Chapter 177: Breakfast With Za’r [+18]

Ka’z walked through the streets of Vaal’kor with a deep frown etched across his face, his mind occupied by everything that had happened at the Chief’s Court. The arrival of the Galorian Gnolls, the Halflings’ incursion into the western region, and their outrageous demands continued to circle through his thoughts. The more he considered the situation, the less sense it seemed to make.

"But why?" Ka’z muttered to himself.

The humans clearly were not making a move yet. If they were, they would have invaded Galoria with an army instead of relying on the Halflings to act on their behalf. That alone suggested that there was something more happening behind the scenes, something that Ka’z had yet to uncover.

What exactly was the ultimate goal behind mining all those precious stones?

"If they came for the gold and silver, maybe they need the money to fund something?" Ka’z stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowing as the thought settled in his mind.

Honestly, the thought was right on the spot, but it was too vague to have any real value. Knowing that the humans wanted gold, silver, and diamonds was useful, but knowing exactly what they needed those resources for would be far more valuable. Without that information, he was simply staring at one piece of a much larger puzzle.

"Okay, I think we are almost there. Just a few more days and we will be able to present Brother Ka’z with the saddle he requested."

Tor’s voice suddenly drew Ka’z out of his thoughts.

Only then did Ka’z realize that he had stopped directly in front of the Vaal’kor Workshop. He turned his head toward the building and looked through one of the windows, where he could see the goblin artisans gathered around Tor. The goblin held the sheet of paper Ka’z had given him, the detailed drawing of the saddle spread out before the others as they examined every part of the design.

Several pieces of leather, wood, rope, and metal fittings had already been prepared, while a partially assembled frame rested upon the worktable. The artisans were discussing the design among themselves, pointing at different sections of Ka’z’s drawing and comparing them with the materials they had prepared.

A smile slowly bloomed across Ka’z’s face.

For a moment, he considered walking inside to see how much progress they had made, but he stopped himself when he noticed the enthusiasm on their faces. They were completely absorbed in the work, and Ka’z did not want to interrupt their momentum simply because his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

’I’ll just let them be for now.’ Ka’z concluded inwardly before turning away from the workshop and continuing toward home.

By the time he reached his house, the frown had returned to his face. Za’r opened the door and immediately noticed the tired expression he wore. Her own expression changed as she looked him over, clearly recognizing that something had been bothering him since he left the Chief’s Court.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

Ka’z nodded without hesitation. "Let’s talk about it over breakfast."

They settled down at the dining table shortly afterward. Breakfast consisted of coal baked bread with meat and green tea, the warm drink helping to settle the lingering tension in Ka’z’s body. Za’r ate quietly while Ka’z explained everything that had happened at the Chief’s Court, including the Galorian gifts, the Halflings’ demands, and the Gnolls’ request for assistance.

The moment he finished explaining, Za’r’s expression became unusually serious.

"YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AT LEAST NOT UNTIL I GET PREGNANT!" Za’r blurted out with such force that Ka’z nearly dropped his cup.

Cough! Cough!

Ka’z grabbed his chest and coughed loudly, nearly choking on his drink. Za’r immediately leaned toward him and patted his back while trying not to laugh.

"Relax, girl. I already said I’m not going..." Ka’z managed to say between coughs.

She continued patting his back until the coughing finally subsided and he was able to sit upright properly again.

"It still bothers me, though..." Ka’z rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his amusement fading as his mind returned to the problem.

"What bothers you exactly?" Za’r asked.

Ka’z turned his chair so that he was facing her properly. "In the human world, gold, silver, and diamonds are money, and money can be used to raise armies. I’m afraid that if we let them have their way in the western region, we would be allowing them to get the money they need to raise a huge army that can defeat all the races and guardian beasts in the Evergreen Forest."

Za’r’s eyes widened with surprise before her expression shifted into contemplation. She slowly lowered her cup onto the table, considering the implications of what Ka’z had just said.

