to ride back to their own kingdom. It did not matter to them that they would have to ride at night, they were adapted to riding in darkness and used it as a cover for themselves. But this time, it would be used to cover their inexorable shame.
The King of the Willows abruptly came to a halt when he spied Aparicio with his mother, the Queen. A raw coldness crawled up his spine and crept over him. A shiver ran through him in the warm-bodied room.
Frangelico, Carlos, Esbri and Savagio took places at the table and immediately began to fill their plates. They were tired and hungry from the ordeal that they had just faced. Ushi took notice of Aparicio and Lowilla. He knew it was only a matter of time before they took up residence inside the castle walls. Goldest would not let them suffer any longer as outcasts after having the little Princess Augean as her friend. She owed it to both Augean and the Queen of the Willows. Ushi noticed the frown on the King’s face and expected that there would be trouble. He stood watch, hoping that the angry dark cloud cover would disappear from the King’s face and he would be happy to see his own flesh and blood once again. Maybe he will realize it is for the best for Augean’s sake, Ushi thought to himself.
The King was silent as he walked cautiously towards Aparicio. All eyes were upon him and he knew it. Apprehension filled the air inside the main hall. Aparicio saw the dark angry mass which covered his father’s face and knew immediately that his father was displeased to see him. The Queen of the Willows held her breath, hoping she would not have to step in and defend her son against his father, the King. Augean instinctively knew that it would be up to her to break the solemn King. Augean walked towards the King and held up Prince Luxnon. Aparicio slid over to a nervous Lowilla and put his arm around her shoulder for comfort. The Queen’s Court anxiously watched on. The Court knew that by the time they all arrived back at the Willow Castle, they would have something to gossip about.
“Look, Grandfather, I have a baby brother, Prince Luxnon. I love him,” she told him with hope filling the inner core of her excited heart.
Still mute was the King as he looked down at the baby. The Queen of the Willows stepped forward and took the baby from Augean. The Queen smiled down at the baby as she held him in her arms. Her grandson smiled up at her.
“I could not be any happier than I am at this very moment – holding my grandson, having my son at my side,” the Queen softly told the King.
“Me too, Grandfather. I love my mother and father.” Augean looked at her grandfather with her big, sad, lonely eyes. Her pleading eyes were hard to ignore. They shamelessly cried out with mercy.
She wants to be with her parents and baby brother, thought the King to himself. I am a King, but a King with a Queen, son and grandchildren. I must set my pride aside and do the most honorable thing possible.
The pious King brushed them all off him and walked in silence to the head of the table and sat down. He was hungry and prepared a plate for himself. I am a King first, he continued to reason with himself; but I shall have to place my family and my Queen’s happiness before myself at the present.
“I am tired and hungry from the long ride and battle. I will sit and eat with my family,” he grumbled with discontent to himself. It was like being struck with a rock when he saw Aparicio. He could not forget his Queen’s words of happiness spoken to him, or Augean’s big eyes filled with mercy and hope.
He motioned to the Queen, Augean, Aparicio and Lowilla to come sit with him and eat. “Come, let us eat and be happy.”
A satisfied Ushi smiled at Aparicio, with him returning the smile back at Ushi. Ushi believed everything was going to turn out alright, since he knew at the present that the King wanted to please his Queen and granddaughter. He
knew the King did not care about Aparicio’s or Lowilla’s emotions. They all took their places at the table with the King.
Augean looked around. “Goldest! Where is Goldest, Ushi? It is unlike her not to be here amongst us.”
“She is probably hopping around the grounds, making sure all is returned to normal; or maybe, seeing that her ladybugs have settled in,” Ushi said to Augean, putting her fears aside.
The King chuckled. “Or maybe she went for a tasty dessert!”
The table frowned at the King’s remark. Silence settled in. The air hung heavy. Ushi now knew the King was back to his normal self. That did not take long, thought Ushi to himself. The shock of seeing Aparicio and Lowilla was over.
