Page 94 of The Orc Chief's Baker
“What’s wrong?” Brovdir demanded. It was unlike his young friend to be so uneasy around the conjurers.
“Last night, we...” Ogvick lowered his voice. “Last night Sythcol was?—”
“Ogvick! What are you saying to Brovdir?” Sythcol’s shout caused Brovdir’s spine to straighten.
“Nothing, Chief.” Ogvick’s voice was strong and firm, but Brovdir had known him nearly his entire life and could sense unease in the way Ogvick held his arms and balled his fists. “Just informing him what was made for breakfast.”
Sythcol narrowed his eyes. “I’m certain he could smell it. Just like the rest of us.” Sythcol waved an arm to indicate the fifty or so orcs and women who were all looking about as uncomfortable as Brovdir felt. Then he turned on Gegvi again, and the male shrank in on himself like a small child about to get a wallop. “I’ve hadnosleep last night and now no food either, and that’s thanks to your abysmal skills, Gegvi. Now get out of my sight! You’re completely useless to me.”
The small male jerked as if cracked with a whip and darted for the door. Brovdir’s chest felt like a hallow pit as he watched the cook scurry from the room. Sythcol straightened his clothes, the same ones he’d been wearing the day before and approached. “Ogvick. Get to work on the cooking.”
The young male’s eyes widened, and he looked to Brovdir as if he wanted to confirm the order.
Before Brovdir could respond, Sythcol snapped, “Now,” and the male swallowed hard before heading off toward the storage room near the back of the hall where extra provisions were kept.
Brovdir couldn’t recall the maleevercookinganythingbesides roasting meat on a stick. He couldn’t imagine it being any better than Gegvi’s work.
“Where’s Trinia?” Sythcol started and then he inhaled sharply. His eyes widened. His face paled. “Yousmellof her.”
Irritation bloomed in Brovdir’s chest. “That is none of your concern.”
“Come with me. Now.” Sythcol turned toward the doorway which led to the spiral staircase.
Brovdir followed without a word, though he longed to argue.
The moment they were within the privacy of the tiny room at the base of the stair, Sythcol rounded on him. “Youruttedher? What were youthinking?”
“My personal life is none of your concern.” Brovdir worked to keep the snarl from his tone.
“Itismy concern when it keeps you from your duties and forces them all onto my already overfull plate.” Sythcol’s snap echoed off the trunk of the Great Rove Tree and surrounded Brovdir in a spiral of fury and indignation. “It took youfartoo long to call the conjurers and warriors to my side last night. And I know that is because Trinia was distracting you.”
Brovdir gritted his teeth. He couldn’t deny that.
“Why can you not just do as I say, exactly when I tell you to do it?” Sythcol raged.
Trinia’s words from the night before flashed in his mind.
“You’re a chief too, Brovdir.”
“Why must I follow your every order? Am I not your equal in this?” Brovdir’s throat felt like acid as he forced the words.
“Oh, Fades,don’ttry to make excuses. You’ve never once complained about following my lead. Notonce.”
Brovdir went silent. Sythcol was right. Hehadn’tever complained. In fact, he’dwelcomedSythcol’s judgment this entire time.
He swallowed so hard that he could feel the pain of his scar ricochet down into his chest.
He looked into the eyes of the powerful conjurer before him, with his knotted hair and disheveled clothes.
Brovdir took a breath. “We should discuss later. You needsleep. Andfood.”
Sythcol gritted his teeth but finally relaxed. He raked a filthy hand through his white hair again and grimaced. “Fuck, you’re right. My mind isn’t what it should be.”
Brovdir nodded. “Later. After rest. I will deal with the clan for now.”
“Thank you.” Sythcol’s shoulders sagged. “Just make sure you don’t change anything without getting my approval first. And don’t let your warriors lapse in their duties. And... and make sure Trinia doesn’t leave before I’ve spoken with her. I need to make sure she doesn’t tell her headman about the sinkholes.”
Brovdir exhaled hard, but nodded.
