Freedom is not free

J'Zaki returned to the Golden City without any incident. As soon as they landed at the castle, he swiftly left the platform. He had left someone alone for over a year and they had taken all the fault for granting his wish. It was time to change that.

Linoh sat in her cell, looking at the young man that had appeared in front of her. Even after a year and all of his physical changes, she could still tell that it was the little boy that used to chase her around and tell her how he wanted to join the Dora Milaje under her and cried when he found out that only women could join.

"Prince J'Zaki. It seems that the journey you set out on has provided you with excellent results. I am glad to see have grown so large and appear to be healthy."

J'Zaki didn't respond. Instead, he looked at the sorry state that the woman was in.

She was wearing torn and dirty clothes that were obviously of low quality. They did not even appear to be from Wakanda but one of the nearby nations. The hair on her head had grown out, covering the tattoos that decorated it. She was also much skinnier than the last time he had seen her. Although she was not starved, they were definitely serving her the bare amount of food needed for her to live decently. But even though she was stuck like this, the woman still smiled at him with no hatred or regret in her eyes.

J'Zaki got down on his knees and lowered his head to the floor. "Teacher, I apologize that my childish wishes have led to this."

"Please do not lower your head to me. Your knees are worth far too much. And do not blame yourself. Even though I knew this would be the outcome, I did it without question."

J'Zaki slowly stood up. He knew that if he continued to kneel, it would only make his teacher feel worse.

"I wish to use Article #34 of the Royal Code to free you but I would like your opinion on the matter."

Linoh looked at J'Zaki in surprise. Whenever she was watching over the twins during the lessons of royal etiquette and codes, they always looked like they were about to fall asleep or were truly sleeping. She wanted to reject him and say that he should use it on someone more worthy but when she saw the resolution in his eyes, she couldn't bear to reject him.

"As you wish, Your Highness. I will support your decision if that is what you truly wish for."

J'Zaki nodded. With her permission, he didn't have anything else to worry about. He left the dungeon and proceeded to enter the throne room. Apparently, his parents had already scheduled a meeting with the other clans as the Tribal Council had been gathered.

"Father. Mother. Elders." J'Zaki made sure to bow to each person as he called out to them

"What do you want, J'Zaki? We are discussing an important matter?" T'Chaka questioned his youngest son. He already had another matter to deal with and couldn't deal with any more of J'Zaki's insane schemes. He just wanted his son to settle down for a few days. But unfortunately for him, J'Zaki refused to settle.

"According to Article #34 of the Royal Code, I am allowed to choose any person from Wakanda to be by aide and advisor. All crimes they have been convicted of shall be pardoned as well. I choose to make former general Linoh my aide."

"Absolutely not!" Ramonda stood from her seat

"Do you know the requirements in order for Linoh to become your aide?" T'Chaka asked his son, ignoring Ramonda. Even if he didn't wish for it either, this was their policy and they had to abide by it.

"Yes, Father. The first is that we must work together to complete a task on behalf of Wakanda to prove that we are competent. The second is that I am responsible for them. Any mistakes they make, I must assume that I have made them as well."

"Good. So you know. Then I shall allow you to take the test. But if you fail, you must go to Wakanda University and attend peacefully without causing any more problems."

J'Zaki knew his father would add another condition like this. But even if he added a hundred other conditions, it didn't matter. He was going to succeed in the mission. He nodded without any hesitation.

"Good. Then here is your task. Two Wakandans have been taken captive by slave traders. They were on vacation and their group had gotten attacked. Your mission is to free them and bring their captors to justice."

J'Zaki knew exactly what his father meant when he said to bring to justice. He was supposed to kill them. This was the tradition of Wakanda. Anyone who threatened the nation or people would be imprisoned for life at best but would usually be sentenced to death.

"Understood. We can leave immediately."

T'Chaka nodded. He then gave Okoye the order to release Linoh and meet J'Zaki in the hangers. The prince of Wakanda waited next to a small jet with a pair of vibranium knives in sheaths on his thighs. After a few minutes, Okoye and Linoh appeared. The latter was wearing much better clothes than what she had on while she was in prison and she had a vibranium spear in her hand.

When they neared J'Zaki, Okoye gave the prince a small bow before she turned around. Her mission was over so it would only be troublesome to get any more involved in the situation.

"Prince J'Zaki. I have been informed of the mission. I must warn you to wear some armor. The duo has most likely taken the vibranium weapons the pair had on them."

"Then it shouldn't make too much of a difference. A vibranium bullet would kill even my brother in his habit, yet alone any armor I could find really quickly. May as well prioritize mobility."

Linoh thought it over and nodded. It made sense when he put it that way.

"Then let us go. We cannot keep those slave traders waiting. Their execution was decided the moment they laid hands on out people."