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Animus in the temple / The Man Eating Trees attack

Animus looked around after squeezing through the exit to see where he was. The peasant knew he was just outside the castle; he carefully avoided the soldiers, climbed over the castle gate and snuck past the soldiers to get through the second and first gate. He sprinted through the woods just as he saw a horse with a saddle and a soldier urinating in the bushes. Animus looked around and found a large rock that was the size of a grapefruit and threw it at the soldier and hit him in the head, knocking him out.
The young man climbed on the horse and hoped that he wouldn’t get bucked off. Without a word Animus shook the reins and the horse whinnied as they charged though the forest to Shadow Mountain.
The moon revealed itself in the night sky. Animus felt the cool breeze hit his face upon the humidity. He was at Shadow Mountain and unfolded the map to see how he could enter and navigate through without endangering his life.

Shadow Mountain was a carved face of a skull into the base of the mountain that was produced thousands of years ago. It camouflaged the citadel that was inside the mountain. The temple, inside Shadow Mountain, was timeless and forged by rock and stone unfolding in and out as a huge triangular pyramid. Animus didn’t know how long the temple existed, but heard it was built prior to the carved skull and was the resting place for Furrengee’s mask. Furrengee, the greatest warrior that ever lived was written in story and legend. The legend and source of power of the mask involved the dead warriors who wore the mask during battle.

Animus looked at the entries on the back of the map, written by his father, which revealed that anyone who entered the citadel. The elders spoke of Shadow Mountain as a place where goblins kidnapped little children years ago to sacrifice them. Animus got off his steed and turned around to look at his horse, “I wish you could go where I’m going friend, but you should be set free.”
The horse nudged its head into Animus’ face and nickered just as the peasant laughed. He took off the saddle and reins while thinking about his challenge. After he was finished he gave the horse a quick slap and it galloped away.

After minutes of thinking, Animus began walking to Shadow Mountain. Every step of the way the farm boy had fear of what would happen to him. Animus walked inside the skeleton mouth of Shadow Mountain and saw the torches already lit. This struck the farm boy as odd and he wondered if someone was already here. He continued through a long corridor with a torch he took off from the side of the wall.

In the distance of about twenty feet he came to the sight of the temple. It looked creepy and evil, but he continued on until he was able to touch it. He examined the temple and it looked almost bigger than the castle of Aria and he slowly touched the rough brick wall with his fingers with the torch in his hand. He was looking for a secret lever to open the secret passageway as it was described on the piece of paper. Suddenly, Animus felt a weak impression in the brick wall and pushed it in and an opening in the wall revealed itself that was the size big enough for a person to fit through.

The farm boy walked inside and felt the intense humidity as though he were inside a volcano and began to perspire quickly. Big bats, the size of buzzards, flew past him with their high pitch noises and one of them attacked him bit biting his face. Animus screamed in fear because he had never seen bats that big and struck the bat as hard as he could with his hand.

It was dark, stale and a long corridor of torches filled long spaces. Animus could barely see in the gloom of smoke and he wiped the sweat that dripped from his forehead. The sight of skeletons and statues holding torches made Animus’ stomach turn. The immense space of darkness in between each sight of torches made it difficult to know what to expect. His father was right about the temple and knew it was going to be difficult to get the mask. Animus, suddenly heard a grinding noise from behind and turned, waiving the torch to see the secret doorway had closed.

Sweat perspired from his forehead again and he continued to wipe it off as he turned around to continue down the tunnel. Animus didn’t like the feeling of being trapped in the temple and thought about Aarilina and the way she treated him. He was sad because he fantasized about their wedding and how great it would be. Maybe if he got the mask she would love him again and the hurtful things she said would go away.

The peasant took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his face as he opened up the map and read the entries his father wrote. He learned that the warriors who entered the front entrance would endure worse than when he entered the secret doorway.

The farm boy pulled his hair over his ears and turned the map around to see what was ahead. He could hear the sound of water dripping from the sweat of the ceiling while biting his lip to read what details laid ahead.

He looked over the map that showed the way through a maze of tunnels marked with blood, marking all the traps in the citadel. A feeling of hopelessness filled such mind as Animus looked ahead of the path and realized that he missed something. The map revealed there was a cross road up ahead, but he could see the tunnel was going straight ahead. He suddenly walked straight into an invisible barrier and hurt his nose.

Animus made sure that he didn’t have a nose bleed and touched the invisible barrier. He touched it with both hands and gently leaned his forehead on it to see through it was a dark long corridor.
The farm boy pulled out the map to see the thick hollow line crossing over that symbolized path. The young man’s eyes glared at the dwindling flame of his torch and knew that he needed a torch or fuel for his fire. Animus ripped his old, cotton, vest given to him by his grandfather to feed the fire. He wrapped the fabric around the torch and watched with relief as the flame grew.

Animus looked at the map and realized there was a way around the invisible barrier and to the sub level to another chamber. He walked down the stairs and found himself in another corridor.

When he stepped off the last step he noticed a lot of spider webs. Animus suddenly got nervous and walked slowly past them. Each spider web he passed was bigger and he felt his muscles tighten up and walked slowly past them. Every step of the way, Animus held the folded map and looked around for whatever creature that would appear before him. Suddenly, he was caught in a giant spider web but he managed to pull himself through to stay on the path.

He stopped in shock as he waived his torch to see the skeleton remains of animals the size of sheep dogs. The peasant wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the map to see there were dozens of traps ahead of his path. Animus continued onward; walking carefully in the dark with the torch. Then something in the distance was crawling on all fours like a dog made its way in his path and he heard it make grunting noise. It looked like a rat and Animus whistled at the creature ahead of him hoping it was a dog. Animus kept moving ahead but then screamed in terror when it moved towards him and tried to attack him. He could see clearly now that it was a rat, a very large rat.

“What in Ayana!” exclaimed Animus as his eyes widen to see more rats, the size of large dogs, walking towards him. From the path ahead of him.

