by Joanne Durda
“I wonder where Goldest is… It is abnormal for her not to greet me in the morning,” Ushi said to himself.
While Goldest was in Ushi’s thoughts, she was presently hopping through the pathways surrounding the back of the castle at its farthest point, which was planted with different varieties and colors of exotic amaryllis. These exotic flowers had sprouted up from the many bulbs planted, and multiplied with the colors of purest satiny white, gradually warming up through shy, delicately brushed pinks and lustrous, blushing rose to soft, light salmons and bold, glowing tangerine. The pathways culminated in daring crimsons, sultry reds, and scarlets so rich and intense in hue, their rich colors blending to form a pleasant, polished picture of smooth, silky tapestry of shapely blooms surrounding the walks far beyond the castle, out into the forest with the bubbling turquoise, pink and sea-green brooks. Goldest wanted to inspect the forest beyond her castle to see what secrets it might hold. As she hopped deeper and deeper into the forest, she spotted a small, modest homestead trying to conceal itself in the distance. The doorway was open and it appeared a fire was burning in the hearth. She could smell fresh wheat bread and blueberry muffins in the air.
“What is this? Who has been hiding and making their home outside the castle grounds deep in my forest, as if they wanted to be left alone, within my kingdom?”
Her intense curiosity brushed all caution aside as she continued to hop onward in haste and came upon the small dwelling built with stone, forest timber and shrubs. She noticed there were various gardens behind the dwelling.
“So, I see – self-sufficient!”
In front of the dwelling sat a beautiful woman with long yellow hair which was braided. She seemed to be rocking a baby in a plain, wooden cradle while humming to the baby.
Goldest boldly and swiftly hopped forward and settled in front of the startled woman.
“And who may you be, dwelling in my kingdom?” Goldest asked the woman firmly.
The woman gasped. She was amazed to see a golden frog hop right up to her and ask her a question. At that instant, a dark, hooded figure swiftly approached from the back of the dwelling. He slowly removed his hood and gave the perplexed woman a kiss on her cheek. Aparicio looked down at the golden frog the woman was staring at.
Being a strong, bold woman herself, Lowilla straightened up and broke the silence, finally realizing who this uninvited guest could be, going on past rumors. “Might a frog be ruler of this long-forgotten kingdom?”
“At the death of my parents and grandparents, I am now a Queen – being once the Princess Goldest,” Goldest haughtily informed the woman, not knowing who this family was. Her sensory perception told her that she had nothing to fear from this family, it being clear that they had a baby child. That simple kiss on the woman’s cheek meant that they were at peace and probably wanted things to stay that way.
“Yes, I had heard about your fate, but never would I have ever imagined that I would be given this opportunity to meet you. I am the Princess Lowilla and this is my husband, Prince Aparicio.”
Now it was Goldest’s turn to be taken aback. Surprise was written all over her golden face as she croaked and jumped backwards in astonishment.
“So, I see Ushi did come through on his word with my mother and daughter, having refurnished the Ladybug Castle, with Ushi taking over the replanting and harvesting of the lands,” Prince Aparicio remarked.
“Why, you must be Augean’s father and mother! And you, Aparicio, are the son of the King and Queen of the Willows!” Goldest exclaimed, starting to hiccup in the excitement of the moment. She hopped backwards a few steps away from them.
Aparicio smiled down at the golden frog. He did not wish to alarm her and have her hopping back to the castle with her newest findings. It would not go well, given the present situation. “You need not fear us, Goldest. After my father banned us from the Kingdom of the Willows forever, we fled to this torn, unkempt kingdom and made our home here – away from all the other kingdoms and its peoples. Being disgraced, we feared being rejected by all the other kingdoms. We are what you would call outcasts now – keeping to ourselves and being self-sufficient.”
Goldest was suspicious, but her curiosity was mounting as she continued to hiccup and croak. “What shame did you bring upon yourselves?”
Lowilla looked at Aparicio as he sighed heavily. “I tried to usurp my father, the King, and his throne – take over the ruling of his kingdom. He is a strong man with a strong will, and immediately took control over my blundering idiocy and banned my wife and me. My father is a King, first.”
