Alma3 Demon Queen
Akarmani 27: Submission of Two Officers

*Fire in Jintamani Kingdom (Akarmani)*

The commander of the Sisik Buto who came alone frowned, when he saw the soldiers who were guarding in front of the Prehistoric Palace. Because, as the Head of the King's Protective Forces, Commander Buto Sisik did not know the soldiers of the King's Protective Forces who were standing guard at that time.

He knew all the faces of his army members, but the soldiers in the uniform of the King's Guard were foreign-faced, only this time he saw them.

“Who are you all?” ask Commander Buto Sisik who bears two swords.

“We are soldiers of the King's Guard, Gusti,” replied one soldier who became the spokesman of several colleagues who stood guard around the door of the Presidential Palace.

“But I as the Commander of the King's Guard do not know all of you!” shouted Commander Buto Sisik.

“Because we were raised by Gusti Ratu Colour Mekararum, Gusti,” was obviously that warrior.

“What? Gusti Ratu Colour Mekararum?” shock Commander Buto Scales.

“Gusti Ratu waiting Gusti Commander inside,” said the soldier.

“Actually I was called by Gusti Prabu or Gusti Ratu?” tanya Buto Sisik is suspicious.

“Both, Gusti,” replied the soldier.

“Then where are my soldiers guarding this Palace?” tanya Buto Sisik's.

“We have killed all,” replied the soldier honestly. Either honest or innocent or clever.

Sing!

Buto Scales retreated in action while whipping out the sword at his waist. The commander's action made the six soldiers simultaneously pull out each of his two poisonous red blades. They are also ready to throw knives if the commander attacks.

“You are definitely not warriors!” guess Buto Scales.

“Gusti Commander wants to fight with us or wants to meet Gusti Ratu inside?” ask the soldier spokesman.

“Obviously you guys are intruders!” yelled Buto Sisik while advancing about to attack the soldier who spoke to him.

“Strike!” commando soldier spokesman.

Set set set ...!

Ting ting!

Commander Buto Scales held back his steps, then with a nimble movement he leaped rotating in the air with his sword flashed rapidly as a shield. Half the red blade he managed to dodge and the other half managed to field him with his swift sword.

“Log in!” shouted the soldier earlier while moving first running backwards into the Presidential Palace while being aware of the movements of the Buto Scales.

Sisik Guto was silent for a moment. Thinks. Whether he should enter or go call the troops, or report to Senopati Gending Suro.

“Inside there must be a trap,” thought Buto Scales. “But, all the troops are busy putting out the fire. Better I go in, if only people like that, I can handle it.”

With a slow and alert step, Buto Sisik stepped closer to the open doorway. He pulled out the sword on his back. Now his two swords are drawn.

Upon arriving at the doorway, he read the situation of the front room which was illuminated by the light of the oil lamps attached to the wall. Blank. There's no one.

He needs to go deeper. He did it with slow steps. Both of his hands were ready to clash his sword at any time in case of an attack.

He went deeper through the large but short passageway to enter the next room which was much larger and grander.

Somewhat deep inside, Buto Sisik could see the existence of a number of soldiers in the uniform of the King's Protective Force, there were about sixteen people. The soldiers were standing behind a finely carved chair that seemed to have been deliberately placed somewhat into the center of the room.

As the leader of the King's Protective Force, Buto Sisik has been very familiar with the layout of a number of rooms in the Presidential Palace because he very often went in and out. So obviously, the chair occupied by a well-dressed and neat old lady was deliberately installed there.

Buto Sisik was surprised when he noticed the white-clothed old lady sitting very authoritatively on the chair.

“Old Queen's Wrestling!” call Buto Scales softly, but surprised.

When he rose to the position of Commander of the King's Protective Forces, Ratu Warna Mekararum was still two years in Jintamani Palace. So he often met the queen and the Old Queen was very familiar with him.

Although he had been convinced that the Old Queen had died, but the old woman was very similar to the queen.

Buto Sisik decided to recline his two swords and walked closer.

As the distance got closer, the Buto Scales grew harder to refute. Obviously it is the Queen of Colours Mekararum. Finally the Buto Scales stopped within fifteen steps.

“Do you know me, Buto Sisik?” ask the old woman who is indeed the Queen of Color Mekararum.

Increasingly convinced Buto Sisik that it was indeed the Old Queen. The sound color is the same, very same.

“Honor worship servant, Gusti Ratu Tua,” said Buto Sisik as he dropped to his knees and became respectful.

“After meeting me, are you sure I'm dead or am I still alive?” ask the Old Queen.

“Hamba is very sure that Old Queen Gusti is still alive,” replied Buto Scales with a vibrating voice.

Suddenly their attention was diverted towards the door of the short hallway, because the sound of footsteps was heard, even though it was very slow. Buto Sisik also looked back.

A moment later, a man in the military officer's stature entered. That person was none other than Commander Rakean who came carrying his iron rod.

“Old Queen's Wrestling!” call Commander Rakean rather loud, when recognizing the figure of an old woman sitting on a chair and escorted by sixteen soldiers in uniform King Protective Forces, one of which is Sudigatra.

“Welcome, Rakean,” welcome Queen Colour Mekararum flat, but her voice is clearly heard in that quiet room.

“That means true, Senopati Gending Suro has engineered the death of Gusti Ratu?” asked Commander Rakean as he walked closer to the side of Commander Buto Sisik. His question shows that he already harbors suspicions to Senopati Gending Suro.

On the side of Buto Sisik, Rakean went down on his knees and saluted.

“Honour servant, Gusti Ratu,” Rakean said.

“Wake you both up!” the Queen of Colours Mekararum.

The two officers changed their sitting posture to sitting cross-legged on the floor.

“Gending Suro has kidnapped me and dumped me on a faraway island. I was tortured with poison for years. He wants me to tell you where the royal treasure is that only I know. So since my departure, he made Gusti Prabu as his puppet. He wanted to tear down the Jintamani Kingdom and build a new kingdom with him as its king. It will only do if he knows where the royal treasure is stored,” said the queen immediately revealed what really happened to him and the evil intentions of the senopati.

It was a shock that the two officers heard the secret.

“I won't beat around the bush. I'm sure you've bowed to Gending Suro's orders. Now I ask, to whom will you submit? To Gending Suro or to my son Gusti Prabu Marapata?” ask Queen Colour Mekararum with a tone quite loud and firm.

“Hamba subject to Gusti Prabu Marapata's orders, Gusti Ratu!” replied Commander Rakean loudly without hesitation.

“Hamba subject to Gusti Prabu Marapata's orders, Gusti Ratu!” replied Commander Buto Sisik.

“Subject to Gusti Prabu means to submit to my orders. Gusti Prabu and the Empress I've brought out of the palace. The supreme order of the Jintamani Kingdom is now upon me. So you guys don't hesitate!” firmly the queen. (BH)