Me and Kai moved swiftly through the winding streets, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders. The Blackwater Crew had agreed to supply weapons, but that was just the beginning. If their rebellion was to have any hope of success, they needed more than blades and crossbows—they needed the people.
The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the city in a golden haze as they made their way toward the heart of the district where the workers and merchants gathered. The bustling sounds of commerce and life still echoed in the streets, but there was an undercurrent of unease. Luna could sense it in the way people avoided eye contact, how they muttered quietly to one another. The nobles had been tightening their grip ever since the patriarch's death, and now the city’s pulse felt tense, as if everyone was waiting for something to break.
Kai, ever vigilant, scanned their surroundings. "Do you really think they'll listen?" he asked, his tone quiet but firm.
“They have no choice,” I replied, determination lining her voice. “They’re losing everything—just like we did. We just need to show them there’s a way out. That there’s hope.”
As they turned into the central square, they saw the heart of the city’s labor force gathered. Merchants haggled over goods, dockworkers finished their shifts, and groups of craftsmen stood around discussing the day’s work. Luna glanced at Kai, nodding once, before stepping up onto a crate, raising her voice to be heard over the din.
“People of the City of Wolves!” my voice cut through the chatter, and heads began to turn. “Listen to me!”
At first, there was little reaction—just the confused murmurs of a few. But as more people recognized her, the crowd began to quiet. My reputation had spread through the city. I wasn’t just a former slave anymore; I was a symbol of resistance, of change. The people knew her name.
“I know you’re tired,” I continued, her voice growing stronger. “Tired of the nobles bleeding you dry. Tired of watching them raise their taxes, take your homes, your livelihoods. Tired of living in fear of their whims.”
A few nods rippled through the crowd, and Kai stepped forward beside her, adding his voice. “They’re not going to stop until they own everything. The nobles think they can take control of this city, but they’ve forgotten something—this city belongs to us. It belongs to all of you.”
My heart raced, but she pushed forward, feeding off the growing energy in the crowd. “We’re here to fight for that. To take back what’s ours. But we can’t do it alone. We need all of you—your strength, your courage, your unity.”
An older man in the front, a dockworker with calloused hands and a skeptical glare, crossed his arms. “And who’s going to lead this so-called fight, huh? You? What makes you think you can stand up to the nobles?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Not just me. Not just Kai.” I paused, feeling the weight of her next words. “The next patriarch.”
A ripple of shock went through the crowd. The murmurs turned into an uproar as people began to speak over one another, questioning, whispering.
“The nobles took power because the patriarch was gone, but they don’t own it. There is someone who can stand up to them,” I said, holding my hands up to quiet the crowd. “Kai is the rightful heir. He is the one who can unite this city against the nobles.”
Obviously, Kai isn't an heir to anything, but they don't know that.
Kai stiffened beside me, clearly uneasy with the declaration. This wasn't in the plan but, I'm sure Kai will adjust, I knew it was the only way to get the people on their side. He had no choice but to keep his emotions in check because people were watching. Perfect plan If I do say so myself. The nobles had power, but what they feared most was someone with a legitimate claim to the city’s leadership—a symbol the people could rally behind.
“The son of the last patriarch?” a merchant called out. “But he hasn’t done anything for us before! Why should we trust him?”
I couldn't tell If Kai was going to burst from anger or turn around and beat the crap out of me.
Kai stepped forward, taking a deep breath. His voice, usually reserved, was steady and calm. “You’re right. I haven’t done enough in the past. But I’m here now. I’ve seen what the nobles are doing—how they’re taking everything from you. From us. I don’t want power. I don’t care about the title. But I won’t stand by while the nobles tear this city apart.”
I watched as the crowd absorbed his words, their expressions shifting from suspicion to something softer—hope, perhaps. She could feel the tide turning.
“We’re not asking for blind trust,” I added, her voice urgent. “We’re asking for a chance. A chance to fight for our city. With Kai as patriarch, we can rally the forces we need. We can win this.”
The crowd murmured again, but this time there were nods, voices of agreement rising from the sea of faces.
“And what happens if we lose?” someone shouted from the back. “The nobles won’t just stop—they’ll burn this place to the ground if they have to.”
