Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns Read Free Page A

slaughter that will follow? Think of the nightmares that will come thereafter, forever to linger and haunt!”
    “The innocent can protect themselves, Brother. Remember that,” Uhl warned all.
    Emm was annoyed by the words being spoken amongst themselves. “Speak of no innocence here amongst us. All are guilty of some imprudence or vainness within the kingdoms that dwell in this Domain.”
    Pentangle, agreeing with Emm spoke out. “Emm is right. Speak of no innocence within this kingdom.”
    “We would bring shame upon ourselves,” Oog quietly stated with his head down low, feeling shamed already.
    “Man has shamed himself since the beginning of time,” Algee remarked with boldness.
    “Is it possible that a wise man can live with shaming oneself?” Radish questioned.
    Sicar snorted at Radish’s question. “Or do you really mean a wise Monk?”
    Again, Theo chuckled sinisterly, seeing that he had stirred up his Brothers to capture a more beauteous kingdom.
I must keep egging them onwards
, he thought maliciously to himself. “Our skilled minds are not enough to capture a kingdom – any kingdom!”
    Ebrix stepped forward and looked at all in the room. “Theo is right, Brothers! We do deserve a more beauteous, a more powerful kingdom!”
    The rest of the Monks and Shamans in the room slowly started to openly agree, some with reluctance. Theo’s eyes swept the positive responses within the room. He was quite pleased. Only Octagon and Imbecile remained quiet and emotionless. Theo smiled, and then frowned at his displeasure towards Octagon. Imbecile, he did not care about. But he knew deep inside the very essence of his soul that Octagoncould be powerful and that he, himself, should be wise to be careful where Octagon was concerned.
I do not care to lose control of my kingdom to a Monk whose heart was more powerful than his innermost essence of his own soul
, Theo thought to himself, with apprehension mounting inside him.
    Oxon broke into Theo’s thoughts. “Tell us, Theo, what plans do you have for a Warrior Army for our kingdom?”
    “We gather all the various thorns within this kingdom. We shall mix them with the sacred mushrooms. We will plant, grow and cultivate our own Thorn Warrior Army,” Theo explained with firmness.
    Shadows cast from the bluish-rose flames of the violet candles danced angrily on the castle walls at Theo’s spoken words. The candles flickered angrily for several seconds, showing their disagreement and displeasure with the Monks as excitement overtook the Monks within the room, except for Octagon and Imbecile. A frowning Imbecile looked distressed, but knew he could do nothing about what Theo had planned.
I d-d-do not d-d-dare speak o-o-out for fear of T-T-Theo’s displeasure
, Imbecile thought to himself.
    I must be silent and wait for what is to come
, Octagon thought quietly to himself, knowing that nothing could be done until there was something to be done with. “Yes, best be silent,” Octagon mumbled quietly to Imbecile, knowing that the distressed Imbecile did not like what he had heard, either.
    “And our thorns will not be defeated!” an excited Pentangle exclaimed to all.
    The discord that filtered within the room by someof the Monks was not felt by the others, so great was their joy. Only Octagon felt the disquiet, which he shrugged off. He knew the worse was yet to come. He bowed his head, dismissing himself, and left the excitement of the hall behind him. He retired to his cozy room, warmed by the fire set by one of the lesser Monks, for the night. He lit and burned passionflower cones of incense to aid in his sleep and to soothe his troubled mind. After a short while spent contemplating his own inner thoughts, he fell into a deep sleep, with the frightful nightmares of what was to come. The nightmares made their appearance anyway, the incense not being powerful enough to drive them away.

The Scheming Agitator – The Keeper of the Special Heart
    The gorgeous Tooth