I had gone so far with her, sending back a runner to stop the punishment and put Jing and Tama in cells until we returned. Not a problem; they would live until he was ready for them to die. But for her to expect me to let her go? Foolishness. I pulled her chain tightly after she put on the shirt and made her walk closely besides me.

We approached the village looking just like a bunch of soldiers walking with Cleo. A glance around the village, and a three soldiers approached Cleo and knelt. Before she could talk, one said, "Princess Cleo, we have the treasure safe in the root cellar at the merchant's house as you instructed..." and his voice faltered as two hands landed on his shoulders. More guards were behind them, of course.

Moving quickly, my finance minister who had come with us checked the cellar and returned. "Mighty Kong, we have a concern. Either the troop has not told us the truth, or Cleo has not; there is barely half of the gold there that should be."

I turned first to the conquered soldier. "Is that truly all there is, or is more elsewhere? Quickly now, before I have the guard remove your head." But he had no idea, this was all he was assigned to hide and protect. The other two captured men knew no more. Obviously, the answer was being hidden by Cleo... and she was trying to deceive me.

I told the Finance Minister to take most of the soldiers and the treasury back to the castle, and I took Cleo to the town square. There was the typical town center punishment post there, and I stripped her shirt off and had her bound there.

"You have tried my patience yet again, girl. You will take me to the rest of the treasury NOW, or tell me exactly where it is and how to get it, or you will watch your parents die, slowly, as you suffer as well.