Frangelico, Savagio and Carlos stopped eating and stared hard at the King’s face and comment. They knew he was referring to the colorful ladybugs who had helped them all by coming to their rescue in the assault of their ancestral kingdom. They were not amused by the King’s obnoxious comment. Aparicio was irked by his father’s remark, but knew there was nothing he could say at present. He wanted to be brought to favor again with his father, and making a negative rejoinder towards his recent statement would not help him at all. Esbri totally ignored the King’s remark. He did not care at all about Goldest. She had caused him enough trouble with his women with those red lip marks planted on his cheek when he had first met her. Esbri did not care to have a frog, even if she was a Queen, hopping after him.
The Queen broke the uncomfortable silence in the room. “We must all remember, dear, Goldest is a Queen now. She has other responsibilities.”
You are a wise Queen, my Lady, and speak wise words of wisdom, thought Ushi to himself.
The King was not fazed by the Queen’s remark and replied bluntly, “A frog ruling over a kingdom!” He then chuckled at the thought.
Carlos and Esbri chuckled with the King. Frangelico and Savagio put more bread on their plates and ignored the remark. Ushi bit his tongue and set his indignation with the King aside. He took a deep breath as he controlled his displeasure at the King. Then he stated, “It has been a long, hostile day. Let us all eat in solace and peace.”
Soon, everyone was eating and forgot the talk about Goldest, quite forgetting her, as hungry and fatigued as they all were from the day’s fighting.
The evening had grown late, with some light patter of thunder and nimble golden lightning disturbing the still of the night. The piles of orange and copper fires from the burning of the Thorn Warriors had died down. The Monks prepared to mount up and take their leave. The Willow Warriors stood guard at a distance, making sure that they left peacefully and took what was theirs back with them. Goldest, too, stood watch over them from behind the bushes, making sure that they left that night. She wanted them out of her kingdom – the sooner the better!
“I will get even with those creepy Monks at a later date,” she told herself with tartness. The time had come for her to say her acrimonious farewell to the creepy crew. Goldest boldly hopped up to Theo, Onion, Pentangle, Ebrix, and Xnug. They looked down at the gold piece coming towards them. Her coat of gold seemed to glitter and gleam into the night.
Goldest looked up at them. “I hope this teaches you creepy Shamans to stop cultivating the unusual and grow something wholesome for the many kingdoms here in the Domain. I did not appreciate you coming here, trying to overtake and gain control over my kingdom, which I have tried so painstakingly to restore, again. I will venture to say thank you for not taking your fighting inside the castle or its grounds, which you would have totally destroyed by your ignorance.”
Theo was already beyond normal subconsciousness, and her brash words antagonized him and fueled his malicious anger even more. An evil impulse seized him.
Theo’s enraged passion whispered something into Pentangle’s ear. Pentangle strolled over to one of the supply horses and carefully took out a small thorn net. He made sure the Willow Warriors did not see what he pulled out of the wrapping. He was careful not to cut himself. He discreetly walked over to Goldest, scooped her up before she could hop away and slipped her inside the thorn net. The Monks had continued to mount up, not wanting to attract the attention of the Willow Warriors. The Willow Warriors could not see what was taking place because they were not close enough to the Monks to have seen or heard Goldest speaking to them. In their eyes, they saw the Monks mounting up, with a few hesitating – probably due to them discussing which long route they would take back, the Willow Warriors surmised.
Goldest struggled and tried to escape her thorn net prison, but it was too painful.
“Ouch! Let me go!” she cried out. She tried to make herself disappear in a puff of gold dust smoke, but could not. “What is happening here! Where is my power?” she croaked hysterically.
Theo felt exhilarated. “That net holds powerful, evil magic. It will restrain you – make you powerless against it. Your magic is nada as of now. You are our prisoner, Goldest!”
Pentangle tightly tied the thorn net to the back of his horse. A dismal Octagon watched what was taking place and started to walk over to Pentangle to intervene. A fearful Imbecile put his arm out to prevent him from doing so. He feared for Octagon at the present time, knowing Theo was not happy and most displeased with him right now. Theo’s disfavor and mistrust against Octagon might cause harm to his compassionate Brother. Imbecile whispered to Octagon, “Y-y-you know there is n-n-nothing you c-c-can do. Especially if y-y-you are h-h-harmed.”
