TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga)

by Jason Paul Rice

  Russell pulled his sword and lightly swung it at the fire sword.

  “CLANK.” It stopped his sword as if it had an invisible metal center in the blade of flames.

  Russell did it again. “CLANK.”

  The wizard had a huge smile on his face. “I call it Soul-Burner. When you look like me, you need all the intimidation you can muster.”

  “So where is it?” Russell questioned.

  “Where is what?”

  “The school to sharpen my mind,” Russell answered.

  “It lies up in the far north where the Frozen Forest thaws along the Salty Sea. It will take several days to get there. Once there, your training will start.”

  “Can I ask you something?” Russell asked.

  “Sure,” the wizard replied.

  “You said that one of your main nicknames was the Imp Wizard. Don’t you take offense to being called an imp?” Russell queried.

  “As I said before, I wanted to kill all those who made fun of me until I realized that I couldn’t just kill everyone. Aah, weaknesses and shortcomings. Wear them like a badge of honor. Make them your strength, not your weakness. Shove them in someone’s face before they can tease you about it. Show them it doesn’t bother you. Do something that those who make fun of you cannot. Do something that you thought you could never do. And remember only you can make yourself feel down, not others. Think independently of other’s thoughts. Measure yourself figuratively and literally by your own standards. Do this and no one can make fun of you. Call me imp all you like because life is too short to hold grudges over name calling.”

  Russell’s laughter stopped the wizard’s lesson.

  “What?”

  Russell answered, “That is just funny because you are really short, but your life has been anything but short. You are like five hundred years old.”

  “I’m not that old. I am only four hundred sixty seven. I am dreading the big five-zero-zero,” the Imp said, pretending that he was mad about the age joke.

  “Can I ask you something else, Dragon-Eyes?”

  “Of course, you may ask me anything,” the Imp reassured the young man.

  “Did King Ali-Baster really die on the throne?” Russell asked curiously.

  “A throne of sorts, I would suppose,” said the wizard with a smirk.

  “So it is true,” said Russell.

  “Sometimes we try just a bit too hard. Ofttimes you cannot force something. One must allow it to happen. And unfortunately our former King Ali-Baster tried to push just a little too hard. “

  THE CORONATION

  LEIMUR

  She walked directly toward her new throne. The royal hall was packed to capacity with the elite lords and ladies lined up to salute their new Queen, Leimur Leluc. Everybody dressed to impress except for Leimur. She strode down the path in long, black britches and a gray tunic. She wore a red and black female-styled doublet over the tunic. It had a black tiger sewn into each of the red shoulders. She had always hated women’s clothing, especially dresses. A golden necklace graced the Queen’s body. It looked like a snake wrapped around her neck. It even left the end of the serpent’s tail hanging down her back.

  The newly selected regime cared little about fashion and much more about control. Respect had seemed to follow as fast as word could spread of the new Queen’s murderous takeover. Those in the room respected her out of fear, which sat just fine with Leimur.

  The rest of the hall was quite a spectacle even though the Queen had demanded simplicity. The original plan involved a parade through the streets and men to carry the Queen down the aisle on the throne. She had nixed that idea right away.

  Trumpets adorned with the new family flag featuring a tiger, were blown in harmony. A red carpet with gold edging rested below her leather boots as the Queen approached the steps. The wide marble staircase led Leimur straight to the throne. Seventeen guards with spears planted into the ground stood on either side of the path as she passed them and climbed the steps.

  Leimur stood in front of the throne and saw the troubadours, jesters and singers in the back waiting for the ceremonies to end so they could entertain the guests. The new throne made liberal use of gold and demonstrated quality craftsmanship. The arms looked like eagle wings, extending out, replicating the bird in flight. On the front of the throne’s arms were tiger heads with red ruby eyes. The feet resembled clawed tiger paws. A red velvet cushion seemed to float over the seat and a tiger’s face was painted on the back of the golden throne.

  The walls and decorative pillars were painted a gold, light purple and black pattern. Black silk curtains hung in front of the large windows to shield the guests’ eyes from the sun.

