Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns (21 page)

“A frog!” exclaimed Carlos venomously.

The Gypsy Warriors stared at one another with questioning looks. As exhausted as they all were, no one had any more to ask of Carlos.

Inside the Thorn Castle, Esbri cautiously made his way through the shadows of the buildings. Many shadows made an appearance, as if to hide him. He peeped into a few rooms as he made his way upwards. The Monks appeared to be bedded down for the night, all in a deep sleep, each within their own rooms. He was sure they were all drugged with wine and other hallucinatory potions after the day’s fateful events for them all. The air of the castle hung heavy with the burning of frankincense. Esbri’s nose started to curl and his face was distorted with distaste for the heavy, strong smell.

“The burning of frankincense is to remove unwanted influences. I wonder if it is meant for me,” said Esbri, and chuckled silently to himself.

He saw a room with candlelight glowing from beneath the door. This room seemed to welcome him, and he took his chances by slowly opening the door to see if Goldest was in this room.

Octagon, in his time of quiet, was seated at an ancient oak desk with many white candles aflame with a bright, overpowering yellow light. He seemed to be writing in a huge, ancient book of some kind, which was bound in dark bark. This Monk seemed to be in no hurry to look up to see who had opened his door.

Octagon finally looked up and stared at Esbri, as if to look him over. “I’ve been waiting for you. But I had expected Ushi, and not you, Esbri.”

“How do you know of me?” Esbri asked the Monk.

“I heard Goldest frantically calling out to you. There was nothing that I could do. Theo commands here, not I,” Octagon told him.

“You must be Octagon, the wise one.”

“I am he.”

“Was that you that left the front door to the castle unbolted during the night?”

“Of course. I had expected Ushi to show. Instead, it was you.”

“Why Ushi?” Esbri asked, with a touch of jealousy creeping into his heart.

“Because Ushi and Goldest hold a powerful, unique bond with one another that no other could or will ever break. You see, Esbri, they are steadfast, loyal and honest with one another, as well as respectful, which holds an unbreakable force together.”

Unbreakable force
, thought Esbri with wonderment.

“What are you writing so late at night that could not wait until the first light of morning? Surely, you must be exhausted as we all are from the day’s battle,” a curious Esbri asked.

“The events of the night, day and night,” Octagon replied with a smile. “Many books I have written about ourselves and our being. And many ancient books have I read about ourselves and our being,” he remarked. He smiled, again, at Esbri’s inquisitive character.

“Talk is you are one of the last remaining honorable Monks filled with wisdom from centuries past. You have attained the knowledge, insight and good sense of an ancient Monk and Shaman. You carry such strong qualities of compassion, honesty and benevolence –just
to name a few. It is known that your heart still beats warmly and has not been turned to grayish stone, like some of the others. I trust you, Octagon. Where is she?”

“She that we are talking of is on the floor above us. They put her inside an ancient, evil thorn net to pierce her and prevent her from disappearing into her magical gold dust smoke. The thorns inside this net are coated with a poison made from amanitas.” Octagon sighed heavily and then stated with compassion, “She is slowly dying, Esbri.”

Esbri turned, hurried out of the room to the upper floor above him. His feet felt heavy as he climbed the cold stone steps. He peeped inside the main room. There, he found Goldest inside the thorn net, lying on the bed. He rushed over to the bed and felt the cold caress his skin. He noticed there were several cream-colored candles in the room with bright flames, but no fire was lit in the fireplace. The night started to give way to light, with brazen copper coloring from the rising of the early morning sun.

He unsheathed his knife and carefully snipped the thorn net, not wanting to cut himself on the thorns. Goldest did not move. She appeared to be dead. Esbri looked at the golden frog with sad eyes and a heavy heart. He walked over to the open window and gazed out over the early morning landscape.

“I am sorry, Goldest. I have failed a Queen. I am not worthy of being a Gypsy Warrior,” Esbri wailed out the open window. Again, he shouted out in grief, “I have failed a Queen!” Tears welled up inside his eyes and ran down his waxen cheeks. “I am shamed,” he ruefully told himself.

