The king's veins pop in rage.
"YOU…" he begins to scream, but before he can finish, Prince Kalonga steps in front of him.
"There must be another way to resolve this."
Demo replies calmly.
"Bring your strongest fighter. Maybe he can convince me."
Kalonga looks at his mother and siblings. They all shake their heads. He looks back at the screen.
"I'm afraid our strongest warrior is not in the kingdom at the moment. Perhaps we can reach an understanding."
Demo shakes his head.
"Bring the king or lose your brother. I am getting tired of waiting."
Kalonga touches his chin.
"Perhaps Prince Cleus could help facilitate this conversation."
Demo smiles.
"Maybe he could. But I would need to speak to him face to face for that to work. He and your king can come at the same time."
The king shoves Kalonga aside.
"Fine. I am on my way right now."
The call cuts. The soldiers in front of Demo slowly back away and close the door. Demo smiles and looks down at Zoipa on the ground. A devilish grin grows on his face.
The king throws open the doors. The queen grabs his arm.
"You cannot go. It is too dangerous!"
The king keeps walking.
"He has our son, and he dares to demand that I lower myself to him. This scum will pay with his life."
The queen walks with him, gripping his arm.
"The soldiers said he was strong enough to defeat a grand knight. We need a plan!"
The king glances back at her.
"Who says I do not have one?"
He leads them down a dark corridor and opens a secret passageway. His family follows. They reach a shadowy hallway with a metal door at the end. The king wears a sinister smile.
"I will give him what he asked for."
Cleus and Cyte remain in their room. Cleus looks at the soldiers stationed there.
"I think it is about time you brought me to Demo."
The soldiers exchange looks.
"We are sorry, but we cannot do that. Our orders are to keep you here."
Cleus smiles and stands.
"That was not a request. You bring us, or we walk until we find him ourselves."
The soldier on the right smirks.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
Cleus walks up to him, Cyte right behind. The soldiers grab their weapons. Cyte slips behind Cleus, disappearing from their line of sight. Their attention sticks on Cleus, so they barely notice Cyte's movement. TAP TAP. She strikes both soldiers on the neck, knocking them unconscious.
Cleus walks past their bodies and knocks on the door. The two soldiers on the other side open it, and Cyte knocks them out as well. The hallway beyond is filled with guards turning toward them. Cleus raises his hands.
"I want to see Demo. Bring me to him and we can end this peacefully."
The soldiers draw their swords. Cleus lowers his hands. Cyte prepares her dagger.
"I will take this side."
Cleus nods and bites his hand. Blood drips down, forming into a sword. The soldiers still do not move.
From behind them, footsteps echo. A calm king steps forward through the line of soldiers.
"Lower your weapons. You will be coming with me to see your servant."
Cleus lowers his sword; Cyte follows. The king turns and begins walking. Cyte watches him.
"Something is off."
Cleus nods.
"I know. But if he brings us to Demo, we should be able to handle almost anything."
They follow the king, with soldiers behind them.
Back in the throne room, the queen and her children sit with their heads lowered. Their faces are pale. The queen holds her head in her hands.
"Kalonga, did you know?"
Kalonga shakes his head.
"How could I have known?"
Princess Kuluma stares ahead in disbelief.
"Why would father do this?"
Nonga raises his head.
"He must have done it to protect us."
The queen shakes her head. In her mind she knows her husband did not do this for his family. He did it for some other reason. Could this be the price they had to pay for the help they once received?
Chapter 96 fin