"You mean not doing anything could also be a mistake?"

Ka’z slowly nodded. "That’s what I fear..."

"Then what do you plan to do?" Za’r asked.

Ka’z shrugged, his expression unusually uncertain. "Honestly, I don’t know yet. I’ll talk to Kong’gong first, then I’ll talk with you and the rest of the group before coming to a decision."

Za’r let out a defeated sigh. She wanted nothing more than to keep Ka’z here, where she could see him every day and know that he was safe, but she also understood that the dangers surrounding them were becoming more real with each passing day. The humans were no longer some distant threat mentioned in an old book, and the Halflings had already begun making demands against the people of Evergreen Forest.

For several moments, she remained silent before her expression suddenly changed. Determination filled her eyes as she reached across the table and took Ka’z’s hand.

"If that’s the case, then we should try much harder to make babies." Za’r said with renewed determination.

Ka’z immediately pulled his hand away from hers, terror flashing across his face. "Woman, stay away from me!"

Za’r reached for his hand again, but Ka’z abruptly jumped to his feet and backed away. She rose from her seat as well, and within moments the two of them were running around the dining table, circling it while Ka’z desperately tried to keep enough distance between them.

"We still have work today, have you forgotten?!" Ka’z protested as he dodged around the table.

"That’s why you need to stop running, so we can meet up with your daily quota!" Za’r shouted as she chased after him. "Three times a day and three rounds per session. You only gave me one this morning, two more!"

Ka’z nearly tripped over one of the chairs before catching himself against the table.

"Three rounds per session? Do I look like a bull or something?!" Ka’z screamed.

"Well, you better learn!" Za’r yelled back, continuing after him.

Za’r vaulted over the table in a single smooth leap that sent the empty plates rattling while Ka’z spun on his heel and bolted for the bedroom door, heart hammering from both the chase. He shoved the door open and stumbled inside only to hear her feet pounding right behind him.

The moment he turned to slam it shut she was already through, eyes bright with determination, and she kicked the door closed behind her with a decisive thud that left them alone in the smaller space.

Ka’z backed up until his calves hit the edge of the bed and raised both hands in surrender, breathing hard. "Fine. You win. Just... two rounds and then we really do have to work."

Za’r’s smile was pure triumph as she closed the distance, pushed him down onto the mattress, and climbed over him without another word.

She yanked his trousers open with haste, freed his already thickening cock, and sank onto it in one wet glide that forced a groan from both of them.

Za’r sat atop him, knees braced on either side of his hips, hands planted on his chest for leverage while she rode him with short, urgent strokes that made the bedframe creak.

Every downward drop buried him to the hilt inside her still-slick heat; every upward drag left him glistening with her juices. Ka’z gripped her waist and thrust up to meet her.

She leaned forward after a dozen strokes, pressing her breasts to his chest so that every bounce rubbed her clit against him, and the added friction made her inner walls flutter around his cock.

The first climax hit him harder than he expected. He arched beneath her with a rough shout, flooding her in thick pulses while she kept grinding through it, milking every spurt until his hips jerked with oversensitivity.

Before he could soften she lifted herself just enough to turn around, presenting her back to him, and sank down again so that she rode him reverse. This position let him watch the flex of her scaled back and the way her tail curled to the side for balance while she bounced with deeper, longer strokes that dragged the head of his cock against her front wall on every descent.

Ka’z sat up partially, wrapped one arm around her breasts, and reached around with the other hand to rub firm circles over her clit.

The dual stimulation made her moan openly and push back harder against him. His orgasm built fast under the relentless wet friction and the herb’s residual fire. He came again with a guttural sound, burying himself deep and pumping another heavy load into her while her own release clenched around him in rhythmic waves that prolonged the spill.

They stayed locked together for several panting breaths afterward, her body still seated on his, his seed already beginning to trickle out around the base of his cock.

Za’r looked back over her shoulder with a satisfied, slightly breathless smile. "Two. That will do for now. Get dressed. We still have work."