“You are not shamed, Esbri,” a gentle female voice said softly.

Esbri quickly turned around and saw a beautiful golden princess with long golden hair, sultry golden eyes, golden lashes and golden nails sitting sideways on the bed. She rose slowly and gracefully walked over to him. Even her smile was golden. Her gown was made with the purest, softest golden thread and materials. A girdle of diamonds completed her dress while ballet slippers graced her feet.

“You came to rescue a Queen,” she stated simply.

“Goldest? Is that really you? Why – why, you are beautiful!” a bewildered Esbri exclaimed.

She fluttered her golden lashes and looked at him with her large golden eyes. She had a teasing, playful smile on her golden lips.

“Of course I am beautiful, Esbri. How could you not think otherwise? You see, you have broken the stubborn magical spell over me that my grandfather had so painstakingly cast upon me so that I could flee to safety when our kingdom was invaded by the ancestors of blackened, magical evil-mindedness,” she told him.

“But how?” Esbri asked her.

“You came to save a Queen, and the essence of your tears, compassion and mournful heart helped to break that ridiculous spell that was cast upon me with good intentions.”

“You are not croaking anymore, Goldest.”

“I am not a frog, Esbri. I am a lady,” Goldest tartly informed him.

“Yes, I remember you telling me that when us
gypsies had first met you,” Esbri told her smiling fondly at the memory.

Esbri went down on bended knee before Goldest. Goldest bent over, put her hands on his upper arms, and made him rise.

“Do not bow on bended knee before me, Esbri. You see, you will be my King and rule beside me in the Kingdom of the Ladybugs.”

Goldest then threw herself at a flabbergasted Esbri and passionately kissed him. He was stunned, and she nearly took his breath away. But being a lady’s man, he knew how to handle every given situation and took advantage of having this beautiful golden girl in his arms. He circled her with his arms and smiled down at her, picked her up and carried her over to the bed. He gently set her down as he took up the thorn net and threw it into the fireplace. The morning sun was starting to warm the room with shades of red and orange. He lay down on the bed with her and carried on where she had left off. Goldest giggled.

The impatient Gypsy Warriors, with the rising of the morning sun, knew they had to get back to their own kingdom. They were also worried about what was taking Esbri so long, and feared for him. Some grouped together with Carlos and they quietly made their way inside the castle. They boldly walked into the main dining room and saw a relaxed Octagon in his long, white woolen night robes sitting at the long main table sipping on a hot, steaming chocolate brew. His feet and gray woolen socks were stuffed into dark sandals of bark. Not having slept at all that night, dark rings circled his puffy eyes. Expecting Ushi to show,
he had taken it upon himself to make sure all went well. Enough was enough. And though he did not know it, he was showing signs of taking over as the keeper and leader of the Kingdom of Thorns.

The Gypsy Warriors curled their noses up at the burning frankincense. Their own shadows seemed to laugh at them.

“Your warrior is on the third floor of the castle, east wing, with the girl. You best leave them alone for a few seconds longer,” he discreetly told the band of Gypsy Warriors.

“
Girl
?” Carlos questioned. The exhausted Gypsy Warriors all looked at one another and darted to the third floor, without hesitation.

“Now what?” an exasperated Carlos mumbled to himself.

They found the door ajar and went in. There, before their very eyes was Esbri and Goldest in a passionate embrace on the bed. Both were in a disheveled state.

“What’s this, Esbri? We come to rescue a frog and find you instead, in an ardent embrace with this golden girl!” a maddened Carlos exclaimed. “Where’s the frog?”

The band of Gypsy Warriors chuckled, not surprised at all by what they saw where Esbri was concerned.

“Here, we have been worried with heartsickness about you. And what are you doing, but making love to another woman!” a Gypsy Warrior exclaimed, laughing.

Goldest rose smugly from the bed and straightened
out her soft golden gown, while Esbri jumped up and straightened out his shirt. Goldest suddenly felt like jelly wrapped inside a pastry shell. Even though the window was open and the room still had a chill to it, she felt stuffy and that her jelly was about to melt down around her.

