The Empty Seat

Long time ago, there lived a little village called Berbia in a country called Stovia. The villagers were happy and lively not until a curse was released on the village by a wicked witch who was chased out of the village for treason. Years later the village became an unbearable place to stay..... Oh king, our children are dying, our crops are failing. A man in tattered clothing called out to the king as he passed through the market. He could smell the rottenness in the air. The smell of fresh wounds from the sickly children. He sighted a child sitting close to her mother. His eyes were so innocent, he could see a longing in those eyes. A longing for love, a longing for a change. ugh! He turned his face away in tears and walked back to his chariot. Take me to his house! Take me to the house of the sorcerer! He said angrily. My king we have gone there a hundredth time,there has been no solution. Dawai, his personal servant said to him. I know, I will go again, if he has nothing to say, I will definitely get his head decapitated, he is sure of no use to the throne. The king mounted his chariot in anger, he turned back to look again at his people. Go on, he prompted his servants. ***** Good morning my king, welcome to my humble abode. The sorcerer said obviously scared. He could smell the anger of the king. Would you have a seat? No! No useless sorcerer, I will have no seat, not until you give a solution to the situation in the village. What is going on? I am losing my subjects every single day to ailments I can't explain. What is the problem??? Mmm....my king, ERM, I... I... am really sorry about my lazy attitude, I have put in efforts to get a solution. The sorcerer said trying to placate the king. All right so what is it? What is the solution? The king asked trying to sound rather calm. My king, we bring another sacrifice for the gods... That's it! the king threw a rocking chiar down. Everyone stood back in fear. I have made sacrifices upon sacrifices, yet i see absolutely nothing, how long shall I wait??? The king asked staring into the eye of the sorcerer. A little while please my king and everything will be over, I have gone to increase my powers, I shall stop the evil in our village. Just give me more time, more time is all I ask. The sorcerer pleaded. No longer.. the king turned to him, can i wait for you to give a solution, you are as useless as your powers, you shall continue your search in my dungeon. Take him! The king ordered. No, no my king, The sorcerer pleaded as the servants advanced towards him. Please give me more time. He pleaded. Take him I say! The king shouted. Nooo, my king. The sorcerer struggled free and ran over to hold the kings foot. I shall find a way, give me just two days, I promise to find the solution. Please my king. All right, two days you say, if I do not get an answer from you, I shall feed your head to the birds. The King threatened and stepped back. Thank.. thank you so much my king, I shall not dissapoint you. The king bent over to talk in his ear. You wouldn't dare. Let's leave this accursed home. He called out to his servants. They followed behind him. The sorcerer gazed at them as the last servant slammed the door behind him. He sighed heavily and quickly picked up the rocking chair. **** Amolita, he heard his name from afar. It was mama Tania calling. She was with an antelope on her shoulders. Amolita ran over to help her. Oh my son, thank you, she smiled handing him the antelope. You shouldn't trouble yourself hunting mother, I am strong enough for that. He said placing it close to the fire. oh my son, I went to weed our potatoes, I saw it and just couldn't let the game pass me. We would have a great dinner tonight. She said really proud of herself. You took the gun? Amolita asked Mama Tania gazing in her basket. Of course my son, as a protection against the Norovians. it was of great help to me in getting my game. Sit mother. He offered her a little stool. She sat down and sighed a big sigh of relief. They sat silently for a while as Amolita focused on preparing the Antelope. You met someone today? Mama Tania asked. Amolita began to smile. Mama, You seem to notice my mood. Yeah, I can see in those handsome eyes butterflies. She said to him. Who is she? She asked. Greta. Her name is Greta mom, she sells in the market, apples. He replied smiling. uhm, Mama Tania nodded. She must be beautiful. O yes, as the morning son mom, I could imagine myself dancing with her, he said and held a part of the antelope he had cut and danced around. ERM son, that's not her..Mama Tania tried to remind Amolita. Oh, he kept the meat down and smiled at his mother. She smiled back. He reminded her of her dead husband, he had the same features, his presence made her not to feel the absence of her husband. He was exactly like him. Her only source of Joy. She sighed happily, joy rose in her heart as she watched him cut the antelope. I love you son. She said in her heart. ***** I must leave. The sorcerer said placing his valuables in a small tattered bag. Running away? He heard a voice behind him. He slowly turned, he moved back in fear on seeing a very tall lady gazing down at him. She wore a beautiful embroidered gown and had a lot of jewelries on her. She was extremely beautiful. Who...who are you? He asked. I am Helena, the sorceress of the seven kingdoms in Stovia and I have the solution Berbia's unrest. What! The sorcerer exclaimed The sorcereress smiled mischievously, he looked at her incredulously........