Under the Oak Tree Novel - Chapter 131
Chapter 131: Chapter 131
The rain finally let up at dawn. The knights were already out of their tents
before first light and were busily preparing breakfast. None of them had been
able to eat a decent meal last night, so they intended to prepare somethingg
more substantial before setting out. Nothing mattered more during a brutal
march than sufficient rest and food.
Maxi ate the bowl of potato stew Riftan brought her and got dressed. When the
light grew brighter, the knights prepared for departure.
Maxi was about to mount Rem when Riftan appeared at her side.
He grabbed her arm. “Come with me.”
Maxi’s eyes widened.
“Ride on this today,” he said, pointing to the cart now free of the tar-coated
cloth.
Realizing that he was worried that she might still be feeling the effects of the
previous night’s exertions, Maxi grew red.
“I-I am all right. I can… ride my horse.”
‘Half of our supplies are gone, so you won’t be added baggage. You should try
to conserve your energy while we’re traveling through the plains.”
“Do as the commander says, my lady. You must replenish what energy you
can.
The knights wholeheartedly supported Riftan’s suggestion. Though Maxi was
mortified that they might be doing so because they had cottoned on to what
happened last night, she feigned ignorance and bobbed her head.
When she climbed onto the cart and sat down, the knights swiftly fell in line
and began to lead their horses through the lush forest.
Maxi watched Rem to make sure she was obediently following Ulyseon, then
propped up a stack of hay to use as a cushion. The rattling cart was still more
comfortable than being on a horse. Leaning back, Maxi began to nod off in
earnest.
They made it through the rest of the Kardikil Forest safely with no monster
attacks. Having rested well on the cart for half a day, Maxi’s physical condition
was much improved by sunset.
Determined to contribute this time, Maxi rolled up her sleeves and went to
help the kmights prepare their meal. Riftan frowned disapprovingly but did not
say anything to her bustling about.
Maxi helped the junior knights boil broad beans in a large cauldron and
skewered four rabbits over the fire. When the food was ready, the knights
gathered in a circle and savored the humble yet satisfying meal.
Perhaps due to spending a day at ease, the next day’s travel was significantly
faster. They galloped across the field like the wind and swiftly traversed the
small hill full of wildflowers.
At long last, the port came into view. Maxi’s eyes widened at the magnificent
sight along the foothills.
The setting sun in the west made the deep blue waters sparkle as though it had
been sprinkled with gold. The rim of the cape jutted out to sea like a crescent moon, and it was Wrapped ina dock packed with ships.
Maxi stared over the sea in amazement, then turned her gaze to the city
surrounded by a high wall. Judging by the multi-story buildings jammed
together between intricate roads, the city was easily two to three times more
populated than Anatol.
Hebaron bellowed a lively cheer as he looked down at the city. “We finally get to
put our feet up. I, for one, am in desperate need of ale.”
Riftan did not say anything and led the party down the hill in a flash. After
going through a simple check at the gate to confirm their identities, they
entered the city.
Maxi’s eyes roved about the road lit with torches. Taverns lined the main road,
and through their wide-open doors, Maxi could see drunken sailors and
red-nosed mercenaries amongst women flaunting their bare, pale breasts.
Some of the women stuck their heads out the window and whistled loudly at
the knights. Startled by their drunken cackles, Maxi hunched her shoulders.
Gabel rode up to her and cautioned, “There are many unsavory people near the
ports, my lady. Try not to look around, or you might see something unsightly.”
Maxi snapped her head forward.
Riftan rode past the square toward the pier with the assurance of someone who
had been to the city before. She followed hinm down the wide road, and soon
large ships came into view. The campaign party came to a stop in front of a
building opposite a dock.
“Evan, let them know we are here, and get the servants.”
Sir Evan Crude promptly leaped off his horse and entered the building. A little
while later, servants bearing lamps rushed outside to greet them.
As she dismounted, Maxi glanced up curiously at the three-story building.
Riftan, who had approached without her noticing, placed his arm around her
shoulder protectively and walked toward the entrance.
“We will be sleeping here tonight.”
Stepping inside the building, Maxi eyed the smooth stone floor, the carpeted
stairs, and the neatly plastered walls one after the other. Compared to the
dingy inns she had seen so far, this place was luxurious.
“w-What.. is this place?”
“It’s an inn owned by the Verden Merchants’ Guild,” Riftan explained as he
climbed the stairs. “It’s a prominent guild that manages several of the crown’s
trading ships. The head of the guild, Lord Verden, is a cousin of King Reuben’s
on his maternal side, so he often offers funds for large campaigns like this.
We’ll also be relying on the guild to loan us a ship tomorrow.”
While the servants led the knights to their respective rooms, Maxi and Riftan
entered a lavish suite furnished with a large bed. Inside, Riftan pulled off his
heavy arnmor piece by piece onto the floor.
Maxi went straight to the open window and watched the sea as it swallowed
the sun. The briny smell pierced her nose, and she listened to the crashing
waves.
