CHAPTER SEVEN 📖📖📖📖


ZODAR

Stephanie sighed as she dug with a shovel. She had been working all morning with an empty stomach. The only food she had was bread and jam which she saved for later.

The guards wont let her get food nor fend for herself, they wont even take it if a supernatural was seen resting instead of working. That was how life is now in Zodar, living for the king and the king alone.

"Keep working you fools. The king wants more gold to be dug before this evening" The guard said as he watched every supernatural working.

"Such cruel people! Stephanie said as she spotted an old witch who looked tired and hungry"

"Hey ma'am, do rest for a while" She said as she helped the woman sit on the grass.

"Im very tired and hungry. I haven't eaten anything for three days now. She said as she coughed.

"Ma'am, manage this, you need it more than me. Please eat" She said as she fed the woman her bread.

"Thank you my dear, but will you eat now?"

"Im full now that you have eaten. Please go home and rest, I'll work for you"

"My dear, i dont have a home. My home was demolished and ive been sleeping outdoors since then" She said as she bowed her head.

"Ok ma'am, I'll take you to my house" she said.

The guard noticed that two people were missing and sighted Stephanie and an old woman sitting under a tree.

"Hey you! what are you doing sitting down there? Did i give you permission to rest? Now get on your knees, i will give you each thirty strokes, that will teach you a lesson"

"No please sir, this lady was hungry and tired, that was why i brought her here to rest"

"What a rude fairy you are, challenging a chief guard like me? Both of you should kneel down"

"Please dont flog the poor old woman, she has done nothing wrong, im the one at fault"

"I will punish her and you dont have a say in it so you better behave and kneel down"

"I am willing to take mine and the old woman's punishment, please dont punish her" Stephanie knelt, begging the guard.

"Ok then, lie down on the ground" He said

She lay on the grass and the guard flogged her. Each stroke of cain made her whimper, the pain, too much to bear.

"Now both of you should get out there and work now" He said as he pushed the old woman.

Stephanie caught her before she fell.

"Dont worry ma'am, go seat behind that tree, where no one will see you, i will complete your work for you"

"Thank you very much my daughter" she said as she limped to the tree Stephanie suggested.

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Stephanie sighed as she dropped the shovel. She was through with her work and old woman's. She dusted her dress and went to the tree that the old woman hid. She was shocked to see the old woman lying helplessly on the grass.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" she asked as she helped the old woman up.

"Let me take you to my place" She said as she supported the old woman, leading her to her abode.

"Now you can rest ma'am" She said as she helped the woman lie in the bed.

"Let me go find you something to eat" She said, but was stopped by the woman who held her hand.

"Dont go my child, i dont have much time to live".

"No, you'll be fine soon. I just have to get you drugs and food"

"No my daughter, sit beside me. I want to tell you something" She said as Stephanie sat beside her.

"I was the midwife who brought Queen Graciella's child into this world. I was the one who nursed her and baby sitted her when her mother was always busy. I unfortunately witnessed the King's death and i saw the Queens dead body.

"But i never saw or heard of the death of little Keira. I searched high and low for her, over the mountains, under the seas and through the desserts, but i didn't find her"

"Till i consulted the middle east witch who told me the baby was alive and well, but was in a strange land.

"I thought about it and thought maybe she was outside Zodar.

"I visited all the planets. All except earth. I couldn't go to earth because i was getting weaker and old age began to dawn on me"

"But why are you telling me all this ma'am ?" Stephanie asked.

"Because i want you to go to earth and find our ruler, our destined queen and the future of Zodar. Im sure shesin earth and i want you to find her and bring her here"

"Me? but i have lost all my powers to King Rexandro and im not a warrior or a witch like you"

"You are capable my dear, and thats why I'm entrusting this to you. The future of Zodar is in your hands

"Go find the Queen and help her find the sceptre of good magic. It was believed to be hidden underneath Zodar, due east, into the waters and under the zoo of the dead. Its in you hands now my child.

"Go........go..........goooo" She shouted as she kicked the buckets.

"Ma'am?" Stephanie whispered but she couldn't be heard.

Her body rose into the air and disappeared, forming tiny crystals which floated on the air. It went through the window and into...