Page 42 of The Orc Chief's Baker
The statement hit her so hard she felt like she’d been slapped across the face.
“It’s the perfect union. Tobbis needs to learn some discipline and working with you in the bakery will be just the thing to do it.”
She was reeling, completely gobsmacked. Her whole body froze up to the point that she couldn’t get air into her lungs, and the room spun a little.
“Tobbis, tell her how excited you are to be her new husband.”
The boy had gone pale, and his nose curled like he’d smelled something foul.
“Tobbis has been waiting a long time to come of age. He’s always wanted to have children. And won’t they be lucky to be born into such a profitable family?”
He’d always wantedwhat? Trinia felt sick and she could tell from the color of Tobbis’s complexion he felt much the same.
“With my business sense, I’m certain I can make significantly better trades and get the bakery running the way it was meant to. Both you and your children will sing my praises by the end.”
The words punctuated through Trinia like a poker. They left her feeling raw, heated, and determined to escape this complete insanity.
She turned on her heel and stomped toward the exit.
“Where are you going?” Yerina snapped.
“Away from the lot of you. This is madness. I’m not marrying anyone.”
“Trinia, Tobbis will make you a fine husband,” Yerina said.
“I amnotmarrying the cobbler’s son.” Trinia punctuated each word so hard that she could feel them vibrating in the air around them.
“I think you will.” Ronhold’s confidence was something tangible, and Trinia could feel herself sinking even before he finished. “Because if you don’t, you will lose the bakery entirely.”
Trinia sputtered, undaunted by the man’s ruthless tone. “The bakery has belonged to my family for generations. You can’t do anything to change that.”
“I’m sure this is all coming as quite a shock to you. Yerina tells me she never actuallytoldyou about the predicament you’re in.” Ronhold looked her square in the eye, and she couldn’t break his stare as he shattered her world. “The bakery isours,girl. And I’ve got the contracts here to prove it.”
Trinia felt a zing of fear go down her spine. Ronhold picked up a scroll that she hadn’t noticed on the table and displayed it to her view. “Take a look for yourself.”
Trinia’s hands shook as she snatched the yellowed and frayed paper from the man’s hands. She unrolled it to find her late father’s scrawling handwriting marring the surface.
A contract. A contract to get liquor on a regular basis from Ronhold.
In exchange for the bakery.
Her knees felt weak, her head spun, and the forest around her dimmed. “This... this cannot be.”
“I’m sure you recognize your father’s hand and signature. You see the bakery was officially owned bymethe moment he died. It’s out of the good of my own heart that I allowed you and your sister to continue working these last few years. Well... that and Yerina’s prompting.”
Trinia shot a look at her sister and her stomach dropped so hard she felt dizzy. Yerina’s head was bowed, her eyes were misty, and her posture wasdefeated.
Trinia had never seen her sister look contrite before.
“She convinced me that the bakery meansnothingwithout you at the helm to bake. And I very much agree. You have a keen talent, Trinia. Though you aren’t so wise on thebusinessside of things. You give far too much away and offer far more charity than I will allow. Giving away food to the needy and elderly... pah! What good does that do you other than to diminish your resources? Better to give scraps to the pigs. At least they get fattened up for our table.”
Fury sparked in Trinia’s veins and the itch to slap the horrible man was so strong her palm tingled.
“From this moment forward, you will obey my commands, and I’ll hear no complaints. I could have left you destitute long ago, you know? Why, I’ve beenextremelygenerous in allowingyou to not only continue to takeallthe bakery’s profit, but alsoliveinside it.”
“I’ll... I’ll go to Headman Gerald,” Trinia said in desperation, but Ronhold only laughed. The chortling sound swirled around her.
“Go right ahead, Trinia. This contract is completelyvalid. Anyone can see that’s your father’s signature.”
