Crystal Cardinals by Daniel Blum (best novels to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

me,” Warlock said.
“You will regret this warlock,” King said.
“Beware of wishes dancing on the pedals of blue roses,” Warlock said.
The horse rides hard as the king swipes off the melting crown.
The warlock touches a dew covered spider web. “Good morning.” A spider crawls upside down on the web and drops into a hole. The warlock takes a dead bumblebee off the spider’s web. “The mystery of clovers has awoken.” The warlock takes a four-leaf clover from the earth and wraps it around the dead bumblebee. “Blades shall shine on eternal highways.” The warlock smudges the clover onto a sword. The sword swirls with green hearts. “The green hearts of steel have been born.”
Three knights dressed in village garments knock on the oak door.
“Warlock? We are in search of food and shelter,” Knights said.
Torches igniting the darkness as they walk down a spiral staircase startle the knights. “Warlock are you here?” The knights pull out assassin daggers.
“King’s assassins posing as sheep,” Warlock whispered.
The knights walk down a dark tunnel. “Warlock where are you?” The warlock stands in the middle of the darkness. A knight hears deep breathing through ancient nostrils.
“What is that,” Knight said.
A green beating ghost heart appears in the darkness. “Warlock?” The door shuts behind the knights. They hear a buzzing sound. The warlock scrapes the sword on the brick tunnel. Hundreds of large green spirit bumble bees twisted with unnatural heartbeats fire off the sword. The knights put up their shields. The warlock dances with the hearts of steel. Burning green hearts engulf the knights. The bumblebee spirits sting and age the knights into falling skeletons. The warlock walks through the green flames and shakes off his sword as he steps into the light.
Wind blows through the castle halls. The king picks up a bronze sword and sees the knight’s reflection in the blade. “You are back,” King said.
“Yes my lord."
“Where have you been?”
“The dimension of dreams and outer stars,” Knight said.
The king fills the emerald grail with riches. “Sorry for my actions. My thirst for the supernatural took control of me.”
“I forgive you my lord. For the hours of witches and nightmares are over,”
“Accept these gems as tokens of my forgiveness.”
The knight looks in the emerald grail and sees rubies shinning in the flames of the fireplace.
“Can I sip from the cup of everlasting,” Knight said.
“Please do. Tell me about the door,” King said.
“It was a quick walk through of dreams. I talked to the statue of an armored lion and he told me that he did not need me to stay,” Knight said.
“That is it,” King asks.
“Yes my lord. He was very gracious.”
“The warlock by the pond must be executed,” King said.
“For what reason,” Knight asks.
“Treachery on his king,” King said.
“I see my lord, I will ride out in the morning.” The knight puts the rubies in his armor.
The knight opens the oak door and walks down the spiral staircase. Floating orange leaves rise up to the knight’s path. The warlock with his back to the knight sits and writes in a book of prophecies.
“Did you keep it,” Warlock asks.
“Put your hands to the sky,” Knight said.
“You did not answer the question,” Warlock said.
“Keep the wish,” Knight said.
“You did. Does it speak to you,” Warlock said.
“How can a wish speak,” Knight said.
“All wishes speak if you listen ever so closely,” Warlock said.
The knight takes out the glowing blue rose pedal and blows it at the back of the warlock. The warlock quickly turns and points his wand at the pedal. The pedal turns to crystal. The knight spins and uses the jester sword to slice the pedal. Shards of crystal shoot into the Warlock’s throat. The knight walks to the warlock.
“Your powers are weak,” Knight said.
“I am headed for the starship of ever after, and for you well let us just say wishes do come true,” Warlock gasped.
The knight cuts off the head of the warlock. He takes the warlock’s wand and walks up the spiral steps. Crisp autumn air hits his face as he opens the oak door. The knight crushes the wand on a rock. Warlock spirits rise and swarm the knight. The knight rolls to the ground and holds up his sword. A twisted hologram jester head with large skeleton teeth comes out of the sword and sucks in the warlock spirits. The knight opens his eyes and sees two silver jester bells rolling on the ground. Autumn trees sway in the wind.
The knight walks down candle lit halls of the castle. He enters the king’s chambers.
“Is the warlock still alive,” King asks.
“He has joined the trumpet tunes in the clouds,” Knight said.
“Good. Now pass me the grail,” King said.
Servants dress the king in a royal robe.
“A king’s grail,” Knight said.
“What,” King said.
“So blessed with jewels of the land, the finest woman and blades of pristine craftsmanship,” Knight said.
“Hand me my grail knight,” King said.
The knight looks deep into the grail.
“When you threw me into the witch’s door it proved to me that you are not worthy of the cup of kings,” Knight said.
“Oh and who shall take my place,” King asks.
The knight’s jester sword scratches his metal holster. The king takes out a hidden dagger and charges the knight. The knight slices down the king and takes out the miniature Jupiter.
“I wish to be king for the rest of my days,” Knight shouted.
A gold crown and sapphire bracelets form on the knight. A servant pounds on the king’s doors.
“King the villagers have started an uprising on the account of to many innocent woman being hanged as witches. They are coming. Let me in,” Servant said.
The king laughs wildly as he holds his wound. The knight looks at villagers holding torches and axes from the window. The servant screams. Villagers start to break down the king’s doors. A marble rolls out the end of the witch’s staff and hits the feet of the knight. Burning arrows fire though the windows. The knight’s face drops.
“To the end of your days,” King laughs to death.
The villagers break into the king’s chambers. The knight picks up the marble and throws it into the fire. The witch’s door opens up from the flames. The villagers hold back as supernatural light shines in the chambers. The knight holds the emerald grail and walks through the door. The knight covers his eyes from the blinding light and opens to see hundreds of royal dolls sitting in a tiny house.
“Good to see you, your highness,” Lion statue.
The knight freezes. Red dust trails a crystal cardinal as it soars in the window. The witch’s hand takes the emerald grail from her new king doll and shuts the door on the eternal dollhouse.
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Text: Daniel Blum
Publication Date: 04-17-2012

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