Earlier, when Octagon and Imbecile were packing up their tent and belongings, Imbecile had confided in Octagon that they, as Monks and Shamans, had been fooled themselves. The both of them were downcast and weary. The essence of their souls spiritless – their hearts joyless. Octagon looked at Imbecile in silence and then went on towards Theo. “Theo! Let her go! She is the Queen here! What use could you possible make of her now? Haven’t we lost our honor and spelled ourselves enough in the eyes of the other kingdoms?” Octagon shouted to Theo with pleading in his voice.
“That is not of your concern anymore, Octagon. You are confined to your room when we get back. I will deal with you and your insolence later!” an irritated and offended Theo told Octagon as he urged his mount up to him.
The Willow Warriors looked over at the shouting, but could see nothing wrong. They surmised that the Monks were now fighting amongst themselves over the outcome.
Even though I am awkward and clumsy – an inept Monk, as Theo would call me – I must keep a close watch over Octagon and do what I must to protect him from Theo, thought a concerned Imbecile towards the generous and upright Octagon.
They spurred their horses onward, with the other Monks harboring a mixture of feelings consisting of hollowness, skepticism, impurity, dispiritedness, gloominess, disheartenment, ignominy and hidden enmity. Theo’s feelings consisted only of hostility and hatred, which took root in the core of his cold-blooded heart. He was now an unapproachable Monk, which was not good for the Kingdom of Thorns. Some of the other Monks thought Theo was now heedless and unworthy, something they would have to deal with when they got back to their own kingdom.
Octagon walked back to Imbecile and they mounted up and rode off, too.
As they rode, Octagon said to Imbecile, “They will find the frog missing and Ushi will know and come after her. It is not over yet. Some warrior will have to end this once and for all. Let it be him.”
Imbecile nodded in agreement. He, too, knew that a warrior would come after her. That is fate, thought Imbecile.
As they were journeying, Carlos and Esbri, with bellies filled with food and wine, walked out of the Ladybug Castle with a small band of the Gypsy Warriors. Their horses were made ready earlier and waited for the long ride back to their own kingdom. Some of the other Gypsy Warriors were going to stay on for a while with Captain Frangelico, while Carlos and Esbri went back with some of the gypsies to watch over their own kingdom. They mounted up and rode fast out of the castle gates, as they saw the Monks leaving.
Goldest
, facing backwards inside the thorn net, saw with her keen eyesight Esbri and some of the other Gypsy Warriors leaving the castle. From the back of the horse she was tied to, she cried out to Esbri, “Esbri! Esbri! Come save me! Croak! Croak!”
Esbri stood up in his stirrups and looked around him as they rode forward. He listened, trying to figure out where the voice was calling out to him from. “That voice is familiar to me,” Esbri whispered to himself.
“Esbri! Don’t leave me!” Goldest cried in desperation.
Carlos looked at Esbri’s strange, inquisitive face. “Is there something wrong, Esbri?”
“I swear by my gypsy blood that I can hear Goldest crying out for help.”
Carlos burst into laughter. “That frog, again! Come now, Esbri! You are either imagining it, or just hot for her!” Carlos bellowed at Esbri.
Esbri watched the Monks riding off on their horses, and a strange, creeping sensation crawled up his spine. Carlos nudged his horse closer to Esbri’s mount and punched him in the shoulder in jest. “You would think a spell was put upon you, Esbri!”
The Gypsy Warriors rode far behind the Monks, keeping a good distance between them, for the Gypsy Warriors were deathly superstitious of them. Some feared their ancient wisdom, divination and ancient ways with magic – especially diabolical magic. The gypsies themselves were born with intuitive perception. But their talents were put to honorable use and not injurious or harmful use to anyone.
The thorns inside the thorn net held an ancient toxic substance, and soon Goldest was lulled into a deep sleep. After some time, she awoke inside a cold room in an upper floor of the Thorn Castle. She was lying on a bed with the thorn net still wrapped tightly around her. She felt drugged and sick, and she wept for Esbri. “Esbri, come save me. Help me, Esbri, help me!”
Even though Ushi and her were the best of friends, with him being her favorite warrior above all, her heart belonged to Esbri, and would always belong to him. It was only natural that she cried out to him – with no disrespect for Ushi.