“Do not refer to me as just any woman! I am Queen Goldest, and you men shall be justly rewarded for your services rendered,” Goldest smartly informed them, trying to keep her character of tartness deep inside her.

The band of Gypsy Warriors were shocked and tongue-tied, and Carlos smacked himself in the head.
That damn frog
! an agitated Carlos thought to himself

“You were the frog?” he asked her, astounded.

“What frog?” Goldest haughtily informed them.

The band of Gypsy Warriors stood there gaping at the mouth. Even their shadows were taken by surprise. Esbri laughed at them. He picked up Goldest and carried her past the Gypsy Warriors and out of the door, saying to his fellow companions, “Come, I will take her back safely to her kingdom and you can all ride back to our own kingdom. Even your shadows look weary and you all need to rest.”

They walked through the castle without any encounter of any kind.

“The Monks seem to be hiding with their shame in their rooms,” Carlos remarked.

“They are not alone. Their dishonored shadows are also with them,” a Gypsy Warrior responded.

“It appears it will be awhile before they build their courage back up and venture out again,” Carlos stated.

“Do not try to fool a Gypsy Warrior, Carlos. They
will be out and about sooner than you think. You watch,” another Gypsy Warrior warned.

“They fear nothing, even guilt,” Esbri added.

They met up with Octagon, Meek, Alme and Onion at the main entrance of the castle. Octagon held a long black woolen cloak for Goldest to put on over her flimsy attire. No words were spoken. Octagon put the cloak around her. She smiled at Octagon. “Thank you, Octagon. I will not forget you.”

“I will remember those words, Goldest,” he told her as he respectfully bowed his head to her.

Meek, Alme and Onion respectfully bowed their heads to Goldest, who acknowledged them with a nod. Golden silence was better for the time being.

They left the castle with feelings of relief. The other gypsies, waiting impatiently, were not surprised to see Esbri carrying a beautiful golden girl in his arms. This was not an unusual sight for them to see. Too tired were they all to speak further. They accepted what they saw without question.

Esbri placed Goldest on the front of his horse and mounted. He put his arms around her and held her tightly to him. Goldest wondered if he would be treating her this delicately if she were still a frog. At the same time, Esbri could not imagine himself doing this if she were still a frog.
Why, all my gypsy women would scorn me, and the gypsy men would laugh at me
, he thought to himself with a shiver.

“I’m used to riding on the back of horses and not the front,” she coyly reminded him, breaking him away from this own thoughts.

“Not this time, Goldest. You ride in the front,
where I can hold you close to me and warm you.”

It was finally agreed upon as the men mounted that the exhausted Gypsy Warriors would ride back to their own kingdom, and that Carlos would have the honor of riding with Esbri and keeping an eye on him and Goldest.

As fatigued as they were, the Gypsy Warriors laughed together, wondering if Carlos went along for extra protection, or as a chaperon for their beloved Esbri.

A few of the Gypsy Warriors were in awe at Goldest’s exquisite beauty and began to envy their comrade Esbri. Esbri loved the attention. They all rode tightly together until they had totally left the boundaries of the Kingdom of Thorns. Then they parted. Carlos and Esbri with Goldest riding back to the Kingdom of the Ladybugs, and the Gypsy Warriors riding back to the Kingdom of the Gypsies. The sky was a clear, deep turquoise, with no billowy masses hovering over them. The light-hearted Sun was joyous and shone brightly with hues of yellows and platinum – so pleased was it by what it shone upon. A smile was upon the Sun’s face, as its warm, gleaming fingertips touched the riders with rays and warmed them to the core of their hearts – so contented were they all, even though fatigued.

Two rainbows, endowed with striking colors of the prism, still dripping with dew, appeared in the enchanting, crystal clear sky over the riders. One over the Kingdom of the Ladybugs and one over the Kingdom of the Gypsies, to guide the weary riders’ way with brilliant crystalline colors. The rainbows
meant good fortune, luck and love to the gypsies, which spurred them onward towards their colorful bases. Each gypsy wanted to reach the base of the lustrous rainbow first; it meant that a fair maiden, standing in a heap of silver and gold coins, would be there, waiting for her man.