Aparicio looked down at the smiling, happy baby. “Augean has a baby brother, Prince Luxnon,” Aparicio, with a heavy heart, informed Goldest.
Brushing off Aparicio’s idiocy, Goldest felt a tinge of sympathy for the family. To be living in a dwelling like this when they could have had so much more, thought Goldest to herself. Greed and power can certainly ruin a man and his family, not to mention a kingdom, too. I will never allow greed inside my castle, Goldest thought to herself. Why, I would have the caretakers of my castle sweep it up and immediately burn it!
“Do Augean and the King and Queen know you are alive and here?”
“The King informed me that my wife and I were to disappear and not come back. My father did not want my mother to know what I had tried to do, out of fear it would break her soft, loving heart. He would not let us take our daughter, Augean, with us – informing us that she was a princess and would continue to dwell in the Willow Castle, where a princess belongs. He informed me that he would say nothing about what I had done, except to inform the Queen and Augean that we had disappeared, and to hope for the best. Before my wife and I secretly left the castle in the middle of the night, under the watchful eye of my father and his most trusted warriors, we were instructed never to speak of this incident, or our tongues would be cut out. And this also included the tongues of others who were present who might speak of it.”
“Sad to say, our daughter does not even know she has a brother, and the King and Queen do not know that they have a grandson,” Lowilla added shamefully.
Goldest was suddenly alarmed. Putting aside their tragic story, which was founded on their greed and search for power, another thought arose inside Goldest, and she asked, “How did you know of Ushi and myself restoring my kingdom, castle and lands?”
“I happened to be in the castle at that time that night to see who was there. I had heard the horses ride past our dwelling.”
“You were in my castle eavesdropping on me, the Queen?” Goldest asked haughtily.
“I was only concerned for the safety of my wife and child. No one had ever come to this kingdom before you had,” Aparicio informed her carefully, not wanting to bring any anger on and have them exposed by the golden frog, who appeared to have the flexible characteristics of haughtiness, tartness and arrogance.
“Well, you certainly were not concerned for your family’s safety when you tried to take over your father’s kingdom. You have brought shame upon yourself and your wife! Why, Augean wonders all the time where you both are and longs to see you. Imagine her surprise when she finds out she has a brother!”
Goldest, who everyone knew had a real sneaky tart mouth, smiled at Lowilla’s distress, which was starting to show.
“What are you to do with us, Goldest, now that you know we are here dwelling in your kingdom? Are you to ban us? Why, we have no place to go – and with a newborn baby, yet!” Lowilla exclaimed with fear and apprehension mounting within her.
Aparicio put a loving arm around his distressed wife, trying to comfort her. They both looked at Goldest, waiting for her to reveal what she would do with the discovery of them in her kingdom.
“The King, Queen and Augean have been a part of my life, as of lately. I owe them more than gratitude for helping me restore my kingdom. I could not have done it without them. Ushi is my protector, as I am to his heart. Aside from the fact that you tried to overthrow your own father, I would not be
a Queen if I turned away the son of the King and Queen whom have brought back my kingdom, with their granddaughter referring to myself as her friend,” Goldest informed them in a royal manner. Goldest was surprised at herself for her splendid performance and correctly chosen words. She felt majestic and stately at that moment. Her coat of gold gleamed resplendently with her amour propre.
Lowilla and Aparicio breathed a sigh of relief.
“Your secret is now my secret, guarded within my golden heart. You may dwell here until I decide what I am to do with you, because you both belong back in your own kingdom, and Augean does need to be with her mother and father, and her baby brother should be made known to her… all this will take away her loneliness; because, she is very, very lonely,” Goldest informed them.
Aparicio bowed with understanding and respect to Goldest. “Your kindness is greatly appreciated, Goldest. You are truly a Queen in our hearts.”
“Humph! I will do whatever I have to do for the best of all, at the proper time for you both. You all belong together. I will be back. Croak! Croak!”
