laughing to himself as he watched Goldest. He took a deep breath and looked around at the beauty surrounding him. Chrysanthemums surrounded him. He could see fields of colorful tulips off into the distance. Purple delphiniums grew in abundance by the bubbling brooks. Exotic lilies in different shades of white, pink and orange stretched themselves out everywhere. Monstrous white daisies with white, yellow or golden centers grew in mounds and loomed over all the other flowers, growing in abundance. Goldest hopped out of the brook and over to Ushi.
“I never realized this Kingdom of Fragrances could make you feel so light-headed and sleepy. We cannot spend the night here, Goldest.”
“And why is that?” Goldest croaked.
“Because I am developing a headache from all these aromas!”
“After you eat, then we shall make cover over at the next kingdom,” Goldest told him.
“That being?” Ushi asked.
“The Kingdom of Marble,” Goldest responded.
“Mmm… that is one kingdom I have yet to see,” Ushi remarked, wondering what it would be like. “Prepare to leave soon. The night will come upon us fast in the northwest.”
As Ushi finished his meal, Octagon and Savagio rode into the Kingdom of Thorns. Savagio stopped as his eyes panned the area. He made a disgruntled face at such an ugly kingdom, with its tangled weeds and thorn bushes, thorn vines and thorn plants. Savagio nudgedhis horse onwards. They crossed a creek and Savagio noticed that even the water was an inky color.
This kingdom looks like it died centuries ago
, Savagio thought to himself. Even the dirt was darkish, not like the orange, red, tan and light-colored dirt from the many other kingdoms. The silence of the kingdom was deadly. No wildlife was to be seen, and no birds to sing their songs of joy and love. An unpleasant sensation crept up Savagio’s spine and made him feel that he was frozen in a deathlike grip. They rode down the center of thousands of cockleburs filled with their stiff-spined fruits.
Ugly things
, thought Savagio, and grimaced to himself.
“Where is the beauty in this kingdom?” Savagio asked Octagon.
“There is none. As a warrior who has been about, you should already know that not all kingdoms were gifted when placed.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right, Octagon. Now I know why your younger Monks jump at the chance to plant and cultivate for other kingdoms. I’m sure they take the time to marvel at the other kingdoms after being left here for a while. Please excuse me for saying this, but I find your kingdom quite appalling.”
“This time it will be different,” Octagon remarked sadly.
“What mean you?” Savagio questioned as a dreaded, fateful feeling overtook him that made him feel that something was not right.
Octagon did not answer Savagio.
That is a question not to be answered
, Octagon thought to himself.
I will stray from what was asked and seal my lips
.
Savagio felt uneasy at Octagon’s silence to his question. He brushed the ominous feeling aside. Silence overcame them both, and each was enshrouded within his own thoughts as they slowed down and rode into the Thorn Castle Courtyard. Some of the other Monks and Shamans came out to greet Savagio and tend to their horses, knowing they had come a long way in so short a time. Savagio recognized some of the faces that he had seen tending to the gardens, grounds and kitchens at the Cuspid Castle. He knew that the Monks, from time to time, rotated their time and energy to help one of their most beautiful, respected descendants from their line. A story had been told that a Shaman had fallen in love with a glowing platinum star. The star fell from the sky, right into his arms. An ethereal union had taken place between this Shaman and the fallen star, which created the most beautiful of all beautiful, the Tooth Fairy Princess. All descendants of the Monks and Shamans were fascinated by this beauty, and they honored and respected the princess – always remaining
“I never realized this Kingdom of Fragrances could make you feel so light-headed and sleepy. We cannot spend the night here, Goldest.”
“And why is that?” Goldest croaked.
“Because I am developing a headache from all these aromas!”
“After you eat, then we shall make cover over at the next kingdom,” Goldest told him.
“That being?” Ushi asked.
“The Kingdom of Marble,” Goldest responded.
“Mmm… that is one kingdom I have yet to see,” Ushi remarked, wondering what it would be like. “Prepare to leave soon. The night will come upon us fast in the northwest.”
As Ushi finished his meal, Octagon and Savagio rode into the Kingdom of Thorns. Savagio stopped as his eyes panned the area. He made a disgruntled face at such an ugly kingdom, with its tangled weeds and thorn bushes, thorn vines and thorn plants. Savagio nudgedhis horse onwards. They crossed a creek and Savagio noticed that even the water was an inky color.
This kingdom looks like it died centuries ago
, Savagio thought to himself. Even the dirt was darkish, not like the orange, red, tan and light-colored dirt from the many other kingdoms. The silence of the kingdom was deadly. No wildlife was to be seen, and no birds to sing their songs of joy and love. An unpleasant sensation crept up Savagio’s spine and made him feel that he was frozen in a deathlike grip. They rode down the center of thousands of cockleburs filled with their stiff-spined fruits.
Ugly things
, thought Savagio, and grimaced to himself.
“Where is the beauty in this kingdom?” Savagio asked Octagon.
“There is none. As a warrior who has been about, you should already know that not all kingdoms were gifted when placed.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right, Octagon. Now I know why your younger Monks jump at the chance to plant and cultivate for other kingdoms. I’m sure they take the time to marvel at the other kingdoms after being left here for a while. Please excuse me for saying this, but I find your kingdom quite appalling.”
“This time it will be different,” Octagon remarked sadly.
“What mean you?” Savagio questioned as a dreaded, fateful feeling overtook him that made him feel that something was not right.
Octagon did not answer Savagio.
That is a question not to be answered
, Octagon thought to himself.
I will stray from what was asked and seal my lips
.
Savagio felt uneasy at Octagon’s silence to his question. He brushed the ominous feeling aside. Silence overcame them both, and each was enshrouded within his own thoughts as they slowed down and rode into the Thorn Castle Courtyard. Some of the other Monks and Shamans came out to greet Savagio and tend to their horses, knowing they had come a long way in so short a time. Savagio recognized some of the faces that he had seen tending to the gardens, grounds and kitchens at the Cuspid Castle. He knew that the Monks, from time to time, rotated their time and energy to help one of their most beautiful, respected descendants from their line. A story had been told that a Shaman had fallen in love with a glowing platinum star. The star fell from the sky, right into his arms. An ethereal union had taken place between this Shaman and the fallen star, which created the most beautiful of all beautiful, the Tooth Fairy Princess. All descendants of the Monks and Shamans were fascinated by this beauty, and they honored and respected the princess – always remaining
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