TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga)

by Jason Paul Rice

  “Put it on a spike,” urged the townspeople. More raunchy remarks rose from the faithful citizens. “Where is the King? We want his head on a spike too.”

  The Leluc family had ruled Goldenfield for the past two hundred and eighty years. While there had been some violent power struggles throughout the years, nothing rivaled this hostile takeover. Leimur Leluc always thought power was best earned. In her mind, she’d just earned it. A broken, wayward Princess had left the Capitol four years ago in disgrace to be sacrificed. But she had now returned, hero to most, Queen Leimur to all.

  The people of Goldenfield now started to speak as one. Leimur couldn’t make out the message at first, but it grew louder and stronger.

  They were chanting, “TWO HEADS, TWO SPIKES. TWO HEADS, TWO SPIKES.”

  Queen Leimur Leluc turned to General Rigby, “Bring me my father’s head. I must give my people what they want.”

  Death is part of life.

  A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

  RUSSELL

  The Frozen Forest generally caused more problems than it provided answers to life’s quandaries. As a result, solutions didn’t rush into the frosty head of Russell Seabrook. He only knew he was slightly hungry. The trees and bushes were completely covered in ice, which hid their once brilliant colors. The ground was thick permafrost that proved difficult to navigate. An occasional howl of the wind was the only sound to be heard in the deathly silence since animals didn’t even go into the Frozen Forest. There was nothing to eat for the animals. Legend said that snow bears hibernated in the Forest, but Russell had never seen one.

  The Frozen Forest only thawed for about one month during the height of the summer harvest season. It caused high tides in Donegal when it melted every year. But by and large, it was a frigid, unforgiving, cold-hearted place. Ali-Pari begged him not to go, but Russell felt a strange need to get away. He did not mind being alone and the cold never really bothered him, so it was a natural choice. Russell slipped on the slick surface and fell on his back. After gathering himself, he rolled over onto his stomach to push himself up with his hands.

  “OH SHITE,” screamed Russell as he quickly backed away.

  Russell saw an old, dead man buried beneath the ice. He crept back for a second look. He looked again to see a very ugly, wart-covered small man. The dwarf had long white hair and lay there nude, but appeared as peaceful as could be under the freeze. Russell tapped the ice over the face of the dead man, first softly, then harder. When he finally stopped, the man’s eyes suddenly fluttered open and Russell quickly sprang to his feet and backed away. The knight turned to leave when he heard water splashing. A quick glance behind him showed the ancient-looking dwarf sitting in a puddle of water and rubbing his eyes. Russell started to run away.

  “Stop. Wait. I am not going to hurt you. Look at me.”

  Sir Russell Seabrook stopped for a moment. He always ran from his problems. Fear had won his internal battles in the past, but he decided that must end. Russell spun around to look at the little man.

  “Don’t be afraid,” said the shivering man.

  “What in the hells are you?” Russell asked.

  The little man smiled, “You should curse less and think more. I am but a man, same as you.”

  The small guy stood only a little more than half of Russell’s height and he slumped over as if his years on earth were pounding him into the ground. He was a hairy creature with gray fur covering most of his calloused body. Then Russell made eye contact.

  The fire is in his eyes.

  “My name is Sir Russell Seabrook. What is yours, my friend?”

  The still sleepy man yawned and said in a slow drawl, “I am known by many names in many languages, my very young knight. I suppose Dragon-Eyes or Imp Wizard are the ones people always tend to recognize.”

  Russell got excited, “I thought so, but I always thought the stories about you were made up. I didn’t know you really existed. How old are you anyway?”

  “Well, let’s see, who is king right now?”

  Russell quickly answered, “King Ali-Stanley Wamhoff.”

  “Oh, he still is. And how old is our great King?” the elder man asked trying to shake the effects of hibernation from his body.

  Ali-Pari is seventy, so he is five years younger.

  “He is sixty-five years old,” Russell quickly told him.

  The Imp Wizard thought for a moment, “Alright, four, five, six, carry the two and it looks like four hundred and sixty-seven years on earth. Well, including some spent underneath as you just saw.”