  Leimur already longed to be done with this stupid ceremony. She yearned to be back on the field of battle, not dealing with ceremonial nonsense that had existed for the sake of spending money to look financially secure. All the high lords and ladies of the land had turned up to bend the knee and pledge their undying support to a new queen. They wore the fanciest of fashions and reeked of the awful perfumes that she hated. Queen Leimur Leluc’s sympathies lay closer to the common man than to families of nobility. But the Queen knew she needed their backing to run a successful kingdom.

  The Queen had ruffled some feathers already by changing Goldenfield’s official religion. Leimur wasn’t really interested in the subject, but General Rigby talked her into changing it to the Partnership of Gods. The basic structure was a male and female God of equal power. The idea was that Mother Earth and Father of the Sky and Sea live in harmony when the worshippers uphold their values. General Rigby thought it best to choose a religion that had a strong female presence to reinforce Leimur’s position.

  She more than made up for the religious issues with the highborn by burning all the spy records her parents kept of the lords and ladies of the lands. She had done it in public and the implicated citizens were elated. The people didn’t know that Leimur had made copies of all the records before the burning ceremony.

  The Grand Priest stood next to the Queen with the crown in his left hand. The man was a tall, skinny individual. He wore a black robe tied securely with purple and white belts. His concave hat was purple with white lining and had a massive ruby jewel above his forehead.

  “Lords and ladies of Goldenfield, we are gathered here to witness the coronation of a new queen. I bless thee, Leimur Leluc, protector of Goldenfield. May you be wise in your decisions and guided by the Gods. It is with both of our Gods’ blessings that I crown thee, Queen of Goldenfield. Long shall live the rule of Leimur Leluc.”

  “LONG LIVE THE RULE,” the entire crowd chanted in unison.

  He placed the crown atop the head of the new Queen to make it official.

  It was more of a golden battle helm than a tiara. The new symbol of power in Goldenfield fit her head snugly with face guards on the sides and a giant tiger-eye gemstone planted in the middle of her forehead. It was a proper crown for a Warrior Queen. The new ruler of Goldenfield took her seat on the throne. She looked like she had been born to sit there. The Queen’s mind drifted as the guests came up, one by one, to pledge their honor and support. She looked out to see an artist, painting her as she sat on the throne for the first time.

  After the ceremonies, the Queen retreated to her room only to find General Rigby waiting outside.

  “Hello, my Queen. We fashioned a surprise for you to commemorate your coronation,” he said with a slight smirk.

  “You know I expect nothing, General,” she said, although she wondered what this could be.

  He opened her door for her and pointed the way. Leimur entered her room to see a great sight. It was a set of golden armor fit for a queen. It had a tiger’s head crafted into the cuirass with two red gemstones stuffed into the eyes for the Tiger Queen. She had wondered why they were measuring her so carefully for the coronation doublet. Now she realized that they had been fitting her for the greatest suit of armor she had ever laid eyes upon. The vambraces shone in a way that e
ntranced the Queen. Leimur closed her eyes and envisioned herself on the battle field, slaying the enemy in her new suit. There was also a new battle axe next to the armor. It stood about six feet tall with a silver blade and spike that blended into a golden handle. She wanted to use her gifts immediately but she contained herself.

  “I thank you, General. I am not sure what to say except you have my sincere gratitude, good sir. I will be certain to take that shine away soon enough. I do not want to look like a Queen in shining armor.”

  She smiled at the General and saw him as the father she never had in Pascal Leluc. She still couldn’t figure out why he had never sacked the Capitol before.

  Why did he wait for me?

  The next day the Queen decided she wanted to see her family inspiration. She put on her new armor and walked across the city. Her great, great grandfather, Marius Leluc, had been a great King. He had the unwavering respect of the lords and commoners equally. He ruled with an iron fist, but also showed compassion where it was due.