Months later, the courtyard of the Ladybug Castle was bustling with activity, with staff trimming bushes, tending to and watering the many colorful and exotic flowers, and craftsmen, painters and artists at their work throughout the grounds. The attractive gardens were abundant with vegetables. Orchards were alluring with juicy fruit. Fields were overcome with an abundance of wheat, oats, grain, beans, potatoes, peanuts and barley. The many different animal herds were multiplying on a daily basis. The kingdom was thriving, all under the watchful eye of its Queen Goldest.

The ornery rains had come and washed the bloody soil off the battlefield, while the blue grass and clover grew in thick abundance and covered up the scars that the rains could not wash away – all was finally forgotten.

That early afternoon, Savagio was at one end of the courtyard inspecting newly crafted swords, which were brought to him by the swordsmith. Ushi was at the other end of the courtyard inspecting newly bought horses, which were brought in by placid visiting herdsmen not belonging to any kingdom. The herdsmen visiting were known as wanderers, who multiplied their strong herds by moving them around the many different kingdoms and letting them munch on the various grasses and clovers of the land. Many
kingdoms had different textures and flavors to their grasses and fields of clover, much to the delight of the horses and other animal herds. Their diet consisted of the very best and most nourishing pasturage.

The wanderers would set up colorful tents filled with woven blankets and rugs. They would spend most of their time watching their herds multiply and grow strong.

The gates to the castle and its grounds were always open to welcome new strangers and visitors to the kingdom – all were welcome, no matter what their trade was. Today, visitors approached the gates and hesitated briefly, then went on in. The entourage consisted of the Tooth Fairy Princess and Floriana, with a small band of the Gypsy Warriors as escorts. Both were riding sidesaddle, looking the essence of elegance.

The princess was dressed in a dark blue silk gown full of white ruffles in the bodice of the dress, in the sleeves and around the bottom of her gown. Blue topaz stones graced her neck, ears and finger. Her long white blonde hair was braided with blue topaz stones entwined throughout. She was stunning, with the blue bringing out the fullness of color in her almond-shaped blue eyes.

Floriana wore a gown of dark green, which fitted tightly in the bodice, and made her figure look even more voluptuous than usual. A belt of gold coins graced her small waist. An emerald necklace graced her neck and emeralds hung from both her ears. She was striking, with the green bringing out the magnificence of color in her green eyes. Her long dark hair was
entwined with emeralds and gold coins to match her gold coin belt. They reined in their horses.

The two beautiful females drew the attention of the entire courtyard and all activity stopped. All eyes were upon the two arresting beauties.

Both Savagio and Ushi had stopped their inspections and their eyes were set on the two alluring females. The straight-faced princess looked first at Ushi, then at Savagio. She nudged her horse towards Ushi. She rode up to him with a smile. Ushi returned the smiled and helped her to dismount. His fingers tingled as he put his hands around her small, delicate waist.

Savagio knew immediately that she had made her choice.
It was meant to be
, thought Savagio to himself, trying to lessen the blow he’d just felt. There will be others, he told himself in consolation.

“And might I ask what brings this fair maiden to the Ladybug Castle?” Ushi asked her in jest.

“Why, no other than yourself, my Lord,” she teased him back.

Ushi raised an eyebrow at the princess. It was time to get serious.

“Am I hearing right, but did the princess just make her final decision?”

The princess looked seriously at Ushi and explained herself to him. “My heart missed you greatly and wept for your safety, Ushi. I was worried that the worst would happen to you when Imbecile came to the castle to seek help from Savagio. I’ve come to realize how much you mean to me, and that you’re the one I’ll always love to love. My dreams were empty without you. Now is the time to make my happiness happen.”

The Willow Warriors around Ushi heard her delicate spoken words. They gathered around Ushi and slapped him on the shoulder. Then with wide grins, they bowed each in turn to the princess.