The rats looked at him with their beady eyes and they licked their lips to attack him. They hissed at Animus and moved in closer as the young man swung his torch at them, to keep them from eating him alive. One rat jumped at Animus and bit his arm, but was pushed and kicked back, burned by Animus’ torch. The rats heard the screaming of their fellow rat and smelled the burning meat and then they retreated back through the holes in the walls.

Animus continued to stoop and walk through the tunnel until he walked into a large room. He looked around to see it was filled with boulders, statues and a stream of fire that was lit on three ledges along the walls and four corners of the room. He opened the map after taking a few minutes to look around and noticed that it wasn't hot like it was in the tunnel, but it was warm. He felt a strange unrest in the air, the room looked like an arena for a challenge, but what was the challenge? Animus was relieved that he wouldn’t have to worry about giant rats attacking him, but something caught his attention. Goosebumps covered his arms and he knew something was wrong.

He looked to see a silver sword, bow and arrows, morning star, javelin, and a shield which were held in the hands of the statues. Animus moved quickly to grabbed each one and realized that the weapons were shiny and hadn't been used before. The six foot long javelin had a button that worked like a lever which could be reduced in size to a foot long cylinder. The shield was made from a strange material that was very light just as the sword was but was very strong. The morning star had a button on the handle so that the ball and pins would become a flail. Animus looked around at the empty chamber and gathered the weapons. He looked at the map when suddenly he saw a bright light emerge from inside a tunnel ahead of him and entered the doorway.

The soldiers engaged the catapults with steelies lit with fire to kill the giant and save the princess. In Animus’ mind he could feel the hits from the fireballs and wanted to step on them, but was once again warned to not fall into temptations. Animus moved quickly to the second gate and stepped over and was now in the city.

The fireballs flew through the air and collided into the middle of the giant’s back. Furrengee turned to see where they came from and saw numerous catapults shooting more fireballs at him. Animus moved through the city quickly and carefully but had to deal with soldiers shooting at him.

Animus knew he couldn’t do anything physically, but knew he could backfire the negative energy onto those who were attacking him and make them suffer. Furrengee raised his right hand in front of his mouth, with his hand flat and blew. He made a blowing sound like a light breeze, which was a curse.
Aarilina held onto the mighty chest armor of Furrengee while watching the battle carry over from the top of his hand. Furrengee turned around to continue the long journey to the first gate and watched the archers, before him, shoot their arrows loaded with fire. The arrows stuck deep into his chest but the giant wiped them with his hand like bread crumbs. A fireball flew through the air and hit the giant in the back of the head. Furrengee turned around and held his hand out to catch all the fireballs. He clenched his hand tightly and crushed the steelies and threw pieces of the debris at the soldiers which made the men stop and pick up diamonds. Furrengee watched them throw their weapons down, to kneel and picked up the diamonds like greedy beggars. The giant turned around and continued the march to the first gate. 

Furrengee stepped over the gate with a simple stride. He was now in the forest; the jack rabbits and squirrels ran away from the giant’s path to take cover in the woods. He was strong and powerful while slowly reducing his size to twenty feet so that he could blend in with the trees.

“Come on he’s getting away,” declared one of the knights to the greedy soldiers picking up the diamonds. A soldier jumped to his armored steed loaded with every weapon imaginable. Other knights loaded another steely into the catapult and were preparing to light it on fire.

The flickered light of fire streamed from their torch as they were about to cut it. Suddenly, the steelie exploded with a thunderous boom and there was a high pitch ringing in the soldier's ears that sounded like an alarm. The whole catapult burst into flames and so were all the knights running in all different directions, screaming as loud as they could and died. Other soldiers ran to the nearest cow bath, but died of shock. Men on horses pulled the catapults with other men to follow the giant out of the castle.
Twenty fireballs flew through the air to hit Furrengee in the back until the giant made an abrupt stop; turned around, thrust his hands out in front of the fireballs that were flying at him and they stopped immediately and fired back. The fireballs flew back at the the catapults and blew them to pieces. The knights screamed in pain as they crawled away from the explosion of fire. The soldiers that were on fire or barely escaped the explosion, moved quickly to take off their armor and when they did, they peeled off their flesh with the metal armor. They cried in pain and screamed in agony inside their own pain of imprisonment.

The peasants and soldiers observing the attack had never seen a display of power like this from such an adversary. Battles were always fought with great armies, but what made this different was that it was against one man, a giant. Two knights watched the giant from a distance and realized who it was.
“This can’t be who I think it is, is it?” said Sir Bombardis.

“It is,” assured Sir Jenkins as he realized it was Furrengee and continued. “Wake up the king! Someone has got the mask.”

“When was she taken?” asked the king as he got out of bed, rubbed his eyes and tossed the blankets aside. He enjoyed his royal sleep but disliked being woken up for insignificant things, but this took him by surprise. King Owen was upset with what happened to his daughter. They had ended the night bad and they weren't on speaking terms and now she was gone and he couldn't face her to apologize.
“She was just taken your highness,” replied Sir Bombardis.

“Princess Aarilinus is the only living heir to the throne,” whispered King Owen as
he tried to think who would betray him. His gut was telling him that Animus
was involved, but he remembered that the Dark Wolves would have ripped his body apart.
“Assemble the rest of our knights and our five visitors! Whether they like it or not, they’re going to retrieve the princess,” he ordered.

“Your highness, the princes' are gone and many of the peasants are gone as well to chase after the giant. Men who aren’t the ones you’ve selected have already left to rescue the princess,” informed Sir Bombardis.

“I’m coming to join my knights to see this giant myself,” ordered the king. “There is nothing to see; it towers the castle, it has no fear for the soldiers because this giant has made diamonds out of our fireballs that have been fired at him and this giant makes the catapults explode, killing our men!” replied the knight angrily as he turned away to let the king dress.

“I must say your majesty, is it possible that the legend of Furrengee exists? That the power of love exists in a mask that unleashes unlimited power of invincibility?”
“Yes, those things are true,” began the king as he remembered the past.
“I always thought of the parables as bedtime stories and never the real thing,” the king lied.
“How do we stop something that’s invincible?” asked Sir Bombardis.
The king paused while getting his pants on and could sense that the knight knew what was going on. The problem was that it wouldn't matter what he said now his daughter was still gone and he needed her back.