  Right down the road was the Leluc Mausoleum. It was a monument dedicated to the deceased members of the Leluc ruling family. Leimur refused to have anything associated with her parents make it into the Mausoleum. The big domed building housed relics and possessions from the former kings and queens of Goldenfield. As she entered the white stone building, a strange sensation came over her. She felt a tingle over her head and her heart suddenly raced. She could feel the power of the huge burial room as she walked into the middle. Leimur looked around at the air tight coffins that her ancestors eternally rested in. She spotted the bright red casket with a golden, soaring eagle on it.

  Marius Leluc had an epic shrine surrounding his coffin. Clothes, weapons, armor, crowns, gold and jewels were laid upon the tables around the stunning tribute. Leimur could identify with Marius because he was called the Warrior King and he had conquered foreign lands and brought treasure back to Goldenfield. His weapon of choice had been the battle axe also. He was also known for his clever and unexpected strategy of traveling down the Rushing River through the Animal Kingdom on the way to attack Harbor Valley. It had completely taken Harbor Valley by surprise and Marius pummeled them into submission. It was a move the Queen currently reflected on as she knelt in front of the casket. Instead of praying to the Gods, she attempted to talk to the spirit of King Marius.

  “Great, great grandfather, I wish to follow in your steps when I attack Harbor Valley. Please guide me on the correct path. I am attempting to resurrect our once proud Goldenfield to its glorious days akin to when you ruled. I will conquer and loot, just as you did before me. I regrettably had to dispatch my parents, who tried to do the same to me, but they failed. I did not. I have learned a great deal from their mistakes and I do not plan to repeat them. I will humbly rule until Huber is ready. He is only four years old, but when the time is right I will step aside and respect the laws of the land. I am going to care for Huber and Romer as if they were my own children. I will make sure they respect and cherish the Leluc family traditions. But first I have to conquer Harbor Valley in your honor, King Marius Leluc of Goldenfield.”

  She stood up and stared at the red coffin. Her attention suddenly shifted to two battle axes lying on one of the tables. She picked them up and they seemed to match the axe she had received yesterday, except they were shorter. The Queen noticed they could be used in unison as she swung them around. They whizzed smoothly through the air and the Queen really liked the feel of them. She decided immediately that she would take them on her trip to Harbor Valley for protection and good luck. Leimur went back to the palace and put the axes in her room next to the larger one. She then looked around for her brothers to spend some time with the boys before she had to leave for the Harbor Valley attack.

  THE TRIP TO THE KING’S CASTLE

  ELISA

  The two ladies laughed like children. Excitement rippled through the room as the two women sat together having their hair braided.

  “Are you sure they don’t understand us?” Elisa asked.

  Ali-Gare said, “Yes, stop worrying. These handmaidens are from Gama Traka.”

  The Gama Trakan handmaidens worked on the pair’s hair that they had arranged in a figure-eight pattern. Elisa had found an odd ally in Ali-Gare Wamhoff. They had a secret connection that made Elisa feel secure around her.

  “I can’t wait to kiss him, touch him, feel him inside me,” Ali-Gare happily pronounced.

  Elisa smiled back and said, “It is going to be such a wonderful day. Finally some real men in the Capitol.”

  They both enjoyed a laugh as the handmaidens continued to work on their hair.

  “When did you and Gunnar fall in love?” Elisa asked.

  “The first time our eyes met. I had looked at many boys before that and felt nothing. This time my heart fluttered and I felt nervous. I had never felt nervous before. I was fifteen and he twenty-five, but when we kissed two days later he said that he was nervous too. I knew when our lips touched, that those lips would be the only ones I would ever need. Soon after that my father tried to betroth me to Rollo Etburn, but I would have none of it. I wasn’t going to live in Waters Edge. My father is a king, but he is still only my father. A princess can get her way if she really wants to,” Ali-Gare informed Elisa.

  “My aunt explained to me what love was on my eighth birthday. That was when I knew I loved Brehan. He left when I was only nine. The first time he came back from Mattingly was the day I knew he loved me too. We didn’t fully act on our love until I was fourteen though,” Elisa innocently said.

  “You beat me,” said Ali-Gare.

