Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns (24 page)

The ladybugs felt so part of this kingdom now, and were so pleasantly pleased, that they had presented Queen Goldest a special and shrewd ladybug, Vexilla, to be part of Goldest’s Court. Queen Goldest had graciously accepted her inside her Court, and was most delighted about the whole prospect. Her anxiety and concern over the ladybugs had now left her when they had presented Vexilla to her, and she then knew that they were happy ladybugs being back in their natural homeland.

Vexilla was most electrifiying with her golden coloring with pink and pastel purple polka-dots, and golden eyes with long auburn lashes. The King and Queen of the Ladybugs were delighted with her beauty and shrewdness and informed her to keep a close
watch over Queen Goldest and her red castle, and to report to them weekly of all news bearing, including the gossip – all of it! “And you make sure, Vexilla, that you fly back here immediately to our thrones if anything unusual or dangerous comes about!” The Queen of the Ladybugs had adamantly told her. It had delighted the ladybugs even more to have Queen Goldest title her Lady Vexilla and she was to share her room with the Princess Augean, and when Augean left to go back to her own kingdom, the princess’s room was permanently hers.

To Vexilla, the King, Spungus, and Queen, Liplina, of the Ladybugs had a right to be overprotective of this kingdom, their natural homeland, but she giggled to herself knowing that the Queen of the Ladybugs was also just plain nosy!

The ladybugs took it upon themselves to invite their close friends, the mysterious lightning bugs from the Kingdom of Lightning Bugs, to the wedding festivities. The fascinating blackened fireflies, with their wings outlined in colors of blue, yellow, orange, green and red, were very well received as they lit up the sky and added to the pulsating, bright stars. The fireflies would hide out and sleep all day in the forest, and then slyly come out at night to display their mellow fireworks. The gypsies loved the blackened creatures!

A few of the Willow Warriors entered the dining hall carrying romantic, decorative wreaths with red berries, white flowers and white satin bows, without any trace of thorns. Behind them walked Octagon and the stumbling Imbecile, with Onion helping to pick
him up. The dining hall grew quiet; the music stopped. Octagon bowed his head first to Goldest and Esbri, then to Ushi and the Tooth Fairy Princess, and last, but not least, to Savagio and Floriana. All sat and waited for Octagon to speak first.

“We bear gifts of flowered wreaths – minus the thorns – from the Kingdom of Thorns as wedding presents for the Ladybug Castle,” Octagon gallantly stated. He then laid down a grayish cloth bundle on the floor. “Inside are candles made from the juice of tangerines to attract prosperity and love. You will also find incense cones of tangerines with the candles – all made by us ancient Monks.”

Savagio had taken notice that the Monks were attired in white gowns with exotic red-hooded robes instead of their normal gray or black-hooded robes.

“I see there is a dramatic change in their dress and demeanor,” Savagio whispered to Ushi.

“Their bearing is filled with the utmost respect. I see a change taking place amongst us here today,” Ushi responded.

“Something tells me it is a transformation for the good of all the kingdoms,” Savagio remarked smartly.

A regal Goldest stood up from the table in respect to Octagon. She bowed her head to him, and was not surprised to see him there.
They must break through their shame and start over again
, thought an unbiased Goldest to herself. She wanted him to feel welcomed and respected after all that had taken place between the ancient Monks and her.
That was part of being a just Queen and ruling over a kingdom
, thought a very wise Goldest to herself as she faced Octagon. She said,
“How great-hearted and thoughtful, and very much appreciated. The wreaths are stunning and shall be hung in this main dining hall. The scent of tangerine is most alluring and is worth the love that it calls upon. Why did not Theo bring the gifts himself?” Thus her private thoughts were voiced out loud, revealing her suspicions. Octagon’s reply was not long in coming.

“One night, not too long ago, he was seen in the fields holding his own private, symbolic ritual under full light of the full moon. Theo’s rage was so great after losing his Thorn Warrior Army to a bunch of ladybugs. His ego and self-trust were tarnished and crushed, even though he denied it. He called forth the shadows of the dead and invited them to partake in this evil rite. It was the night of the eclipse of the moon. No other Monk dared go out there to be with him. All came in for the night. It is against the Monks’ long-held belief to be out and in the open when there is an eclipse of the moon, when the shadows of the dead have risen to roam the open night, feasting on the evil sins of the earth. Evil spirits are conveniently evoked during a midnight eclipse of the moon, and are partial to us ancient Monks.