King Owen buckled his pants and put a sweater on over his shirt as he turned around to face the knight who slowly turned around to face him.

“The mask resolves around the feeling of pure love. With this power a man uses mask’s power to stop anything or anyone in his path. As long as the person wearing the mask did not inflict pain on the innocent, all would be well. If the person wearing the mask was destructive or greedy, the person would be punished.

“My lord, if I may ask, if the mask resolves around love. Why send suitors to retrieve it?”
“I wanted my daughter to marry somebody who could not only protect her, but broaden the road of wealth and royalty for my family line. My wife passed away seventeen years ago and I learned that this mask worn by someone pure could bring a loved one back to life so I began sending warriors to locate and if possible retrieve it. The mask has unimaginable power of invincibility, but it also makes people around the bearer jealous and greedy that is why it is hidden.”

“You didn't know where the mask was?” asked the knight.
“Not until my wife passed. I thought it was a legend or a silly story,” said King Owen.
“Sir, how do you know so much about the mask, what did happen to our queen long ago?”

“A man named Adam took one of my most beautiful handmaiden without me knowing. I got her back and realized he yelled in a curse to wish the queen to die giving birth to my daughter, which happened, and that my daughter would die on her seventeenth birthday. I got angry and killed his family and took away his property. Then somehow he found the mask and took the handmaiden away and I was left with a problem of my daughter dying,” replied the king as he cleared his throat after feeling a little guilty that everything was his fault.

“The legend of Furrengee goes back ten thousand years when five sorcerers ruled the land until a warrior stood up to them and their great army. A rebellion was led by this giant to free mankind against evil. A powerful wizard by the name of Xaggess joined Furrengee against the wickedness of the five sorcerers.

Furrengee and Xaggess exiled the sorcerers into an abyss to spend eternity. The balance of Ayana would be extinguished and life as we know it would be corrupt if they escaped. It has been predicted that King Animus Brokenheart would release these sorcerers and they would corrupt the land. I’ve only been looking out for my best interest when I heard my daughter was with a boy named Animus. It sickened me and I have no regrets for killing Animus by throwing him to the Dark Wolves. I’m hoping that they killed him without realizing who he was.”

“Then Sir,” began Bombardis as his eyes widened while the king nodded his head, “the Dark Wolves are the evil sorcerers and you were trying to break the curse by having the princess get married on her seventeenth birthday.” King Owen looked at Bombardis and said nothing but continued to listen.
“Sir I think Adam might have found out what you did to his son and plans to kill the princess.” King Owen looked at his knight suspiciously and in anger.

The Dark Wolves waited patiently after hearing the loud thunder transpiring from high above. The moment had arrived when a hole emerged from the ceiling for them to escape. Rampant looked at his fellowship, “the time has come for us to leave this prison and get our revenge!”


The Dark Wolves could hear the echos of footsteps above and the loud shakes that could only be caused by a giant and they knew it was Animus.

“It’s time to depart my brothers! Come, let us be free of our captor King Owen and raise our army to cleanse the world of humans!” shouted Rampant as he led his kin through the air and left the dungeon.
The giant was in pursuit by the king’s soldiers and the five princes were already on their horses together. Prince Tusk rode fast and well with Prince Domineer, Prince Lordoriouse, Prince Corsair and Prince Rubin behind him. Prince Lordoriouse and Prince Rubin had just arrived yesterday evening and met the princess at the royal ball. 

Sir Norcom, Sir Voles and Sir Jenkins were hot on the trail of the giant with their torches. Hundreds of catapults were being pulled by horses and men to keep up with the speed of the giant, but were falling behind.

Furrengee walked slowly and took his time until more hot steelies fired at him. One struck him in the back of the head again and the giant turned around to see ten more were headed in his position. The soldiers fired a huge number of fireballs at once and Furrengee raised his arm up as before. He pointed his finger back at the catapults and the fireballs flew through the air then turned around to the catapults. Furrengee unleashed his curse as before and watched the fireballs hit the catapults and blew them apart. The soldiers limped away in pain from the heat while others were were burned to death. The masked giant stood for a minute and watched the soldiers cry and scream in pain from the fire and then die.
Sir Norcom trotted on his horse and saw his kin fallen to the ground and going into seizures from the pain endured. Others were screaming in agony and reaching for their helmets to pull them off, but were screaming every time they moved it because their skin was fused with the metal. Sir Voles and Sir Jenkins jumped off their horses to assist, but were stopped by Sir Norcom.

“Leave the soldiers!” ordered Sir Norcom.
“But they need us!” said Sir Voles.
“They’re dead! We must pursue the giant that did this and kill him,” declared Sir Norcom.

The knights rode on past the first gate until they were directly behind the giant who suddenly began to decrease in size from twenty feet to twelve feet. The stranger turned around and looked at the three knights with ten soldiers. He was carrying the princess in his arms and saw she was asleep. He walked in the woods and disappeared from sight.

Sir Norcom stopped in his tracks and raised his hand up to signal the knights to stop. There was a reason why he was holding everyone back, but Sir Voles and Sir Jenkins were beginning to get restless in their desire to catch up to Animus who looked like Furrengee.

“Why do we not go after him? We can take him,” demanded Sir Voles.
“We wait for the king and the rest of the army,” ordered Sir Norcom.

Suddenly, the soldiers were visited by the five princes with torches in their hands and sat on their horses. Prince Tusk led them on his black horse and looked at Sir Norcom with a sneer. He looked at the king’s soldiers with a cocky smile as Prince Corsair and Prince Lordoriouse nodded politely.
“What’s this? Why the wait? Let’s go into the woods and slay the giant!” exclaimed Prince Tusk. “We must rescue the princess, are you cowards?”
“This creature entered the castle grounds and didn’t harm any of the men. Only those that attacked him received a severe punishment. If we enter the woods we may not escape,” replied Sir Norcom. “It could have a curse.”
“That’s ridiculous, you’re nothing but a coward Sir Norcom,” declared Prince Tusk.
“I think we should wait for the king,” ordered Sir Norcom.
“I for one am going in there to rescue Princess Aarilinus, who’s with me?” asked Prince Tusk as he pulled out his sword and raised it. Almost all the princes’ raised their swords and all of King Owen’s men cheered.