Goldest turned and hopped away with an air of arrogance about her. She stopped and turned around. “And if you stay within the shadows of my castle, Aparicio, no more eavesdropping on me!” she shouted to him.
She turned and hopped away, back to her castle. She had seen enough for one day. She needed to go back to her castle and do some thinking. She hopped over the bubbling brooks and back through the forest. A feeling came over her that she was being watched. She looked around and could not see anyone, but the feeling would not leave her. I am not alone, she thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt spooked. The creepies started to crawl over her golden coat. She quickly hopped back to the castle, not being able to overcome her creepy feeling.
It so happened that Octagon, Onion, Ebrix, Xnug and Imbecile were cautiously riding through the ladybug forest, not wanting to be seen. They were out on a day’s ride of exploration anywhere throughout the Domain. Since this was a part of the Domain they had never bothered to visit, they decided to ride through it. They were all very much taken by surprise at all the activity going on in the Kingdom of the Ladybugs, which was supposed to have been laid to rest. They dismounted as they got closer to the castle and hid their horses. They watched the people tending to their land, fields, gardens and herds of animals. The flowers and fields were magnificent! It was a new land with a new smell. The growth was so young and full of promise – a new sprung kingdom!
They hid behind thick shrubbery and wandered from one location to another and watched, careful not to be exposed. Ebrix snickered sinisterly, which sent a chill up Octagon’s spine. The perspicacious Octagon had seen through Ebrix’s laughter. Octagon had seen enough, and turned away and walked back to the horses with the rest of the Monks following. Imbecile tripped over a fallen log. Onion picked him up by his hooded cloak and dragged him over to his horse. They all mounted quietly and rode away.
This is not good, thought Octagon to himself Ebrix will surely inform Theo about this chaste, beauteous kingdom. They rode back to their own kingdom in silence, each contemplating what they had seen.
Later that night, the Queen, Augean and Ushi, with some of the Queen’s Court that she had brought with her to help in the restoration of the castle, were at the long table conversing and dining on corn chowder, stuffed pheasant and sweet potatoes with white wine. Servers gave them their food and stood at attention. They were all quite pleased with themselves; the restoration was complete and no other could have done it better. Ushi smiled at the women present. They were all so gloriously happy and content.
In hopped Goldest. At once, they all stopped eating and conversing. Silence had taken over the room with the entrance of Goldest. It was so quiet that you could hear a bug fart. They all stared at her, courteously giving her the chance to say the first words. She looked back at them all, feeling very superior.
Ushi broke the silence. “I have been concerned about you, Goldest. Where have you been?”
“I have a secret that I cannot tell or else it will not be a secret anymore! Croak! Croak!”
Goldest turned and hopped out of the main hall, just as abruptly as she had come. The Queen and Ushi were quite peeved at the frog’s response. Augean giggled, knowing what a relentless, saucy smart-mouth Goldest could be like.
“Well, I wonder what that was all about?” the Queen asked, confounded.
Later that night, the pounding of horses’ hooves could be heard under a cloudy, doom-laden sky. Octagon, Onion, Ebrix, Xnug and Imbecile rode relentlessly as the howling of the wind seeped through their blowing, blackened hooded capes, with their grayish woolen socks keeping their feet warm inside their sandals of bark. The persistent, boisterous outcry of thunder fell harsh upon their ears; yet stimulation of sensation by external cause was of no significance to them. The flashing of platinum lightning was brutal to their hollow eyes; that too was an inconsequentiality. They rode into the courtyard before their frightful, uninviting castle.
Lesser Monks waited for them in the courtyard, waiting for their return so that they could tend to their horses. These lesser Monks were taught to be obedient and silent – never questioning a command or an order. Someday, they too would be of greater worth, as Theo’s favorites were.
The riders silently dismounted and headed to the main dining hall to have an audience with Theo.