  “I beat you, what?” asked Elisa.

  Ali-Gare explained, “I didn’t have sex until I was fifteen. So you have me there.”

  “I didn’t realize it was a contest,” Elisa responded.

  “It is not. I am only joking. Is he the only one you have been with?” Ali-Gare questioned.

  Elisa immediately answered, “Yes. Is Gunnar the only man you have been with?”

  “Absolutely, and he will be the only one I will ever sleep with,” Ali-Gare firmly said.

  “Is it strange that not very many people in the castle know about the Mattingly arrival?” Elisa wondered.

  Ali-Gare said, “My father is always worried about his reputation. He probably wants to make sure that Duke Colbert will accept the marriage pact before making a formal announcement.”

  “It will be so great once Ali-Ster and Mariah marry,” gleefully stated Elisa.

  She realized that the marriage would open up opportunities for her and Brehan to see one another a lot more.

  “We won’t have to sneak around and worry anymore,” said Elisa.

  “I don’t know. I kind of like that part. It makes me feel even naughtier,” said Ali-Gare.

  Elisa replied, “Yes, I suppose it sort of does.”

  “Sir Gunnar and I are going to get married and travel the world. We want to see as much as we can before we die, old, gray and wrinkled. Together. Time seems to stand still when he and I are together, but we also realize no one can avoid aging. I can smell his breath already and I can feel that he is getting near,” said Ali-Gare as she deeply inhaled the air through her nose.

  “That is beautiful. Brehan and I haven’t figured out all of our plans yet. We just know that we want to be together until the end,” Elisa said.

  “That is all that matters. I have forgotten myself at grand parties just thinking about Gunnar. When I am with him, it doesn’t matter what the surroundings are. I lose myself in him. But we knew that we would have to leave Donegal to marry and that we wouldn’t stop until we saw all that the world has to offer. And we would do it all together,” Ali-Gare said with a smile.

  The ladies were even more excited now. The handmaidens finished their hair and the two inspected each other’s designs. The long braids had been woven into artful patterns all around the girls’ heads.

  “Yours is just lovely now,” joyfully stated Ali-Gare.

&nbs
p; “Well, if mine looks half as good as yours, I should be grateful,” Elisa replied as she blushed.

  “Oh, I bet it looks twice as nice as mine with your beautiful hair,” Ali-Gare complimented.

  “You are too kind.”

  Comments like that made Elisa wonder why everyone warned her about Ali-Gare’s mean streak. But Elisa understood her better than others. Ali-Gare was happy today because she was going to see her one and only love. When she didn’t see him for long periods of time, she probably had mood swings. Elisa acted the same way when she didn’t get to see Brehan for long stretches. However, today the two girls couldn’t have been more ecstatic and consequently, more courteous.

  JON

  Spring was slightly waning, revealing a hot preview of the upcoming summer months. The Colbert posse rattled up the Royal Road in search of Falconhurst. The Royal Road was a smooth dirt road that extended throughout most of Donegal. The road in this area was narrow and could barely provide enough room for two carriages to pass each other. Jon knew they were getting close now. They were twenty men and one girl, Mariah Colbert. She rode in a carriage in the back alongside the other wagon filled with supplies. Everyone else trotted along on horseback. Jon Colbert had brought some of his best knights and guards to escort him on this journey. But he was really trying to figure out how he would react when the King asked for his daughter’s hand to give to Ali-Ster. The matters he had to deal with in the running of Mattingly did not need the complications of this fresh tension. Jon had ordered Sir Brehan to stay in the back to look after Mariah.

  Jon rode in front with his armored knights, Sir Ryan and Sir Gunnar, by his side. He had brought six other armored knights and the rest were Riverfront guards armed with an array of weapons from maces to war axes to different swords. Jon just wanted to get this over with and get back to Riverfront. He wondered how his sons were doing on their voyage. He worried about everyone at home until the blazing sun broke his concentration by nearly blinding him. They were about twenty minutes from the castle. It was visible on the skyline and Jon still felt the stress.