Page 46 of The Orc Chief's Baker
What would Trinia think of this? Would she laugh?
His mood lightened as he imagined it. “Yes, thewarriors.Not boar.”
“Well...” There was a short pause in which the three of them looked between each other. Plog pinched his lips with his long fingers. Bolsan’s brow wrinkled as he thought. Jolin’s eyes unfocused as he sat back.
“You want us to house the warriors?” Plog asked.
Brovdir nodded.
“And you said there are fivethousand.”
“Or more.”
Another long silence.
Bolsan broke it with a bark. “Blast,you’reour leader now. Shouldn’t you be the one coming up with the ideas?”
Brovdir glowered, but the elderly male just shrugged him off.
“I don’t have any idea how to take care of five thousand orc warriors.” Bolsan waved his hand dismissively and the other two elders appeared just as resigned. “I don’t even know how they’re all going tofitin these woods. You’re the chief. Housing them and ensuring their wellbeing is your responsibility.”
Brovdir heaved a heavy sigh. Heknewthat. But he had hoped these elderly males, with much more life experience, might help him come up with an idea.
Because, as of right now, they hadnothingprepared. Certainly, there were some warriors, like his own brethren, who were accustomed to camping over the winter, but most of them lived in clans. Most of them enjoyed thick walls to keep out the chill and warm beds to lie down in and only slept under the stars in the heat of summer.
To say nothing of the ones with human mates and children.
He couldn’t just welcome them to these woods and then foist them out into the wilderness to brave the elements. The hardship they’d suffer was one thing, but without clear rules on when to hunt and forage, the Rove Woods would quickly be picked clean of resources.
He’d talked to every spear-fisherman and gardener orc within the boundary of this clan and not one of them could think of a way to feed and house so many males.
Asking the elders for advice had been a long shot, but Brovdir still felt a bit hollow that his last hope had been so thoroughly dashed.
He wished... he could speak to Trinia about it.
He rubbed his chest as an odd, pulsing sensation plagued him. One that had lingered often of late.
“So, what do we do about the boar, then?”
Brovdir let out a long sigh. “Warriors, no boar.”
“Warriors...knowthe boar? How do the warriors know the boar?” Plog’s brow screwed up.
Jolin leaned forward in his seat. “Are the warriors bringing the boar? I must say, that’s rather convenient. That many boars will be mighty useful. Think of all the meat and leather!”
“I’ve already made plans on how to use the hide.” Bolsan crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh really?” Plog rose his brows eagerly. “What are you making, then?”
“Ronhold said he could tan the hide and turn them into thicker shoes that wouldn’t slip on the rocks. And his whiny son said he had some glove and belt designs he wanted to try. Said they’d only keep two-thirds of what they made, and I could keep the rest.”
“Two-thirds is robbery,” Jolin said with a snort.
“Perhaps, but what am I to do with dozens of belts and shoes?”
“You could trade them to me. I’ve got some new herbs that might help with your joint pain.”
The conversation continued on and on andonand Brovdir began to question everything about his decision to involve these males. To involveanyof the males, honestly.