My eyes flashed with determination. “If we do nothing, they’ll burn it down anyway. But if we stand together, we have a chance. We’ll be ready for them, with allies and weapons. We’ve already secured the support of the Blackwater Crew. We’re preparing for war.”
Another murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd at the mention of the Blackwater Crew. The smuggling organization was notorious, but if they were backing Luna and Kai, it meant the rebellion had real weight behind it.
Kai stepped forward, his voice ringing clear over the square. “This is our city. We fight together, or we fall together. The nobles may have power, but they don’t have the right to rule us. Only we decide that.”
There was a pause, the crowd hanging on his words. Then, slowly, a cheer began to rise, swelling into a chorus of voices. Laborers, merchants, dockworkers—they all began chanting together, united in their defiance.
I exchanged a glance with Kai, a silent understanding passing between them. This was it. The first step toward real rebellion.
"The next step would be to make a grand speech to let people know that we are on the same page," I said while grinning.
Kai turns his face towards me slowly "You want me to do what now? No no no... I don't do speeches Luna... I refuse."
I pull him to the side where no one could hear our conversation, "Look Kai, you trust me right?" I say while putting my hand on his shoulder.
He looks at me up and down, "Do I even have a choice at this point?"
"Nope, now get out there and make your big speech Mr. Patriarch." I slap him on the back.
The city was beginning to rally behind them, but there was still so much work to be done. The nobles would not sit idly by, and The Spider's web was tightening. But for now, they had taken the first major step toward victory.
As they reached the grand square, a place that had once been the heart of the city under the patriarch’s rule, I glanced at Kai. His expression was calm, but she could see the tension beneath the surface. This was his moment—the moment where he would step into the role he had always avoided, the role of leadership.
Kai scanned the faces of the gathered crowd, the weight of their expectations pressing down on him. I stood at his side, her silent support giving him strength. He stepped up onto the raised platform in the center of the square, taking a deep breath before turning to face the people.
The crowd fell silent, eyes fixed on him, waiting. This wasn’t just a speech—it was a call to arms, a declaration of war against the nobles. And everyone present knew the risks that came with it.
Kai began to speak, his voice strong but measured, carrying across the square. “People of the City of Wolves,” he began, his words clear and deliberate. “For too long, we have lived under the heel of the nobles. For too long, they have ruled over us with cruelty and greed. They’ve taken from us, pushed us to the brink, and left us with nothing. But today, that ends.”
The crowd murmured in agreement, their eyes locked on him.
“My father, the last patriarch, believed in this city,” Kai continued, his voice gaining strength. “He was a bad person he believed that he control people through fear tactics and suppression— Now the nobles want to do the same thing they want to seize power and force all of us to work for them... I swear on my blood as a royal that I won't let that happen! I will give you all a better future starting right now join our cause, and we will for sure seek out our freedom!
Kai’s gaze swept over them, his jaw tightening with resolve. “I’ve stayed silent for too long. I’ve watched as they turned this city into their playground, as they used your labor to fill their coffers, as they built walls around their wealth while you all starved outside. No more.”
I watched as the crowd grew more attentive, drawn in by Kai’s words. I could see the flicker of hope beginning to stir in their eyes.
“I stand before you today, not as a noble, not as a ruler, but as one of you,” Kai said, his voice ringing with sincerity. “Together, we can take back this city. I will not claim the title of patriarch for the sake of power—I will claim it for the people. For all of us.”
The crowd was listening now, their silence heavy with anticipation.
“They call us rebels, but we are more than that,” Kai declared, his voice rising. “We are the future of this city. And we will not be silenced. We will not be broken. We will fight for our homes, for our families, for the freedom to live without fear of the nobles’ cruelty.”
A few cheers began to rise from the crowd, growing louder with each passing moment.
“I won’t lie to you,” Kai continued, his tone serious. “This fight will not be easy. The nobles have wealth, they have power, and they will stop at nothing to keep it. But we have something they will never understand. We have each other. We have the strength of the people. And that is a power greater than any coin or crown.”
The crowd was roaring now, the energy palpable. I felt the shift—the tide was turning. The people actually believed this guy was a noble.
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-To be continued
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