– Your people already hate you, imagine what will happen when they find out that it was you who condemned them to horror and death? – The demon asked in a mocking tone. – And the horror and death will come so soon and so suddenly that nothing will save you miserable creatures! But you won't see it, because your death has caught up with you now! – He thrust his hand forward to telekinesis his own sword out of the king's hands and cut off his master's head with it.
But Derek only laughed and came closer and closer.
Bergil did not laugh, but he was in no hurry to leap at the demon and kill him. He knew Derek was in no danger.
– You're relying on your devil magic, aren't you? – grinned the king. – Come on, try again!
Surprised by his failure, the demon did not hesitate and wanted to send a fireball at his opponent, but not even smoke came out of his palm.
– What is this curse? – he muttered, confused and not knowing what was going on. Where's the magic gone?
– I see you're surprised," the king said mockingly, coming closer and closer, and this time the demon didn't try to use his magic again, but deftly pulled a long, thin dagger from the sleeve of his coat.
– Stay back, you miserable brat! – The messenger hissed threateningly and slowly backed toward the door. He was stunned, but realized that, unable to use magic, he was in mortal danger.
– What was it? Is an all-powerful demon afraid of a pitiful human? So King Lamar sent one of his kin to kill me in revenge for the death of his criminal brother? – Derek asked with a raised eyebrow.
– If I don't, he'll tear you to pieces and give your remains to the dogs," the demon smiled wickedly. – My magic has no power here… I should have seen it when I couldn't read your mind, bug king… But I'm the one who will send you to Hell! – He suddenly shouted and lunged forward to stab his enemy with his dagger.
But the king was right: without their magic, the demons were worth little. Quickness, strength, and agility left the demon, and Derek's sword went deep into its chest. The dagger fell from his weakened hands.
– It's not… It's impossible! – The demon wheezed out its last breath.
– Go back to your ancestor, you bastard," Derek said quietly into its face, pulled his sword from its chest and cut off its head.
– War awaits us, Derek… War! – Bergil muttered and sighed heavily. It was as if a huge stone had fallen on his shoulders. A stone of knowledge that soon hordes of demons would attack the peaceful, defenseless people of Kaldwind.
– Yes, Bergil, war," Derek replied grimly, staring at the corpse of his defeated foe with disdain. – Send the bastard's head to King Lamar: let him know that we fear neither him nor his black magic.
Half an hour later, a council of war was assembled to decide the life and death of the entire kingdom.
– O Great, O Terrible, our beloved Lord! – The Chancellor burst into the throne room with a shriek.
Lamar, the demon king, was annoyed by his servant's honors, but he didn't want to part with him, because the fussy demon had all the paperwork on his shoulders, and he did it well.
– Don't you shout! – The king waved him away with slight disgust.
– But…but… – The chancellor had a difficult fate: he had to tell the king about the recent incident and not lose his head, so he mumbled in an attempt to find the words.