  “What? No, you can’t possibly be that old. Nobody can be that old,” an awestruck Russell awkwardly rebutted.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have any food in those bags, would you?” smiled Dragon-Eyes.

  “Of course I do,” said Russell as he opened the leather sack, exposing the contents.

  “What would you like, Dragon-Eyes?”

  Russell had a veritable smorgasbord to offer. He had salted beef jerky, pickled pork, dried sausages and different types of fruit. There were spring apples, plums and water chestnuts. Russell also had a half loaf of stale bread at the bottom of the bag.

  The old dwarf’s eyes lit up and his mouth began to water as he feebly asked a question, “So you would help an old, decrepit, poor excuse for a man and give me some of your precious food?”

  “Of course I would,” responded Russell without hesitation. “You are but a man, same as me, just slightly smaller,” said Russell with a smile.

  Dragon-Eyes smiled back at Sir Russell, “My boy, how would you like to go on a great adventure with a wise old soul who can show you amazing things?”

  They both ate while the conversation continued.

  Russell wasn’t sure how to put this, “It sounds like a great offer, really, but you aren’t exactly fleet of foot, I am sorry to say.”

  The Imp Wizard stared at Russell with his fiery eyes. “What if I told you that within an hour’s time I can fade back to forty-six and a half years of age? Well, a touch more actually, but what say you now?”

  Russell smiled at the weary old man, “I would say you have about an hour.”

  “Off we are now,” said Dragon-Eyes as he slowly led the way even though Russell knew he was trying to move fast.

  It wasn’t as cold as Russell expected so he threw his extra fur cloak to the old man.

  “No thank you, my boy. It will only slow me down and might make me fall back into a slumber,” he said even as he shivered.

  Russell took it back and stuffed it into his bag. Luckily, it wasn’t snowing right now, but that could change at any moment. The saltwater spray storm from Typhoon Alley turned to ice as it crossed the Frozen Forest, producing treacherous conditions. He had been caught in a few storms out here that threatened to steal his life. The Imp Wizard led him into an area that was foreign to Russell.

  On looking at the sun, he figured it had been about an hour, when the wizard proudly stated, “There it is, my friend.”

  The old Imp breathed heavily but still wore a big grin. They appeared to be in an odd sort of clearing. There were seven rolling glaciers surrounding the pair, meeting in the middle where the two men stood. They were steep, vertical waterfalls, bitten by frost.

  The Imp Wizard walked slowly in a circle in front of the frozen springs, staring deeply at each one. After the seventh round, he waddled up to one of the glaciers. With a flash, fire shot out of both of the wizard’s eyes, melting the solid ice. The flames retracted and the Imp approached the running waterfall. He disappeared under the water for quite a long time, prompting Russell to get closer and closer to the falling water. He still couldn’t see the little guy even when he got about five feet from the rushing water. He turned around to see if this was some wizard’s trick, but no one was to be seen anywhere. He turned back toward the waterfall and there was still no sign of the little man. He looked straight down and into the eyes of fire. Russell stumbled backwards, shocked at the stunning sight before him.


  The Imp Wizard had told the truth. He looked infinitely younger and like someone who could lead him on a great adventure. Although still very ugly, his gray hair had turned light brown, and his skin wasn’t sagging anymore. The new man had muscle tone and the warts were gone. It seemed like the heated waters had washed away the years right before his very eyes, a youthful fountain of sorts.

  “So, my hour to prove myself appears to be up,” Dragon-Eyes stated in a much deeper, manlier tone than before.

  Russell just gazed at him with a goofy look, “Should I even ask how that happened?”

  The Imp returned the grin and shook his head, “Not quite yet, my boy.”

  “We need to get you some clothes, but in the meanwhile, here.” Russell tossed the dwarf the spare cloak again and this time he humbly accepted.

  “I have some belongings in the Forest. If we could pick them up before we embark on our journey, I would thank you,” the Imp Wizard said.

  “Well, first I need to know what kind of journey you are talking about,” Russell said carefully.

  He had heard stories of wizards who used tricks to get people to carry out their wishes.

