My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 190: Women's War

Kace lay soaking in the stone tub that he had Grugda refine further. 'It's already been two weeks since they sacked the city. So, why has Sarah stuck around in the ruins?' He felt the pent up stress being washed away as he considered what their next move should be. 'Lorget has done a fine job keeping an eye on her. I'm surprised he managed to avoid getting noticed.'

"Kace? Has there been any word of my mother yet?" Sophia's sorrowful voice came from the newly added second bath next to the one he was soaking in. 

"Not yet," Kace sighed while being grateful for the stone wall between them. "We'll find her."

In truth, he did not have much hope of accomplishing this. When the army removed themselves from the city, he had Lorget check out the castle. The goblin had just reported what had seemed to be a room that was used for mass execution. The queen's bedroom turned out to be empty. There was no sign of Sonja nor Raven's body.

'I wonder, did they take her prisoner? Then what about Raven? Why would they take a dead body?' The mystery surrounding it had Kace stumped. He really wanted to find the queen himself, since her presence would greatly strengthen the power of their little group. The other thing that was playing on his mind was the problem of how to reactivate the gate.

Feliks had used some kind of magic to achieve it to send them here. However, Kace had his doubts thatches was the only way. How had the vampires planned to return after they achieved whatever they were here for? Lorget had managed to get his hands on some history books from the castle. Kace understood that the vampire's presence here was always supposed to be a temporary thing from these handwritten books.

However, not a single one mentioned why they were here in the first place. Kace was grateful for the hot water. Since he was already in the perfect place to deal with the headache, he felt approaching from the horizon of his thoughts. 'So, what do we do next? We can't go home without the gate. We can't assault the heroes while that monster Zornok is with them. So what? I just spend my life in this cave?'

Kace wanted to drown himself just thinking about it. Essentially what Gruda and himself had set out to achieve all that time ago had been completed. About a week ago, his quest to gain the support of the pillars had increased by one. Which meant that the system finally recognised Sophia as a pillar. This just added another mystery for Kace to solve. He had a theory, but he hoped that he was wrong.

'Did Sonja die a week ago?' Kace was saddened by the thought as this was most likely what had happened. He had to admit that he had no idea what the conditions were for someone to be considered a pillar. 'I really need some help. Everyone's expecting me to have all the answers, but I have no clue.'

Kace suddenly jumped from the bath and grabbed one of the fur blankets that he used as a towel. He quickly wrapped himself with it and prepared himself for a fight. He had no idea why but his instincts had just warned him that something hazardous was approaching him. His body shivered as if it remembered this feeling. Like it had caused some kind of trauma to him before. 

Then he heard it. Something was rattling against the stone floor that led to here. Id did not sound like footsteps, more like something was rolling over it. Kace's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Why had he not heard the sounds of battle? Surely his tribe would not have just let this thing enter without challenging it.

Kace became extremely tense, the closer the sounds got. 'Shit! Sophia!' The sounds would have to pass by Sophia in her bath first before reaching him. It did not sound like she had noticed the approaching danger. 'I have to warn her!' Kace quickly dashed around the stone wall without stopping to think for a moment. 

"Ahhh! Kace! What are you doing!" Sophia squealed after blushing for a moment. In her embarrassment, she tried to cover her nude body that would have left many men drooling.

Kace did not have the presence of mind to appreciate the feast that had been laid out for his eyes. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the tub. Holding her close. Sophia's facade a deeper shade of red. Her head felt dizzy as she had no idea what had come over him. He seemed to be staring deeply into her eyes. As if he wanted to make a confession. 

'It sped up!' Kace was actually listening closely to the sounds approaching. He was so focused on it that he was not paying attention to the fact that his face was so close to Sophia's. His heart skipped a beat as he realised that in another second, whatever it was would round the corner and spot them. His arm wrapped tightly around Sophia's waist. Ready to protect her at a moment's notice.

"No way! It was true!" Vaskra screeched as she rounded the corner to witness Sophia's nude body, especially her chest, pressed against Kace in what looked like a lovers embrace. Her eyes seemed to bore right through Sophia's skull with unimaginable hatred! 

"Vaskra!" Kace roared in total surprise. He wanted to check that he did not imagine things. This was the last place that the shamaness should be! Though, now it made sense why his body and instincts had warned him of something dangerous. He immediately got a chill as he thought about the nights that would come that would not feel so cold in the morning.

"Um, who's this?" Sophia asked in embarrassment. Feeling extremely uneasy at having been seen like this and angry at having her moment with Kace interrupted.

"I'm Vaskra! Now let go of my man!"

The male goblins of the tribe who had followed behind this beauty to find out what was going on collapsed to the floor in stunned silence. 'No way! Our Lord was cheating on such a beauty! Oh, my heart can't take this!' This was the collective thought of Vaskra's group of admirers