The dining hall was as eerie as ever with shadows cast from the many burning candles, which were hand-made and scented with essential oils. The candles burned feverishly with red flames, with the flames resembling burning blood. The scent of ripped tomatoes filled the room. A steaming cauldron with bowls and spoons next to it held recently made cream of tomato soup. Loaves of spinach bread lay next to the soup. Theo, Meek, Alme, Oxon, Pentangle, Emm, Uhl and Sooth were seated at the long main table preparing herbal medicines, the dried herbs and oils scattered about the table with spring water in jars, and a cauldron of steaming spring water and old, yellow papers bearing their secret recipes. The hot soup was there for their hunger, waiting for them to nourish themselves whenever their hunger called for it. They had planned on it being a long, long night.
Octagon, Onion, Ebrix, Xnug, with Imbecile tripping over his cape, rushed up to Theo, who stood and bowed his head in respect to his approaching Brothers. The Monks took off their blackened hooded cloaks and handed them to Radish and Asp, who approached them to help with the removal of their outer apparel.
“And what exploratory news do you carry for us all to hear, Brothers?” Theo asked.
“We have found the right kingdom to strike at and take as ours!” an excited Ebrix informed them.
Theo raised an eyebrow, knowing they all had already agreed on a kingdom within the Domain. “Oh? And what kingdom might that be? I thought we had all agreed upon the Kingdom of the Pillars?”
“The Kingdom of the Ladybugs!” Xnug replied.
Chuckling arose from the long main table. Octagon was silent as he watched them all with a straight face. He was motionless, with no reaction showing on his face. He did not want anyone to read into his thoughts of foreboding for the Kingdom of the Ladybugs. The inevitable was taking hold, and he stood dispirited in the face of what was to come.
“Why, that kingdom is nothing but an unkempt, overgrown refuge for the weeds and the unwanted,” Meek remarked.
“Not anymore!” Onion exclaimed.
Theo squinted his eyes suspiciously, “What mean you?”
Onion smiled.
“Speak!” Theo shouted. Then quietly he said, “You waste seconds.”
Octagon thought it was best that he took over. “It appears to be that the Queen from the Kingdom of the Willows and her granddaughter have mended and beautified the red castle, while Ushi and his warriors have mended and beautified the land.”
“I might add the people of that land, from once long ago, have come back and replanted,” Onion put in. “With the land lying dormant all these years, the soil is revitalized.
”
“Everything about that kingdom is new growth. Think what we could do with expanding our Thorn Army!” Ebrix exclaimed. “The soil there is full of vigor. Our vengeful herbs would grow mighty and powerful in that soil!”
“More powerful than us?” Emm asked, quite riled. Lately, Emm had taken on a feeling of distaste for most of the Monks, with their minds filled with power that would eventually cause the destruction of others, as well as themselves. He had developed the same foreboding that Octagon had felt. He now had misgivings about themselves.
Alme jumped up from his seat. “Why, I would rather live among beautiful pillars and monuments than with ladybugs!”
“Hush, Alme. Let me meditate on this for several seconds,” Theo told him.
Theo sat next to the steaming hot cauldron of tomato soup. With eyes closed, he took in the aroma of the ripe tomatoes and pondered on the present news and what course of action to take, or change, as the steam rose up into his face. The rest watched or poured more wine into their goblets. Radish and Asp took it upon themselves to pour wine in pewter goblets for the returned Monks and offered it to them.
“W-w-what is T-T-Theo d-d-doing?” Imbecile whispered to Onion.
“He’s meditating,” Onion whispered back to Imbecile.
“Oh,” Imbecile stated flatly, like he understood; but his facial expression showed that he did not.
“Shut up, Imbecile! Drink your wine!” Ebrix told him.
“Be silent, Imbecile. The decision Theo makes could very well change our plans and turn things for the better or the worse,” Onion told him kindly, as he gave Ebrix a dark look of disgust. The air was turning stale with the cold and unkind treatment shown towards Imbecile by certain Monks all the time. Imbecile was their Brother too, just like the rest.
Theo looked at Ebrix. “You are right, Ebrix. New dwellings, new growth, new land, fresh soil – perfect for our culturing Thorn Warriors to continue to grow and learn…”