  “Let me ask you a question first. Do you believe in dragons?”

  Russell Seabrook responded without hesitation, “No.”

  Dragon-Eyes peered at him for a moment before he asked, “Why?”

  “Well, I have heard stories of them. I’ve seen drawings and paintings of them. Yet no one I know or know of has ever seen one in the flesh,” Russell firmly stated.

  “Aahh,” the wizard contemplated for a second, “Until a brief while ago you never saw fire surge from a mortal man’s eyes, did you?”

  “Well, uh, uh, uh, no,” stuttered a puzzled knight.

  “What if I say I can show you proof that dragons exist?” offered the Imp.

  “You can show me a live dragon?” asked Russell sarcastically.

  The Imp sternly retorted, “I can show you proof that dragons exist, yes. And it coincidentally happens to be where my things are stored as well.”

  Sir Russell Seabrook carried two bags over each shoulder as he followed the little guy. The wizard struggled to keep the cloak from dragging on the ice. He didn’t look like a wizard with an almost square head and flat nose, but his long hair and fiery eyes were proof enough for Russell. A light horizontal snow started.

  Russell pulled his hood up and asked, “So what is our grand adventure? You distracted me with that talk of dragons.”

  The Imp stopped in his tracks, looked up into Russell’s eyes, and mysteriously asked, “My young knight, have you ever heard of the Pearl of Wisdom?”

  THE ROYAL WEDDING

  ELISA

  She felt the hot liquid love run down the inside of her thigh and leak into the garter belt. Her right foot was propped up on a chair with her lover positioned behind her. She would need to wash the smell of sex from it before the tossing ceremony, but that seemed miles from her mind at this point. Today marked Elisa Burke’s wedding and she was being pleasured by the man she loved. A lusty waterfall now cascaded down, damming in the lacy decoration. The sex felt hotter than usual due to the extreme sin involved, she had convinced herself. Brehan Castaway always made her feel safe in his presence. He knew exactly how to treat a lady, and by all standards he was desirable. Everything about Brehan appeared perfect for Elisa except for his parents. If only he had a last name of nobility, it would be his wedding day. Brehan kept driving the new bride wild in ecstasy.

  Elisa Burke, a gorgeous woman of eighteen, had arrived in the Capitol only a few weeks ago. She was of considerable height and her paleness gave her a virginal glow. Her rosy red lips, brown eyes and long, oak colored hair were a Burke family trait. Her mind drifted as the steamy sex continued.

  That fat oaf swore to protect me in the presence of the Gods. He can barely walk through a room without assistance for the Gods sake. Give me sons, hah, that is pure folly for everyone but me.

  She snarled audibly.

  “Alright, my love?” grunted Brehan.

  “Just fine, don’t stop, don’t even think about stopping,” Elisa seductively pronounced.

  Most women would have returned to their own wedding party, but Elisa Burke, a terribly ambitious female, wanted everything.

  If father elects to marry me to a mental cripple, I shall at least enjoy part of my day of matrimony. Brehan could carve him up like a pig.

  She giggled internally, picturing an apple in Ali-Varis Wamhoff’s mouth as he turned on a spit.

  Aston Burke delivered his daughter to the King like a sack of market goods. The King needed a bride for his son, Ali-Varis, so that he would stop pestering him. The royal family had claimed that his last bride died in her sleep, but it was widely speculated that the rotund Ali-Varis had smothered her when he rolled over in his sleep. Duke Burke offered up his daughter at once, despite all her objections.

  A daughter born to Donegal had no say to whom she was betrothed. It was the father’s prerogative. Political and monetary alliances dominated matrimonial decisions as love was stabbed in the back throughout the social landscape. Occasionally people had married for love at the cost of being ousted by their family. Love developed for some matches, but Elisa Burke knew she would never love Ali-Varis Wamhoff.

