the beasts over the crown

Since he ascended to the throne, the king felt that he was sitting on a burning iron throne, from which the fire would never extinguish.

He thought many times about what his father would have done if he were in his place, and the image of his father's sword stained with blood appeared before him.

"They want to burn me alive until the flesh melts from my bones... scoundrels!... In the name of the sun, I will not rest until I burn them all. I gave her and the other advisors a single order : save the kingdom and its subjects . But she came to me with a disaster on top of my disaster... like one who complains to someone about his impotence and then that very person asks him about the state of his children! But the fault lies with me, not her ... what was I thinking ? A woman in a council of men and also a witch!... All of this is the work of my wife's schemes; it would have been better to hang her head on the castle walls when she hinted to me about the need to call upon the witch's services .but instead, I gave the cursed witch a seat in my council " he thought to himself and then added :

" She must have cast a spell on me to acquiesce to her desires... Yes... Yes, the houses of the kingdom of Manfee have been known for that since ancient times... The solution now is to cut off the witch's head or burn her alive on a stake in public... Yes, her head does not matter and her advice does not work. and from her I sow fear in the hearts of the rest of the living advisors.

And so, I will slay two birds with one stone: I will atone for my guilt before the sun for bringing a servant of the demon into my castle, and make her responsible before the public for the calamities of the kingdom."

The witch entered the room with her usual confidence. wearing a long black gown shining like stars in the night sky, a dress common among the women of the overseas kingdoms, and tightened at the waist with a gold belt while her long charcoal black hair dangled down her slender torso.

She was a girl in her twenties, no more, slender in stature, gorgeous and fully feminine.

Her only and most important flaw is that she is a witch and an honest wise man does not share his bed with people like her and does not allow himself to fall in love with them .

She bent slightly and spoke hurriedly and anxiously as if she knew the king's intentions towards her:

"Your Majesty, I did not want to disturb your rest at such a time. But I have learned the three arts of magic for such moments, and I come bearing the glad tidings of the end of your worries. I searched yesterday thoroughly in the 'Upper Spear' river for the devil's jars, and I found three of them, but the jars alone won't do anything, and that's why..."

"It would have been better for you to search among the corners of this castle for your benefit to me. What need is there for cursed water jars when water is scarce... Should we fill them with your blood?" .The king interrupted her suddenly and said mockingly, releasing a hideous laugh.

"But the queen came herself to consult me about the matter a few days ago. I thought you were aware of it".

"About what did she consult you?" asked the king firmly and impatiently.

"About the possibility of opening the jars and extracting their treasures, and I answered her..."

"With a lack of sense on her part ". the king interrupted her again, shouting as he hastily rose from his chair. Then he continued :

"That's why women shouldn't rule! Treasures and gold... are nothing but nonsense told by witches like you for their own purposes. As for the truth, it's clear; these jars are for imprisoning evil spirits like giant demons and fire-breathing dragons and other monsters that we can no longer remember!'' 

"But the queen?"

"But what? What has your queen done now?"