They all left, except Sir Norcom and Prince Rubin who stayed behind to watch them enter the woods. Prince Tusk trotted through the first group of trees and after about twenty feet he stopped. He looked around while moving his torch from side to side. The giant was nowhere to be seen and there were no tracks to be found.

Prince Tusk jumped off his horse as the other men did and walked around. There was something strange with the trees and the way they moved. There was no wind and suddenly the men began running back from the way they came in.

“The trees are alive!” exclaimed a voice.
Prince Corsair held out his sword and watched in horror as a group of trees started closing in on them. He could see their red eyes stare at them while they snarled with their big mouths and sharp teeth. The branches moved like arms and quickly attached to the soldier’s limbs.

Sir Voles swung his sword at a man eating tree that was creeping towards him in a slow crawl and moved with its roots, similar to how a worm moves. Almost all the men dropped their torches out of fear as the flames burned out on the ground.

The appearance of the man eating trees was the last thing they ever expected. None of them thought about using the torches to fight the man eating trees accept Prince Corsair, Prince Lordoriouse and Prince Tusk because they hesitated to think before executing.

Prince Domineer charged at one man eating tree with his morning star and struck it as hard as he could, but he only made it angry. It charged after the prince and grabbed him with its vine like branches. Prince Domineer felt the branch wrap around his legs to pull him down and dragged him along the ground. Prince Tusk let out a yell as he sliced the tree’s branches and freed his ally.

Sir Jenkins watched in horror as a screaming man was being eaten alive by a tree. It pulled the soldier into its mouth with its branches and began crushing its victim’s body until the screaming ceased. Then when it was finished it smiled at Sir Jenkins and started moving towards him. Sir Voles stood next to Sir Jenkins as its branches reached them and the two fought the creature, but another man eating tree emerged from within the shadows and grabbed Sir Jenkins by his ankle. Sir Jenkins screamed as he was pulled towards the man eating tree, “help me!” he shouted.

Sir Voles watched in despair as the man eating tree shoved the knight in its mouth with his arms and hands out`. Sir Voles was held back by Prince Lordoriouse and Prince Corsair.

“Let me go, I’m going to kill it!”
The young men watched the knight scream for help while his left arm and head was sticking out of the man eating tree’s mouth. Then there was one final scream before his head disappeared and they could hear that the tree’s teeth had crushed the man’s skull. His arm and hand slid into the tree’s mouth while the crunching sound popped into their ears.
“I could have saved him!” yelled Sir Voles as he repeated over and over again.
“I could have saved him!”
“Look around you fool! The trees have already devoured ten of your soldiers, we must withdraw!” ordered Prince Corsair.

Sir Voles looked around and saw a dozen man eating trees fighting over the last of the soldiers that were trying to fight them off and gave their lives.

Prince Tusk looked at his torch and then started one of the trees on fire while Prince Domineer was chopping a tree’s branch with his battle axe. The trees snarled and charged after the two princes to finish them off. All of a sudden, the twelve man eating trees doubled and they enclosed in a circle around the men. Prince Lordoriouse and Corsair left Sir Voles to save Prince Tusk and Domineer. Both princes' were able to cut their kin free, but realized that they were surrounded and cut off from Sir Voles. Sir Voles turned around and screamed before he was devoured by a man eating tree. The princes' watched him scream for help, but there was nothing that they could do.

The four princes' looked at each other as they watched the trees move in and waited for death to take them. Suddenly, there was a burst of light as arrows with fire shot and struck the trees. The princes’ spirits lifted as they realized they were saved. King Owen charged through in full armor on his white horse with Sir Norcom and Prince Rubin as well as the rest of his army. The princes bowed and kneeled before King Owen.

“Your majesty,” they said one after the other.
“Come, the trees are returning back to normal,” commanded King Owen as the princes' called their horses and joined the king to find the princess.

Property of Red and Blue Dragon Fantasy LLC. 

"The Culminate Amethyst"
Coming out in August 2019.

The Culminate Amethyst

The Culminate Amethyst / Aarilina talks to her handmaidens about her suitors / Prince Corsair sings to the princess

It was dawn and in Aarilina’s room were two handmaidens, Melody and Anastasia, who had just finished helping the princess get her dress on. It was big and beautiful and was one of her mother's dresses. It was worn before she was born and as she looked in the mirror and wondered what her mother was like. Aarilina didn’t know if she was going to be meeting a lot of nobles and friends of father who would converse with her about her suitors. Or would she be conversing with soldiers or knights in case the day was uneventful. The handmaidens were around her, styling her hair and applying ointment and makeup. They were the same age and grew up with her since they were children.

“Have you met Prince Tusk? I hear he is unbelievable,” said Anastasia.
“He’s unbelievably disruptive,” answered the princess in a cold tone.
“Have you heard of Prince Domineer? Word spreads that he is quite the legend in the bedroom?” said Melody.
“Oh yes, I hear he enchants women from great distances to make sweet, passionate, love to them,” laughed Anastasia.
“I think he's disgusting,” answered Princess Aarilinus.

Princess Aarilinus’ hair was perfect and so was her face with the applications of makeup and lipstick. Aarilina was handed a mirror and saw herself as a work of art. The princess thought to herself; all I need is Animus to rescue me from this nightmare.

“You look beautiful your highness, don’t you think?” asked Melody.
Princess Aarilinus smiled in the mirror, “yes I do.”
She turned her head from the mirror to the top of her desk and grabbed her diary. She opened it to make sure the letter for Animus was there and then closed it. Melody saw the name Animus on the envelope and knew who he was.
“Do you miss Animus?” asked Melody.