  Elisa had enjoyed the royal treatment since arriving in Falconhurst but wondered how long it would last. She wasn’t actually a princess, more like a queen in waiting. Elisa felt that she was a prisoner for the King to keep her father in his place as Duke of Burkeville. From the way her father had been talking lately she realized there was growing tension between her father and the King. Now he had thrown her right into the foxes den. Elisa wore the black bear pin of Burkeville on her dress with pride, but she knew that only the Queen and a few other Burkes that lived in the Capitol could be trusted. The Wamhoff foxes lurked everywhere. And in the few places where they didn’t, their spies did.

  The silver lining in this torture was that she would one day rule as Queen Elisa. Nobody in the power positions would let Ali-Varis make crucial decisions unless they wished to perish. The King looked like he was soon to die in her estimation and Elisa had a plan for Ali-Ster too. She set out to make the best of this situation. Elisa realized she would see Sir Brehan much less now that she had stationed herself in the Capitol. Elisa hoped that it only created a temporary inconvenience. She intended to remedy the situation the minute she took control of the realm.

  And even though she hated her match with Ali-Varis, he remained her key to the throne. Ali-Ster was fitter to be king, but luckily for her, Donegal had ruled as a land of primogeniture. The same laws of the land that took from her today might also give back later in spades.

  Her body shuddered as orgasm shifted to the forefront. Her foot slipped off the chair as she felt Brehan’s intense love filling her up. Her skin sizzled like hot dragon’s breath and pleasure filled tingles flowed freely throughout her entire body. Elisa’s satisfied soul collapsed into the plush, purple chair while a concoction of passion mixed inside her and slowly flowed from her reddened vagina. The two looked at each other, breathing heavily, permanent smiles attached.

  “I suppose you will need to get back to your reception?” Brehan asked.

  “I suppose, although I wish I could ride off with you and we could be together.” Elisa knew that Brehan was the man for her. He had amazed her by sneaking into her powder room before she arrived.

  How did he get past all the guards and know which room was set up for me?

  BREHAN

  Sir Brehan Castaway searched the small room for his apparel.

  “I wish you could come with me too. You know Mattingly is a safe haven for many people,” he said to Elisa Burke with a clever smile.

  “Don’t tempt me,” she returned, “I am in too deep now, but we are meant for each other. I know I married another man today, but it was only out of a sense of duty. You saw me today at my wedding reception. Just the fact that we could be together, t
oday of all days, convinces me that you are the only man for me.”

  “Let’s just hope I can make it out of this castle alive,” Brehan said in a sober tone.

  “Don’t ever say that. You die, my heart dies, and a person without a heart is already dead.” Elisa grabbed both of his cheeks and kissed him deeply. “Did you find all your things?”

  “I can’t seem to find my belt,” Brehan said as he looked around.

  “Here it is,” exclaimed Elisa as she bent over to retrieve it from under the purple chair.

  Seeing her bend over in just her undergarments got Brehan excited again, but he knew he must get out of there.

  Sir Brehan Castaway was a knight of Mattingly. The twenty-two year old of average height stood just slightly taller than Elisa. The polished warrior had a body sculpted by the Gods themselves. Muscle definition dripped from head to toe. Green eyes and black shaggy hair provided the perfect foil for his dark brown skin. He had turned down advances from several girls over the years due to his allegiance to Elisa.

  Brehan Castaway was born on the Seventh Island of the Pearl Islands. The large, main island had eight smaller ones surrounding it. Castaway was a bastard’s name but he wore it with pride. Brehan’s father left before his birth and his poor mother worked at the docks but could barely support him. When the wealthy Burke family had passed through, she begged them to take Brehan with them to work in the castle and have a better life. He served the Burke family diligently for eight years. It was a long enough time to know that he loved Elisa, but he also realized he would never achieve a higher status than servant in Burkeville.

  He had traveled to a place where merit was accorded precedence over birth status. He sneaked into Mattingly to enter a skills tournament. Brehan, already muscular at thirteen, fooled the Mattingly men into thinking that he was older, and they allowed him to enter. He had impressed Duke Colbert to the extent that he invited Brehan to train in Riverfront to become a knight. He lived in nice quarters in the Colbert castle and they immediately treated him like a family member. Brehan achieved knighthood at seventeen and took an oath to protect the Colbert’s, but he was also a son and brother of the family.