Free TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga) by Jason Paul Rice

the weapon from the ground. The slight man pounced at the opportunity with a mighty upswing through the giant’s manhood and into his stomach. The tiny man removed the sword and slipped behind the giant. The colossal man was crouched on his knees, moaning in pain. After he felled the hefty man, bringing him down to his own size, he seized the moment. The pint sized man drove his sword through the back of the giant’s neck, down into his heart, sending him straight to a bloody, painful death.
    How in the hells did that just happen ?
    The stadium fell into shocked silence. The only sounds heard were from the few in attendance that stood to make huge amounts of coin courtesy of the victorious little man. It took three full-sized men to drag the behemoth from the grounds in preparation for the next duel.
    Maybe I shall take the smaller man next time. That amethyst feeling is wearing off. I will need something else soon. What else can we do after this to stay away from the smelly city and my self- righteous husband ?

GO FOR A SWIM?
 
PENROSE
    Please forgive me Gods, for I have done it again. The craving for blood runs stronger every day. I try and try to fight it, sometimes I can for a week or so, but then the voices take over. I am up to more than four a month now and the demands are getting louder. I almost killed the King today to quiet the chanting. If his son wasn’t with him, I may have done it. They should keep me from King Ali-Stanley. Gods help me as I have little control over my lust for blood anymore. These thoughts dominate my life and I need them to stop. Killing for duty is commanded but this is for amusement now. I just like to see the looks in their eyes as they struggle to hold on to life. Please Gods save me, for I fear my soul is lost.
    Thunder boomed through the chapel, but he didn’t remember seeing a cloud in the Falconhurst sky when he had entered the temple.
    He knelt, hands folded over his heart, praying. When done, Sir Penrose Ellsworth now sat up in the chapel of The Faith of Eternal Light. The Father and Brothers of the church served the elite of Falconhurst by washing away sins in exchange for a hefty financial contribution. Members of the church signed multiyear contracts that bound them to donate a certain monthly allowance. The Faith was extremely shrewd and they knew that promises of salvation after death sold at a prime premium in Donegal. The church also housed some of the high ranking Brothers and the High Holy Leader. Sir Penrose Ellsworth’s main duties were to protect King Ali-Stanley, basically serving as his personal body guard. This meant Penrose had access to any place he wanted to go, no one refused him. He rose, bowed to the totem of the Gods, and walked through a door on the side of the beautifully decorated chapel.
    “Hello, Sir Penrose,” a short guard greeted him.
    “Oh, hello Randall, are the children alright?” asked Penrose.
    “Yes, they uh, recovered like magic, thanks for askin’,” declared a smiling Randall.
    “That’s great news. Is his Holiness in right now?” wondered a curious Penrose.
    “Uh, yes he’s down in the bathe right now,” answered Randall.
    “Thank you, my good man,” added Penrose with a fake smile. Behind the grin, a world of pain circulated inside Penrose.
    He went down a stone spiral staircase to get to the High Holy Leader’s private bathe. Penrose and Father Enroy were good friends and the Father had told him to stop by whenever he wanted. Penrose didn’t agree with the lavish lifestyle most of the high ranking officials led. However, he hoped befriending the High Holy Leader might bolster his chance of salvation. He needed his current sins washed away first. The heat attacked him as Penrose opened the door to the bathe. The gleaming torches on all sides of the water made it easy to spot the smallish Father Enroy squirming pleasurably in the heated water. He looked very surprised and a little disconcerted to see