Floriana then rode up and Ushi helped her to dismount. He groaned, as she felt heavy with all her gold coins draped around her.
Just like a gypsy woman
, thought Ushi with a smile. He escorted both women into the castle, where Goldest fondly put her arms around each and welcomed them. Both women were truly shocked to see how golden Goldest really was as a woman. Floriana was delighted that Goldest was now her true self, which she already knew was going to happen eventually. And she was even more thrilled to find out that her and Esbri were to be united as one. To have captured a roving, conniving heart of a lady’s man like Esbri, was a true victory won by any female. Floriana always knew that Goldest was special and that some day she would recover her true form again, finding the happiness that had so eluded her in life. Her heart was happy for her, and she wept tears of joy, wanting all her dreams to come true. But, my goodness! She never expected to find Goldest that much of a beauty.
Why, she is more beautiful than the Tooth Fairy Princess
, thought Floriana secretly to herself. It was a bad omen, and unwise for Floriana to make enemies, so she decided never to speak what she thought to anyone.

The Tooth Fairy Princess was ecstatic that Goldest was marrying, because it meant that she would have Ushi to herself and not have to share him with his friend, Goldest. She breathed a sigh of relief hearing
how much Goldest was madly in love with Esbri. Her favorite choice would not have been Esbri for the golden Queen, but some warrior held in high esteem like Savagio. She deserved to have a mate with more worth rule by her side – someone more respected and admired, a more praiseworthy character.
However, they and their hearts would grow together, dream together, sing together, and happiness would be theirs forever
, thought a wise princess to herself with satisfaction.

“It’s about time you made up your mind about Ushi,” Goldest tartly informed the princess. “I thought about snatching him away from you myself!”

The princess knew Goldest had bad feelings for her because she had toyed with both Ushi and Savagio. She hoped Goldest would soon forget about it and leave it in the past now that she had Esbri to think about. She also hoped Goldest would concentrate on her own life with him. The princess knew that Esbri had a passionate, roving heart and was an itinerant wolf, and that Goldest would have her hands full with him for a while until he settled down.

“Leave it to Goldest to fall in love with an impassioned flame,” she whispered to Floriana, who giggled at the remark.

The Queen of the Willows was quite pleased to have two more females of royal blood join them in the castle. “How exciting!” she exclaimed when she saw them. “Parties, parties, parties!”

Augean was aglow to have them stay with them for a while. She was happy for Ushi and always thought Ushi deserved the Tooth Fairy Princess, no matter what Goldest thought.

It soon became known to all that Ushi and the princess would be united, also. The whole kingdom was ecstatic about the double wedding. That meant more festivities!

So, Goldest, the Queen of the Willows, Augean, the princess and Floriana, with Sabira and her daughter, Sunsette, began to plan a double wedding. The princess had gladly brought Sabira and Sunsette with her. They were attendants now to her, and she had grown quite fond of them both, as they had of her. She had hoped that everything would go well with her coming to the Kingdom of the Ladybugs. She had planned on them helping her with her wedding attire.

It was a gay time at dinner that evening in the main dining hall at the long table with Ushi and his princess, and Goldest with her Esbri.

The Queen of the Willows raised her eyebrows when she saw Floriana, so boldly and so blatantly flirting with Savagio. The Queen of the Willows had always believed that females of royal blood should always conduct themselves in a more reserved, becoming manner in public.
She might as well throw herself at him
, thought the Queen of the Willows to herself with a snort. The Queen reminded herself that gypsy females were fiery and bold. That is their way, and there is no other way with them. The Queen chuckled to herself, remembering when at a very tender, young age, she tried to be bold and tart. Her strict, royal mother and grandmother had immediately put her in her place.
Memories were meant to be just that – memories
, thought the Queen to herself with a smile.

Savagio seemed not to mind, but loved the attention
he was getting from this seductive, overzealous green-eyed female of royal blood. Tonight Floriana was dressed in a cream-colored gown that was cut low and showed off her endowed figure. A yellow diamond necklace graced her neck. She was quite ardently impressive and had a different, romantic look tonight, instead of looking saucy as she might have. She wore her hair long, but pulled back, away from her face. A pearl comb held her hair firmly in place where her hair had been pulled back. There would be no silver or gold coins gracing her body tonight. She wanted to look royal and romantically different, and not have the appearance of a jewelry merchant.