“Imagine a man who could make you feel so happy that you would want nothing more,” she said..
Both handmaidens became quiet as they stepped aside for the princess to get up from her stool. Princess Aarilinus rose up and looked around for a place to hide her diary. She walked over to her dresser and hid the diary between the dresser drawers.
“You will keep our conversation a secret from my father is that understood,” she commanded.
“Yes your majesty,” said Melody.
“We won’t tell anyone you love Animus,” said Anastasia.
“Thank you.”

Now the princess could continue the day and walk with her bodyguard around the castle grounds. With one foot stepped outside of her bedroom, she began walking down the stairs with her trusted handmaidens behind until they ran into Jenna.

“My lady, you have got to meet Prince Corsair from Sporsindor. He has come to meet you,” chuckled Jenna.
“No more visits,” answered the princess.
“My lady, he is a handsome gentleman and wants to meet you. You’re all dressed up so nice with your beautiful dress, go speak to him,” encouraged Jenna.
“I’ll speak to him if it makes you happy,” sighed the princess with a feeling that he would be another Prince Tusk or worse Prince Domineer, the queer.

“Girls, I need you to tend to the gardens,” ordered Jenna to Melody and Anastasia.
Aarilina followed Jenna to the library where people bowed as she passed. Tables were filled with peasants, squires, pages and handmaidens reading stories and text books of many different subjects. She was led by Jenna to a table where a man with shoulder length, sandy blond, hair and green eyes looked at her while he remained sitting. He was dressed in silk clothes and had a small freckle on his upper right cheek.

“Your highness, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Prince Corsair,” smiled the prince.
Aarilina looked at Jenna as Jenna’s eyebrows raised with excitement and smiled, “I’ll leave you two alone.”
All was quiet, and Aarilina tried to decide where to begin with her conversation. Things seemed fuzzy in the monarch’s eyes; her stomach felt tight and queasy as though someone had just jumped up and down on her diaphragm like a trampoline.
“I’m happy to meet you and I would like to spend part of the day as your guest,” replied Corsair.
“Very well, I can do that,” she answered and waited for him to say something disgusting.
Prince Corsair led the way out of the library and outside the garden where handmaidens as well as other servants were busy planting baby trees. Aarilina felt as though he was known from another life. He was shy like Animus and spoke only when there was something intelligent to say.

“How do you feel about becoming queen?” he asked with a smile.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t feel anything for it but my people need me,” she replied.
“But I think about the positive changes you could bring to your people,” he said.
Aarilina grinned with a raised eyebrow and thought to herself; there was a lot of good in being a queen. She looked at Prince Corsair and wanted to believe he was a good man, but didn't want to believe everything he said. The princess never did explain in detail what would be done to bring peace and love.

“There are positive changes I would make for Aria,” began the princess.
“Really? Would you care to share?” he asked.
“Later,” said the princess as she hesitated before continuing. “What kind of king will you be?”
“All right,” answered Corsair slowly as he stopped and looked into her eyes.
“I’m a good king, just and fair. In my kingdom, we would have balls every night, full trainings for the knights, archery, fencing and boxing,” answered Corsair.

“So how would you keep your people happy?” asked Aarilina.
“Archery, fencing, boxing and other contests and trainings to be a knight,” he repeated.
“What if they don’t want to be part of any of that?” she asked.
“What would you do?” he asked.
“It’s not what I would do, but what kind of a king would let his queen do the things she needs to do,” answered Aarilina with a smile as she watched Corsair smile back.

“Is that a question? Forgive me your highness my idea of greatness was not just for me alone, but for you and my people,” answered the prince as he touched her wrist. Aarilina closed her eyes and nodded as she felt like Animus was in front of her because of how closely he resembled him. Was it bad for a man to feel powerful from the strength of his queen? She thought to herself. No, but it was questionable if she would hear her own voice call upon the power of her people to defend their way of life from enemies.

There was a part of Corsair that was sweet and innocent like Animus. The funny thing about meeting Prince Corsair was she began thinking more about Animus.
“I wrote a song for you,” continued Corsair as Aarilinus’ removed her hand from his and then he knew there was someone else in her life.

“Is there someone else in your life?” he asked to confirm his intuition.
“Does it matter?” asked the princess. “I've known him for a long time.”
“Would I be able to win your heart by beating him in this contest for the mask?” “No,” she answered firmly.
“What does this man have that I don’t?”
“Lord Corsair, I don’t want to talk about this. Inviting you here was my father’s idea,” she answered as she turned her back to the prince.

Oh darling you look nice
your eyes are warm like the sun
your voice is beautiful like the chirping of robins
when you walk past the trees and shrubs
you bring them into bloom

Princess Aarilina stopped and turned around as she looked into his eyes after a few feet of walking. She didn't expect a prince to suddenly start singing and he had a good voice that relaxed her. She blushed and felt a little embarrassed, but the feeling subsided and she smiled.
“Not bad, but your composition isn’t creative because your words don't rhyme,” she said with a smile.
“Poems don’t have to rhyme! You didn’t give me a chance to finish,” he complained.
“I apologize, please continue,” she answered.

oh darling you look nice
your eyes are warm like the sun
your voice is beautiful like the chirping of Robins
when you walk past the trees and shrubs
you bring them into bloom
oh Aarilina I can’t escape your voice
it’s like the fire streaming from the sun
oh Aarilinus I don’t know how to make a choice
all I want to do is fulfill the mystery of fun
until the sunsets upon the world and the moon shines on us.
Aarilina smiled because the poem was sweet. For once she met a prince that wasn’t deranged. His eyes melted into hers and she knew he had a good heart.

“I’ll see you at the masquerade in two days,” said Prince Corsair as he bowed his head and left.
“A masquerade, what is father planning?” whispered Aarilina as her bodyguard walked up behind her. Together they left the library and went outside to begin their walk around the castle grounds to get some light exercise.
A day without Animus was long and difficult for the princess. She could feel goosebumps cover her legs from the cold breeze of the cloudy summer morning. It was nice to walk the trails outside the castle without father worrying about her. With permission by the king, she was able to walk with her bodyguard on the trails. Her father freaked out if she was outside the castle grounds with no protection.

