"Well, time to drink wine from the rich cellars of Lamar," Derek thought with satisfaction. – These Rossi's have already been humiliated to the limit, there's no point in humiliating them further. But let Lamar think I'm going to snatch his girl: the less he knows, the better for Kaldwind."
– All right, Lamar. Let's stop this circus already," he said to the demon king in a calm tone. – Get up, but be quiet. – At these words, he glanced mockingly at Varma, who was flaming with silent indignation. – You will be confined to your chambers until I decide what to do with you and what fate will befall the rest of your lands, King Lamar. And I hear there are thousands of bottles of old wine stored in your palace? My men and I will drink to your health! Bind their hands and escort them to their chambers!
Derek's warriors immediately ran up to Rossi and, tying their hands tightly behind their backs with ropes, roughly ordered the captives to show them where their chambers were.
"What a madman I am… My pride has reduced Flammehav to ruins, and these filthy mortals will drink wine… My wine! Empty my cellars! But all these things are trifles compared to what awaits Sylvia… This usurper will destroy her, break her, humiliate her every minute, every second… Forgive me, my daughter, it was I who brought such misfortune on your head and on all of us" – on the way to the palace, the once omnipotent king indulged in bitter thoughts.
– Well, my soldiers! – loudly addressed the king of men to his army, which immediately answered him with a joyful roar. – I promised to lead you to the palace of these spawn of Darkness, and here we stand, in this square! The enemy is defeated! The Rossi on their knees have begged us for peace! We will give them peace and preserve what little remains of their former greatness! But on our terms and ours alone!
– Hail Derek, King of Kaldwind!
– Lead us, our king!
– Let the demons bite their elbows! And may they bite them off!
From all sides came the cheers of battle-weary but happy human warriors: they had won, which meant they would soon turn back to their families and be richly rewarded, as their king had promised them, and they believed him as themselves, as God.
– And now, my warriors, find yourselves a place to sleep! And for that, you have a whole palace before you! Eat! Drink! Have fun! But don't get so drunk that you give your enemies a chance to kill you! I will take one of the servants' bedrooms, Rossi will be locked in their quarters, and you will choose any place you like!
Instead of answering, the warriors hammered their swords loudly against their iron shields, making so much noise that King Derek himself cringed and raised his hand to signal them to stop.
– Take whatever you can find! Gold! Fabric! Stones! But no fighting and no squabbling! And one more thing: All demons in the city and in the palace are now under my protection! That means no rape and no killing! Anyone who violates this order will be executed by me personally!
– Unfair!
– Just this once!
– King, this order is too harsh! – The warriors wailed sadly, already anticipating how they would find a demoness each and make them do what they ordered, without violence.
– This is an order! – loudly, in a voice full of steel, repeated the king. – Now to the wine cellars! Bergil! Leave the guard!