The princess was dressed in a white flimsy gown with a blue robe over it. The blue robe was tied with a white ribbon sash. Diamonds graced her slim neck. She wore white ballet slippers to complete her look. She also wore her hair long, but pulled back with a diamond comb planted where her hair was tied back. She was stunning, herself – definitely self-contained and romantic. She would never allow herself to display such brash qualities as sauciness, tartness, aggressiveness, or the kind of unrefinement that was sometimes shown by Floriana and Goldest.

When it came time to retire, all the women wanted their man to escort them to their rooms for the night, with Floriana wanting Savagio to escort her. To their disappointment, the Queen of the Willows frowned on this, and they found her escorting them all to their rooms. She appointed herself the chaperone until all were united properly. She watched over them all like a nervous hawk watching over her little ones. She even
had Shadow keeping an eye on the romantics. Augean laughed at her grandmother. She would find her watching them from behind shadows, pillars, trees, bushes and potted plants. She would go so far as to sneaking behind them down the halls of the castle! Augean took notice that her grandmother’s feet were shod in felt slippers these days, so you could not hear her coming until completely seen!

“Leave them be, Grandmother! They have their own lives to live, their own love to give!” Augean would tell her.

The King of the Willows teased her and called her a ‘warlike prude’. “Lighten up! Leave them be. Let them live their dreams and let them love. Have you forgotten what you were like when you were so young?” the King laughed at her.

She would then slap him on the shoulder and display haughtiness towards him, the King. The Queen of the Willows would act like a snoot for days when the King would endlessly tease her. The King was having a good time being entertained by all. He had decided to stay on to relax and enjoy himself. He was most eager to see how well things went for Goldest, the lovebirds and the kingdom, itself.
The affairs of my own kingdom can lay rest for a while
, thought the unconstrained King to himself. “My kingdom is a most happy one, with only light affairs to be handled,” he told himself. “I deserve to have some leisure, laughter and fun for a time.”

As the days progressed, the Queen of the Willows, Augean, Lowilla, Goldest, the Tooth Fairy Princess, with Sabira and Sunsette, spent their afternoons
selecting the materials and beading for Goldest’s and the princess’s bridal gowns. They would spend the mornings riding sidesaddle with their sweethearts, with the Queen of the Willows as chaperone, riding with them.

Even Savagio would ride with Floriana, who always seemed to be at his side, flirting and flaunting herself at him. The Queen of the Willows had noticed how Floriana was still throwing herself at poor Savagio. “Tsk, tsk,” the Queen often mumbled to herself and Augean, feeling disgust every time she saw Floriana acting like a coin tart.

This morning, Floriana had poured herself into an awesome bright red velvet riding outfit with a red velvet hat to match. The hat was decked with many red and pink feathers.

“Humph!” the Queen of the Willows grumbled to herself in distaste. “Why, she looks like a sweet cherry tart who’s been overstuffed and baked!” Augean, riding sidesaddle next to her grandmother, overheard her mumbling about Floriana and laughed at her. She liked Floriana, and knew that she would be a wise choice for Savagio.

“Floriana is fun-loving, full of life and love, so animated, so showy… but she’s also smart and wise,” Augean boldly told her grandmother.

Augean, being young, sweet and innocent as she was, wanted everyone to be happy. The castle and its attendants loved her – everyone loved her. Even the shadows seemed to keep a watchful eye on her so that no harm would befall her. If anything or anyone unusual approached the little princess, the shadows of
the castle would step in and shield the essence of her eyes, soul and being from whatever or whomever it was. The shadows also seemed to push the unfavorable and unwanted away.

That morning, the group of riders jumped bushes and hedges constantly, hoping to tire out the Queen of the Willows so that she would ride back to the castle for a nap. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could tire the Queen out. She merrily jumped with them, kept up with them, and made them all tire first.

All the riders had to take a long nap after that hardy, stressful morning ride, including the warriors who rode with them. Even Shadow stretched himself out in the sun’s rays on the front steps of the castle. Only the Queen of the Willows and the little Princess Augean went about their business, not needing a nap. This was definitely a turn of events for the morning riders, and they decided not to try again – it being fruitless!