by Dusty Fleischman
On day he was traveling through down a dirt road when he saw a man standing outside his hut. He ordered his chariot driver to take him over to that man. They approached the man and the King asked him about the cloak he was wearing.
�I say what is that cloak you are wearing?� the King asked.
�Why your majesty, this is a special cloak, given to me by a bird that soared through the sky. It gives you special powers� he explains.
�How much would you want for it?� the King asked with a smile.
�The price is not much, just one of your virgins� the man explained. The King smiled and called for his virgins to line up. Out of one of the wagons stepped ten beautiful women. The king smiled and said, �take your pick�.
The man walked over and looked at the girls. They had blond hair, dark hair, red hair, some had yellow skin, and some black. Such a hard choice for one lonely man. He stopped before a young girl with long golden hair. She smiled at him as he looked at her up and down.
�I will take this one� he said with a smile. The man gave the King the cloak and the King gave him the virgin. The King rode away from the hut with a smile on his face. He was content with the trade. The virgin and the man stood and waved as they disappeared over the clearing. Then the man grabbed her by the golden hair and yanked her head back. She looked at him with a frightened face.
�Don�t bother screaming now� he said with an evil look on his face, �you will have all night for that�.
Then he dragged her by the hair into the hut. The King stood in front of the mirror admiring his new cloak. Then there was a knock at the door.
�Come in� he said cheerfully. In walked one of his suitors to announce that dinner was ready. When the suitor saw him he froze with horror. The King�s smile went away from his face as he wondered what was troubling the man.
�What is wrong with you, don�t you like my new cloak?� the King asked obviously insulted.
�Yes your majesty� the suitor said fumbling for words. His eyes were fixed on the face of the King.
�Well what is it then?� the King demanded. The suitor slowly pointed to the mirror. The King turned and looked back into the mirror. What he saw froze his blood. He was beginning to grow older. His skin was beginning to wrinkle and tighten against his face. His once brown hair was now getting gray and thinning.
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