“A horrid, covenantal ritual is set up to convene with the shadows of death, which would enshroud the essence of the ancient Monks’ souls if called upon – return the essence of our minds to emptiness, and release our souls into the unknown, making us empty shells, lacking the intelligence and wisdom that we were naturally born with from our past ancestors, who belong to our ceremonial covenant.

“The uninvited shadows of the dead come forth and
rule over our souls and knowledge, which could bring about disaster and destruction. We lock ourselves in our rooms as we burn frankincense in urns and pots for protection, and to remove unwanted evil influences. Darkness had covered over us and our kingdom for a while.

“Only Theo was not amongst us, but in the fields hovering over his raised burning structures with the disembodied shadows of the dead. When the moon came to be again, a dark, headless shadow in a Monk’s robe was seen riding a black horse with four white stockings above the hooves, galloping across the fields under full light of the newly awakened moon, which was not shining white as it should have been, but was a cream color.

“Theo is still with us, but he has no shadow. He appears to be frivolous and hollow with no pneuma, quite unlike the strong, unyielding Monk that he once was,” Octagon explained continuously.

“But we are forever on the alert and have a watchful guard, because we do not know what mysterious, secret bond Theo had made with the unfleshly shadows that night,” Onion added, making sure that others were warned.

“A-a-and the f-f-face of the m-m-moon c-c-carries a f-f-frown now,” Imbecile managed to get out, wanting others to look at the unhappy moon, too.

Octagon noticed that everyone at the long table had leaned forward and listened intently to his explanation. Some of the women had gasped. Silence prevailed, waiting for Octagon to take the lead again. Everyone seemed infatuated with him. Some of the royal females
stared at him in fascination, or as if they were enamored of him. Octagon knew he was a handsome Monk, with the stunning red robe making him more alluring and dramatic with such colorful, baroque ladies of the Court.

He continued to explain, “I am now overseeing the affairs of the Kingdom of Thorns. My Brothers wanted me to be their mentor and esteemed leader, and they, my obedient followers.”

Savagio now took over the questioning. “And might I ask what is the futile Theo doing?”

“He is now the gardener to our exotic, temperamental herbal gardens. The Council decided he needed to soil his hands a bit,” Octagon told them.

“A Council has been formed now?” Savagio asked with curiosity.

“Meek, Alme, Onion, Oxon, Radish, Emm, Sooth, Asp and Bean decided to develop a Council for the sake of the kingdom, and I was to be at its head.”

Now the King of the Willows was more than curious and said, “I am sure Theo did not like that. I am surprised he did not set fire to his kingdom and all – or plan an attack on you with these bodiless shadows of the dead that he called upon. How in demon’s name did you overpower him?”

Octagon smiled. “We had a little help from Frangelico and Carlos, with some of their Gypsy Warriors. They had put their superstitions to rest for a short time.”

The table looked at Frangelico and Carlos, and they nodded their heads in acknowledgment at what was said.

“There will be nothing to fear from the Kingdom of
Thorns, now that Octagon is in charge. He will rule with a compassionate heart as well as with all the knowledge and wisdom that he has gathered and accrued by study throughout his many years in the Domain,” Frangelico told them all.

“I intend on putting our innermost hidden heritage of talents and mental powers to work for the benevolence and well-being of all within the Domain,” a most gracious Octagon remarked as he bowed his head to all.

“We will earn our noble esteem and respect back,” Onion added.

“Henceforth, the gypsies will, from time to time, keep a third eye on that Kingdom,” Carlos added. “It is up to we gypsies to make sure Octagon has no persistent, pestering shadows lurking to seize control of that Kingdom.”

“Why, I need a keeper to stand watch over my prized cherry trees! Please inform Theo that he is welcome to do that,” a thoughtful King of the Willows, with other intentions, said to Octagon.

Octagon bowed his head in respect to the King, saying simply, “I will do that, sir.”

The Queen of the Willows elbowed the King and whispered, “Is this wise?”