It was the afternoon and the clouds unveiled the sun and the light hit the princess as she felt the heat hit her body. She was no longer cold, but now she was getting hot. Her eyes squinted from the blindness of the sun to see the long path ahead and sweat began to perspire from her forehead. She opened up her white fancy umbrella so she wouldn’t burn in the sun. They came across a park area with a bench and they decided to stop to take a break.
“Thank you,” said the princess as the bodyguard laid down a blanket and helped her sit on the bench.
The hours of walking were harsh for the princess to and she grew tired of being followed by the servant.. When she was ready to get up, she looked at her bodyguard who looked like he was waiting for a catastrophe. She got back up and continued walking. The body guard followed her and she noticed he held the handle of his sword . The walk next to the trees gave them some shade momentarily until they walked back into the sun again. She could tell this soldier was stressed and acted like a gang of ogres were going to charge and run off with her. She felt nothing, but over protection from him and only the loud clang sound of his metal armor could be heard.

She turned to look at her bodyguard and asked, “are you stressed?” she asked.
“No your highness,” he replied
“Then why wont' you talk to me?”
“I was ordered not to. No small talk,” he replied.
“What is your name?” she asked, but she didn't get an answer.
“Tell me your name bodyguard,” ordered Princess Aarilinus.
“Sir Edward Bobbet,” he answered.

Then the princess remembered him and knew he was one of the lowest ranking soldiers. Edward Bobbet was a young, twenty year old, man with no family or friends. He was about five-foot nine and one-hundred and thirty pounds with an average build. In a way Aarilina felt sorry for him and wanted him to loosen up.
“We’ve walked around the second gate for hours and you’ve said nothing of my dress today. Is it pretty or does it surfeit you?” she asked.

“Your beauty has been heard and seen throughout the kingdom. I know how beautiful you are, but the king has spies watching us and if he finds out what is taking place I’ll be punished.”
“My father threatens you for a harmless question?” she asked
“Yes your highness.”
“Are you hot wearing your armor?”
“Yes your highness.”
“Then take it off,” she replied, but got a peculiar expression from his eyes.
“Fear not, I will protect you against my father. Look upon me as you would no other and answer my question,” she insisted with a smile.

The bodyguard thought for a minute and realized she was right. After all, she was going to be his future queen. Edward Bobbet took off his armor and after kneeling down to take the final piece of metal from his ankle he looked at the princess. He was taller than her by six inches, with short black hair and brown eyes. He knew the princess was beautiful but now he was able to soak her figure in his eyes and realized she was much more with the makeup and dress.

“Hello, are you going to tell me?” she asked and started laughing.
The servant kneeled himself to the ground and started crying. The princess gently put her hand on his head and pitied him for being mis-treated by her father.

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he replied as he sat on the grass bare footed.
“Have you not seen a woman before, one that holds such beauty and grace?” she asked with a smile and continued.
“Sir Edward Bobbet have you even seen a beautiful woman before?” she asked but got no reply.
“It’s ok, our secret is safe. All I want you to do is answer my question, do you not like my 
dress today?”

“You look lovely your highness,” he answered.
“Thank you. You see, that wasn’t so hard,” she said.
“No it wasn’t,” he said as he got up from the ground with a smile and continued their walk. 

Sir Edward Bobbit left his armor hidden behind some bushes behind a tree. “It’s such a 
beautiful day! I like the way the clouds curl themselves into each other,” she replied with a 
smile realizing she was now having a lot of fun with her bodyguard instead of the boring 
status of how he was before.

“It is and it complements you. Without you we would have no beautiful days,” said Edward. “You’re the essence of beauty.”
“Thank you Edward and thanks for making this day memorable for me,” she answered. “Edward I need you to play a game with me.”

“A game?” he asked with a strange look.
“It’s very simple, you lie facing the ground and count until you can count no further and then you try to find me.”
“I don’t believe that is so, my lady, my job is to protect you. Not play games with you.”
“Yes, except father wishes for my happiness. A princess can only take so much protection before she goes absolutely insane.”
“I see,” began Edward as he ran his fingers through his black hair and thought about it.
“What is the game you wish to play?” he asked.

“It’s simple, lie flat on your chest and count as high as you can until you can count no further,” she repeated.
“Ok,” he replied puzzled with a sigh as he laid on the grass and started counting.

Princess Aarilinus ran far to the township area, to an area hidden from the people and hidden in an old, condemned, church that was transformed into what she called The Clandestine Garden. It was a building that was overgrown with trees, flowers and a deep pool in the center. Nobody knew about it because it was hidden and the water was always clear. It never grew cold, birds and animals came for sanctuary and Aarilina went there to unwind.

“I thought I would never lose him,” she whispered to herself as she stretched her arms and hands as she raised hr head up to the broken chandelier to embrace the warmth of the sun that shined from above.
There were many visits to this special place by Aarilina before the trees, plants and flowers filled the building with beauty. Erosion gave her the inspiration to create the pool with Animus, when they were children, and now there was something special to remember.

She took off her shoes and socks to dip her toe in the water. She felt the warm water and she knew the water was nice. Aarilina set her shoes, her crown on the ground and unraveled her hair from its braids. She walked to the edge of the pool and realized she didn’t want to get the dress her mother wore soiled. She didn’t have anything else to wear and looked up at the birds in the trees that chirped and realized it was worth the risk. The princess looked around and realized she was alone in the garden as well as her life without Animus. She knew she wasn’t innocent, in her eyes, and took off the dress to take a swim in the water. Aarilina felt like she was living in a cage with the expectations of her father to fulfill an illusions to make him happy. To make him glorified, honorable and powerful.

She splashed the water with her hands, feet and slowly removed her worries of rules and expectations and became one with the water. With each movement of her hands and feet to the deeper part of the pool. She felt she was in uncharted waters of her life and a frog that was large swam up to the Lilly pad and climbed onto it. The Lilly pads joined her from the edge of the pool. The princess could see that the flowers had bloomed. She hymned and rose from the water to sit on the ledge and felt the cold stone texture with her naked body. The princess’ long, black, hair stuck to her back as she moved to sit under the sun and felt the heat on her face and it made her feel good. She continued to hymn and sing the song that she wrote for Animus.

