Page 40 of The Orc Chief's Baker
“No. It can’t. You need to comenow. And take off that disgusting apron.”
An unusual amount of rage bubbled up in Trinia’s throat and she shot Yerina the kind of look that made her sister’s eyes widen. “I amnotin the mood for this, Yerina.”
There was a tense silence in which Trinia thought she could smell her sister’s mind smoking. Or perhaps that was just the bread burning in the oven. Trinia went and took the slightly too dark rolls out and slid them onto a cooling rack.
“Trinia, I know things have been hard.”
Trinia’s back straightened, and she whipped around to find her sister lookingearnest.
Yerina met her eyes. “I know I haven’t been the easiest. But... this is important. Will you come with me?Please.”
Fades, had her sistereversaid please to her in a tone that wasn’t sarcastic or demeaning? Trinia couldn’t recall.
She knew her sister was trying to manipulate her. Sheknewthat. But curiosity bubbled up within her and despite the warning blaring in her mind, Trinia couldn’t fight the bone deep jittering to discover whatexactlyit was her sister had cooked up. She certainly wasn’t going to drop her guard, not at all, but...
“All right.” Trinia undid the tie of her apron. “Do I have time to freshen up?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Yerina said with a hard exhale that took quite a bit of tension with it. Trinia was surprised that her sister was this tense over something and her curiosity doubled.
Trinia hung the apron and turned to face her sister. Yerina’s nose wrinkled. She looked down at Trinia’s dress with disgust and Trinia couldn’t even blame her.
She hadn’t bothered to change it since yesterday. She’d even slept in it. Her hair was coated with flour, her skin felt sticky, and her sister insisted that all she had time for was a quick wash of her hands and face before they headed out into the chilly evening. They walked toward their home near the far east of the village.
Oakwall was rather pretty at this time. The sun had nearly set and only a smear of orange remained behind the tree line. Winter had fallen steadily, but they’d only suffered one majorsnowstorm so far. The paths had been shoveled clear and fluffy white heaps lined them. Many bore the signs of children playing: footprints, snow balls, tiny snowmen.
The house windows glowed merrily, revealing residents whom she recognized, settling in and readying for bed. She glanced through one large window into the living room of Kavin and his family. His three children were all bundled up in blankets, listening to him tell a tale. His wife sat on the couch next to him, looking drowsy and content.
Trinia wondered what that would have been like. To have a family that actuallycaredfor each other instead of a louse for a father and a selfish twat for a sister.
She followed Yerina closely all the way to their cabin. The log structure had been built by their great-grandfather, and from looking at it, one might assume that had been the last time anyone had bothered taking care of it.
It was a single-story home with two bedrooms and no bathroom. They used an outhouse accessible from the back door.
As they got close, her fingers itched to sketch. To plan. She’d spent many late nights outlining a way to split the house down the middle. Create a wall that would make the single dwelling into two spaces. One for her, the other for Yerina. So, they would each have a place to live, but would never have to see or speak to each other.
That was before her father had died and his will had been read. Back when Trinia had assumed she’d get half the house and not just half of the bakery.
Trinia looked at the outside of the tiny, bedraggled cabin and found that the two windows that had once had cracks weremended. “Who fixed those?”
“Rori. Who else?”
“Rori doesn’t fix glass for free. What did you trade for it?” Trinia’s mind flitted over which pans Rori might have taken in exchange.
Perhaps she could try to get them back. Rori did like sourdough...
“I gave him father’s old hand wagon.”
“You did... he wantedthatold thing? It was half rotten.”
“It’s better than none at all,” Yerina said with a sly smile.
“But why would he want one? He carries all his tools on his belt.”
Yerina rose her brows. “Because he wants toleave, of course.”
Trinia swallowed hard. “You’re not serious.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Plenty of folks are talking about leaving since the warrior orcs started to settle here.”