An odd sense of wonder filled her heart as she gazed out at the seemingly endless horizon. The sea was far more beautiful than any description she had
read in stories.
“Ive asked them to prepare a bath. Do you have anything to change into?”
Turning to him, Maxi shook her head. Having cast off his heavy armor, Riftan
walked over to her with light steps and brushed away a lock of hair sticking to
her face.
“Then I guess you will have to sleep with nothing on tonight.”
The anticipation in his eyes made Maxi’s cheeks flush. He cupped her face with
his calloused hands and gently planted a kiss on her lips.
“Are you tired?”
“I-I am all right.”
In truth, she was exhausted, but she knew he would leave the room and not
return until late if she told him so. Maxi wrapped her arms around his waist
and leaned her face against his sturdy chest. Riftan blinked, taken aback by her boldness, before a pleased smile pulled at his lips. He hoisted her onto the
windowsill and carefully loosened her tight braids.
Maxi relished the feeling of his long fingers painstakingly unraveling her
tangled locks. Riftan combed her hair for a long time, then massaged her stiff
shoulders with great care.
By the time his touch was becoming gentle caresses, servants entered the room
with towels and water for the bath. Riftan and Maxi managed to wedge
themselves into the cramped tub and began to wash each other.
She lathered his hair with soap while he gently wiped her back and shoulders
with a towel. Once they were clean, they dried themselves and lay side by side
on the bed, their lips locked in a lingering kiss.
Perhaps it was because their march had ended safely, but Riftan was more
relaxed and gentler than ever before. He took his time caressing her before he
entered her carefully and began to move as slowly as a gentle wave.
Maxi lost herself in his embrace. Touch after touch only heightened her pleasure. She relished the feeling of his weight pressing onto her, the
sensation of his hot lips on her skin, and his burning length quivering inside
her as it stretched her to her limit.
They made love until they were exhausted. Then, lying on their fronts, they
devoured the food a maidservant had left for them outside the door. After their
stomachs were full of fresh fruit and richly-seasoned dishes, all of which was a
first in a long while, they began to feel drowsy.
They fell asleep with their limbs tangled together like vines, as though they
were of one body. It was the first sweet and languid moment they had shared in
weeks.
The next day, the tranquility ended as soon as the sun rose. Riftan’s grave
expression returned as he put on his armor, and it was as if the tension on his
face had never eased. Maxi donned the clothes the servants had washed for her
last night and packed her things.
The real journey had just begun. It would take them seven to ten days to reach Levan, the capital of Livadon, by ship. After that, a long battle with the troll
army awaited.
Maxi’s face darkened as she remembered the party that had left before them.
This was no time for her to be feeling relieved when they had only reached the
port. She was certain that far more arduous travel lay ahead.
After breakfast on the first floor, Maxi and the knights left for the pier where
large ships were docked in an orderly line. Sun-tanned sailors tirelessly loaded
cargo onto the vessels. Maxi also noted a few of them hanging precariously
onto the masts, checking the condition of the ropes and sails.
Unable to keep her head still, Maxi took in the bustling port with rapt
attention.
Riftan talked to the captain of a ship anchored at the end of the dock. Hebaron
had explained to her that nothing mattered more in a sea voyage than a
competent captain. It was why they had to make sure whoever was in charge of
the vessel was trustworthy. The man Riftan was talking to calmly answered the
barrage of questions without any sign of displeasure.
“We finished all the preparations a few days ago. Before she left for Livadon,
Her Royal Highness Princess Agnes specifically instructed that we must be set
to depart as soon as you arrive.”
Maxi was taken aback at the mention of the princess. Had Princess Agnes also
departed for Livadon? Unlike Maxi, however, Riftan did not seem surprised at
all.
“When did the royal knights depart?”
They arrived four days ago and left immediately for Livadon.”
“Are there any new reports from Livadon?”
The captain shook his head, looking grave. “The coalition army seems to be
struggling after the fall of Louivell Castle. Ive heard that they are fighting to
reclaim the lands taken by the monsters, but I don’t know the exact situation.”
Riftan’s face hardened, as did the faces of the knights silently listening to their
conversation. The captain broke out in a sweat as the air around them grew
bleak. “If you wish, we can depart immediately. We already have enough provisions
and hay on board.”
‘Is there enough room for the horses?”
“Of course. I’ve prepared a stable.”
After inspecting the vessel with several of his knights, Riftan elected to depart
at
once.
The knights promptly led their horses from the inn and boarded the ship. Since
there was a chance that Rem might be frightened of boarding a vessel, Maxi
entrusted her to a sailor and climbed onto the ship first.
Standing on the deck, her heart began to hammer with fear and a peculiar
excitement. Maxi gazed out at the calm sea glittering under the sun.
She took a deep breath. The saltiness of the sea filled her lungs, and her heavy
heart felt a little lighter.
“Maxi, don’t stand too close to the railing”
Riftan had been watching the horses board the ship, and he now beckoned her
over. Embarrassed that she had been acting like an excited child when they
were on their way to battle, Maxi quickly went to him.
