Free Web NovelChapter 135: Rebel’s Request
Kane opened his eyes slowly, feeling the rise and fall of Firlia resting against his shoulder.
Her long green hair sprawled over his chest in a tangle, and though her breathing sounded even and measured, the slight flutter of her eyelashes betrayed her ruse.
’She’s already awake,’ Kane mused with a knowing smirk, running a palm down the bare curve of her spine.
’An elf always overthinks morning greetings after letting her guard down completely.’
"You rode me pretty hard last night," Kane remarked, breaking the quiet silence of the room.
Firlia flinched slightly before opening her eyes, a blush rushing up to tip her pointed ears in crimson.
She rolled onto her side, pulling the linen sheet up over her collarbone while avoiding his direct gaze.
"Here I am, holding a royal position while leaving a boyfriend back in Sylvander, and now I am sleeping with a barbarian conqueror on a creaky cot," Firlia muttered under her breath, a mix of embarrassment and lingering satisfaction threading through her tone.
Reaching over, Kane cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a firm kiss that silenced her nervous rambling instantly.
"Mph!"
When he broke contact, he hovered over her for a second with a wry grin.
"In case you forgot during all that shouting last night, I also happen to have a wife," Kane reminded her before stepping off the cot to gather his scattered clothing from the floorboards.
"Guilt is a waste of energy. We both wanted it, and we both got what we needed."
Buckling his trousers and pulling his tunic over his shoulders, he turned back to find her sitting up on the mattress, combing her fingers through her messy green locks while watching him dress.
"What is the plan for today?" Firlia asked, her professional demeanor returning.
"I am heading out to meet a saintess later this afternoon," Kane explained while securing his weapon belt around his waist.
"While I handle the divine politics, I need you to manage the incoming rebels from the southern districts. Sort through their trade applications and allot them work squads alongside Lyssel so we can get the outer walls fortified before winter."
Firlia nodded, already reaching for her discarded gown draped over the nearby chair.
"I will coordinate with Lyssel before midday."
Stepping out of the records room and into the sunlit corridor, Kane barely made it five paces before running into Misha.
The white-haired oracle leaned gracefully against a pillar, her rings swirling steadily as she offered him a knowing look.
"Husband, that was not very holy of you," Misha remarked.
Kane paused, crossing his arms over his chest while raising a single eyebrow.
"You heard us fucking all the way up in your quarters?"
"It is quite hard not to hear you destroying her," Misha replied without losing her tranquil posture.
’She acts detached, but that possessive streak runs deep.’
"Are you jealous, my wife?" Kane teased, leaning down slightly to catch her golden gaze.
"Yes," Misha admitted without a single second of hesitation or shame.
"Good," Kane chuckled, reaching out to brush a strand of white hair behind her ear.
"That will only make our sex far hotter when your turn comes around."
Turning together, they began walking down the expansive main corridor toward the central hall.
"Did your mother send a reply regarding the meeting?" Kane asked, shifting his focus back to the impending boss raid.
"She did," Misha confirmed, matching his stride with graceful steps.
"She dispatched a high-speed messenger eagle at dawn. The saintess received the royal request and will arrive at the northern gate by evening."
"Good timing," Kane noted, calculating his daily schedule.
"Are you truly going to fight the Mountain Serpent?"
"I will study everything about its territory and attack patterns first," Kane reassured her smoothly.
"There is no rush to throw my life away on Fog Mountain until my stats are ready for that challenge."
Before Misha could offer another piece of advice, the doors at the end of the hall swung open, and Thora marched inside.
The raven-haired warrior wore her armor, gesturing with her thumb toward the entrance hall behind her.
"Someone is here to see you, Chief," Thora announced, stopping a few feet away.
"Who?" Kane asked.
"She calls herself Nadia," Thora explained with a quick shrug.
"The loud girl from the town square yesterday."
"Let her in," Kane instructed, gesturing toward the open archway.
A moment later, Nadia stepped into the sprawling hall.
The sun-tanned woman wore her usual men’s trousers and vest, but her green eyes widened slightly as she scanned the interior of the palace.
Instead of seeing drunken mercenaries or lounging aristocrats, she watched dozens of armed women running logistics, reviewing maps, and managing the imperial treasury with ruthless efficiency.
"You fuck a lot of people, don’t you, my lord?" Nadia remarked bluntly.
"It comes with the title," Kane replied without missing a beat.
Beside him, Thora let out a snort of laughter and nudged Kane hard in the ribs with her elbow.
’Southern girls definitely do not waste time with polite greetings,’ Kane thought, keeping his posture relaxed as he studied the rebel leader.
"Why are you here, Nadia?"
"I changed my mind about yesterday," she answered, squaring her shoulders as she stepped closer to the strategy table.
"Changed your mind about what exactly?"
"I will follow your leadership," Nadia declared firmly, her green eyes holding his without flinching.
"I watched your warriors distribute grain and tools all morning without asking for bribes. If you are actually trying to fix this ruined empire instead of just looting it, I will bring the southern districts under your banner."
"Good," Kane accepted with a simple nod.
"We need local hands who know the terrain."
"But," Nadia interjected, holding up a single finger, "I need your help with something important first."
Kane narrowed his eyes slightly, leaning his weight against the edge of the mahogany table.
"I do not fulfill personal favors for recruits, Nadia. If you want silver or land, you earn it like everyone else."
"It is not a personal favor," she countered quickly.
"It is something that directly concerns the survival of our entire empire."
"Speak," Kane commanded, signaling for her to explain.
"We have a massive reservoir lake sitting three miles south of the capital," Nadia began, pointing toward the southern edge of the tactical map lying on the table.
"It acts as the primary fresh water source for thousands of families and all the surrounding farmlands we are trying to replant today."
"And what about it?"
"We think there is a creature lurking inside the depths," Nadia revealed, her tone dropping into something far more serious.
"Three fishing boats disappeared over the last two weeks, and yesterday my scouts found huge, webbed tracks leading out of the marsh and into our irrigation canals. If that monster poisons the reservoir or destroys the aqueducts, your new farming initiative dies before the seeds even sprout."
’An aquatic threat right inside our primary water supply,’ Kane analyzed immediately, his combat instincts sparking to life as he considered the implications.
’This is bad.’