The King smiled at her and patted her hand. “Do not fret, my dear; Shadow can keep an eye on him.”

But in the King’s mind, he concluded that he would take the troublesome, heartless, fleshly Monk away from his own kingdom and keep his own watchful fleshly guards hovering over him at all times.
Theo may be without shadow now, but his men will always have theirs
, thought the crafty King to himself. He did not wish to
alarm his Queen or the guests present, but kept the real reason sealed. He would find some way later to have Theo discreetly brought to his Kingdom of the Willows. It was the best outcome for everyone.
A man, especially a Monk, without a shadow can be even more dangerous and deadly than the shadows themselves
, thought a knowing and shrewd King. He sighed heavily in his deep deliberations.

The Queen heard him sigh heavily and looked deeply into the eyes of her thoughtful husband, and knew immediately that something was amiss and he was stirring in the ingredients, himself
I will deal with him and his underhandedness later
, thought the sharp Queen of the Willows to herself.

“You must all be famished from the long ride. Come, please join in the festivities and fill your plate. I will have my maidens fix up a castle room for you by my cellars, since all the other rooms are occupied,” Goldest told the Monks.

“Thank you for your kind hospitality,” a satisfied Octagon replied.

“I do not wish for you to ride immediately back to your kingdom. You need to eat and rest; and perhaps, we may engage in conversation about what your plans are, now that you, Octagon, are their notable leader,” Goldest said to Octagon. “You and I should make haste our friendship and seal our futures together. We may need one another some day,” a prudent Queen of the Ladybug Kingdom added, with power to her words.

“You are a remarkably astute and sagacious Queen, my Lady,” Octagon remarked slowly.

Octagon, Imbecile and Onion bowed their heads
and went to the long side table to gather food and drink. The beauteous wreaths were taken away to be hung later, along with the tangerine candles and incense cones.

Ushi stood up. “It is time to dance again.”

Ushi, the Tooth Fairy Princess, Goldest, Esbri, Savagio and Floriana rose up from their seats, left the table and proceeded out to the dance floor. The King of the Willows, bowing to the Queen of the Willows, took the Queen’s hand in the dance, and Aparicio took Lowilla’s hand. They too proceeded out on to the dance floor. They all gracefully danced a waltz, side by side, to the slow, romantic music. The lovely melody made eyes grow tearful.

“Why, what has happened to your wild dancing, my Lord?” the Queen of the Willows asked the King in a mocking manner.

“Here I am trying to tire you out, and instead, I’m the one who is tiring!” the King remarked back to her, farting abundantly.

“Tsk, tsk,” the Queen shook her head. “I see – too much exotic food and drink! I think it is time to put you away for the night.”

“And what about you, my Lady?” the King asked suspiciously.

The Queen smiled back at him. “Now, now, no playful tactics tonight. Leave them be with each other,” the King told her sharply. Then he added as an afterthought, “You can tuck me in tonight instead of them, my Queen.” The king chuckled sinisterly.

A contented and gleeful Augean watched them dance for a while.

Then she realized that someone was missing here. “Marcus, Marcus!” she whispered to herself. She looked around the room as she realized that he should be here with them all. Goldest was his friend, as we all were, she told herself.
I wonder where he is at now and what he is doing
? she wondered.
Will I ever see him again – will we all ever see him again
? she asked herself.

Then her thoughts turned to her newly appointed roommate and friend, Lady Vexilla. She was fascinated with her and found her lovely, smart and very wise. Shadow accepted her and treated her delicately, because he was not sure how to respond to her. He knew Augean was quite fond of her and Vexilla was kindly and considerate towards Augean.

Augean laughed at how Goldest had brought in more potted plants and even trees in her castle room to make Vexilla feel more at home. I feel like I am sleeping in a forest instead of a bedroom now, Augean giggled to herself. Her thoughts floated back to the dance floor.

“Come on, Shadow, you can be my partner,” an eager Augean said playfully.

Shadow followed Augean, who was dressed in a cute pink gown decorated with light pink ribbons, and wearing her pink ballet slippers, out on to the dance floor. She also wore a tiara of rubies with a ruby necklace and delicate rubies sewn into the bodice of her gown.