I circle around in the night sky
waiting for you to arrive to me
I got desire that burns in my heart
It’s what you want, it’s what I need
with the impressions I must heed
like magic it is
like magic it is
like magic it is
I circle around the beautiful night sky
I’m down to say this, sad good-bye
if I can’t have you I’d rather die
but I know that your coming
yes I do, deep in my heart
from me to you
because it’s almost like magic
like magic it is
like magic it is
like magic it is

Princess Aarilinus’ eyes blinked as she saw the butterflies fly to her and kiss her head. She started laughing because they tickled her face and then after they left, one of the butterflies landed on her palm. She giggled as a few more landed and tickled the palm of her hand.

There was a sound of something moving in the brush and she looked to see a fox peek at her from behind a tree. It didn’t come across as threatening and looked at her curiously.

“Come here,” she said with a smile and gesture her with a hand.

Aarilina cracked a grin as she rose up from the ledge and walked towards it. The fox sat down by the tree and waited for her. She heard the birds chirping for her to continue the hymn, but she wanted to meet her new friend, the fox.
She knew her voice enchanted the fox and other animals with her singing. The princess knew they admired her and wanted to be with her because she was different than any human they knew of.

Aarilina walked over to the fox and stopped a foot away and leaned her hand out. The fox smelled her hand and then moved up against her chest to lick her face. She smiled while looking around and watched the roses and tulips move from the wind as it blew her hair. Two robins glided down from a tree and land on her shoulders. They chirped as she pet the fox’s head and laughed.

"The Culminate Amethyst"
Red and Blue Dragon Fantasy LLC.
Ryan Keith Johnson
Copy Right 2019
All Rights Reserved.

Princess Aarilinus meets Prince Domineer

When the prince was gone. The princess was alone and confused because of the way he acted towards her. Was he genuine in his affection or was he using her? Or worse, was he crazy? Prince Tusk cried his tears to her, but did it mean that he would change for the better? Aarilina missed Animus touching her back and tickling her rib cage, but what she missed the most was Animus listening to her when she needed someone to talk to.
            She smiled and thought about how romantic Animus was when he climbed up the tower to be with her, just as he had a few times earlier. The princess walked over to the window sill with the poem and started writing as she hummed to herself until she heard the sound of a new carriage and looked below. 
The princess let out a sigh and thought of meeting a new prince who would prove why they should be together. All Aarilina needed was Animus; the very man she was forbidden to have.
The princess walked to her bed and set her poem aside to pull out her secret diary; with the stroke of her pen, she wrote the last thoughts of Prince Tusk. The creepy prince, who escaped the dark hole of craziness, the scary one who shot orders that was to be followed and then started crying to her royal feet when she retaliated. Before she reached the middle of the page to free her mind from the torment of a folly prince there was a pounding at the door. Aarilina jumped up from her bed and hid the diary between her bed sheets.
 
“Who is it?” she asked.
“It’s your father, dear.”
“Oh father, what news do you bring for me now?”
“It’s a surprise my dear. Come, open the door so I can show you who wants to see you.”
“Really,” she said and hesitated as she tried to think. “Father I don’t think I can take anymore surprises in one day. Prince Tusk has already taken quite a beating on my soul.”
“As I understand it, he told me you two are a match made in heaven. Would you open the door please there’s someone who wants to meet you,” demanded the king.
 
The hinges began squeaking while the door opened a crack revealing the light from the window. Finally, the door opened all the way for the princess to reveal herself. She saw a man with father who was quite handsome with long hair. The prince was young, handsome and had sandy brown hair that stretched to the middle of his back. His smile revealed deep dimples along his high cheek bones. His bangs were bushy and over his eyebrows. His large build could be seen though his dark red silky shirt and blue pants.
            “This is Prince Domineer; I have a meeting with Prince Tusk, enjoy each others company,” replied King Owen before he left.
 
            Aarilina walked back in her room as Domineer followed and could feel him looking at her body.
            “So, Prince Domineer, tell me about yourself? When you become king what do you plan to do for your kingdom?” she asked before turning around and looked into his blue eyes. 
            “I like to spend the day creating plans for the peasants in Aryan, trading with other kingdoms for livestock, food and treasures. I like to go out exploring other lands, going on treasure hunts and discovering waterfalls from far away lands.”
            “Well it sounds like every woman desires you,” smiled Aarilina.
            “Yes, I enjoy the nights with the selected handmaiden’s back home. I believe, as king, I should have the power to choose whoever and how many women I deem worthy to have a lustful night with,” said Prince Domineer in a serious tone as his eyes looked deep into Aarilina’s eyes, not realizing he offended her.
            The princess slowly shook her head back and forth as the prince looked at her confused and asked her, “what’s the matter?”
            “Why would one woman choose a pig such as yourself and find you share the bed with multiple women?” she asked. 
            “I’m sorry, but as king I have to be happy and the only way I can fulfill my needs is to have multiple women, willingly, to satisfy my needs,” he replied.
            “Are you truly a prince?” she asked. “Were you dropped as a baby?”
            “I am a prince and I will be king. We do not need to follow the rules your father has put in place for you,” said Prince Domineer as he walked closer to her. “I can show you how strong I am,” he began slowly. “You will love it and you will love me and you won't want anyone else but me.” said the prince as she stopped him.
            “No I will not. My heart is already taken for a suitor of my liking,” she said as she watched him look disappointed and felt relieved.
            “Well,” began the prince with a smile. “He doesn’t need to know about me and the nights that we would spend together. I can prove how good I am to you.  You won't want him after you spend a night with me.” said the prince as he continued to move closer to her. Then Aarilina stopped him with her hand. “Actually, I do mind and I like my nights uneventful.”
            “You like to be bored with uneventful nights?” asked the prince. “You poor girl.”
            “I like absolute silence,” she said. 
            “How about a kiss, maybe that would change your mind,” said the prince as he nudged his head forward to get a kiss from her.
            “How about you kiss the door,” she said, but the prince didn't respond and grabbed her arm as he dominated her. “I will not kiss you, now leave!” she continued and slapped the prince across the face and felt his tight grip on her arm.  
            “You will change your mind once I get my hands on the mask and you will serve me day and night,” he said as he let go of her arm, opened the door, and left.

Princess Aarilinus sends a letter/ The Black Rider Finds Animus

The next morning arrived and Aarilina opened her eyes. She got out of bed and changed into her clothes. With great haste she ran downstairs to talk to the postman outside, to deliver her mail in secret.

“It’s an urgent matter that is of great importance,” ordered the princess.
“Yes your majesty,” replied the postman as he took the envelope from her and looked at the address. “The address indicates it’s outside the kingdom.”
“Just follow the path that’s hidden past the large oak tree. It turns into a road that leads to a house,” said Aarilina.
“Yes your highness,” said the man as he bowed his head and left.


Aarilina watched the postman get on his horse and leave through the castle gate. She hoped he would get to Animus in time so they could run away together.
The postman trotted on his horse to the first gate when suddenly a figure with a bow and arrow blocked his path. He was dressed in black armor with only his face revealed. He had brown eyes and hair with a little bit of white on his bangs.

“Can I help you sir?” asked the postman.
“Yes, you’re delivering a letter for the princess and I wish to deliver it,” said the man.
“I’m sorry, but under the authority of Aria I’m under no obligation to share mail with anyone, especially some thug off the street,” replied the postman.

Suddenly, the man raised his bow and arrow, “give me the letter, I’m not going to ask again.”
The postman looked around and saw five more men emerge from behind him and next to the bowman. The postman looked at the leader scared as he approached him.

Aarilina played many games of hide and seek with the children of the noble families. There was a dozen children that were left to be babysat to a couple handmaidens that volunteered to watch them for the day. The nobles had important business meetings with the king that involved tending their lands. There was an agreement that the nobles and the king made to keep the economy strong.
It was mid-afternoon and Princess Aarilinus laid down on the grass to watch the clouds veil the sun. There was little to do and the children were picked up by their parents to go home. The princess thought of the day she would have children with Animus, but then realized that it wouldn’t happen because of father. He hated Animus and wanted him to disappear.

After visiting the library in the evening, the princess began having an unsettling feeling that she was being watched. As she walked down the hallway she could see the eyes of the paintings move which sent shivers throughout her body and she knew something was wrong.

Princess Aarilinus hid her fears and pretended everything was ok, but the eyes in the paintings, along the walls, watched her every move. She watched the painting’s eyes move through the corner of her left eye and trembled. She felt goose bumps on her shoulders and began walking faster as she turned her eyes to see something run past behind her in the distance of the corridor. Aarilina turned around, only to find nothing was there. Her face started perspiring and her lips trembled while she took deep breaths and felt her heart beat faster. The princess lost control and ran with the two library books in each hand to make an abrupt turn to the next hallway and screamed.

 
The princess’ outburst came as a surprise to the group of marching knights in the hallway. Her eyes and mouth remained wide open as her trembling body suddenly relaxed. She never felt this much anxiety other than the nightmares as a child.

“Are you ok, your highness,” asked Sir Norcom as he walked over to her slowly.
Aarilina wiped the sweat from her forehead as she calmed down, “yes, I’m fine you just startled me.”

Sir Norcom was quiet and looked at her with a serious look. It seemed clear that something was wrong and scared her. She would have to think of something else to encourage them that she would be fine.

“Do you want us to walk you to your room?” asked Sir Norcom
“No that’s ok,” she replied with a smile.
“We insist that we must protect our princess, even if it may be nothing,” replied Sir Voles.
“Well thank you, I was headed to my room to sleep,” she grinned as Sir Norcom held her hand and led her to her room. They walked into her room and he bowed his head to her.
“Well your highness, I’ll leave you so you can get some rest.”
“Thank you my knight, if I need anything I’ll send for you,” she said and watched him leave.
Aarilina yawned and lie down on her bed to get some sleep. Today was a busy day and the children exhausted her.

Princess Aarilinus opened her eyes after hearing the sounds of women and children crying and men yelling outside the window. She got out of bed and walked to the window only to find it had iron bars on it.

The princess clasped the bars as she started crying to what was witnessed. The feeling of being trapped in a room consumed her with destruction. She looked up at the full moon and to the fires lit upon the land, the gates were forged open and people were fighting in what looked like a war.

The setting of the sun split the sky into shades of red that looked like blood smeared on a canvas and the smell of death was in the air. Princess Aarilinus heard a sound and turned around to see father standing in front of her. It was the king, only he was burned and his clothes were tattered as though he had ran through a burning house.

“Father what happened to you?” cried Aarilina as the tears ran down her cheeks.
“You did this to me! You fell in love with that peasant and it cost me my kingdom!”
“Father please, don’t,” she begged as her lips trembled while seeing him raise a dagger. The princess’ heart began beating hard as tears continued to fall from her eyes while her lips trembled.
“Now you’re going to die!” the king bellowed as she looked at him in despair. Before the king could strike, a giant hand smashed through the barred window and gently took her. The princess was scared, but was happy to be safe from her father.
After all was well, the hand opened up and she was revealed to a giant wearing a mask. She looked up at the giant from the ground in a remote location as he suddenly shrank to the same size as her. He looked at her with his long beautiful, black, hair that was on the black, armor.
“Who are you?” she ordered.
“Furrengee,” answered with a low deep voice behind the mask and the name echoed through her mind.

Aarilina woke up with a gasp, she never had a dream like that before and realized it was so real. Was it a message from the Burning Bush or Furrengee himself? She thought to herself. The princess hoped Animus got her letter and wanted to share the dream with him because maybe he was onto something when he told her what his plans were.

Aarilina got dressed with great haste and when she finished she looked out her window to see it was dusk. It was time to start packing her stuff for the meeting at Humming Forest.
The sunset just before the hills in the far reaches of Aria. The rider wore a hooded cloak over his black armor and entered Adam’s field on his horse. The stranger corresponded on his horse from about a quarter of a mile to Animus and his siblings who were planting as they conversed to pass the time.