Page 99 of The Orc Chief's Baker
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Savili said. “Soon the winter storms will be too bad, and they won’t be able to leave.”
Trinia felt her blood still in her veins. “Savili, you must bejesting.”
Her cold expression told Trinia everything.
“You intend totrapthe villagers here.” Suddenly, the room around her felt too small. “To force us to stay in these woods.”
“No! It’s not like that. You just have to stay until spring. By then, they’ll be used to the warriors and won’t want to leave anymore.”
“Savili, that’sdeceit. Lying to them by omission. Can’t you see how wrong that is?”
“My mother already wants to leave, Trinia.”
Trinia stilled at her words. Her eyes went so wide she could feel a chill on them.
Savili’s eyes were shimmery as tears filled them. “She wrote to me just a few days ago. Said she’s almost convinced father and wants me to go with them.”
Trinia shook her head. “She... shewouldn’t.These woods are our home. They’re all we’ve ever known.”
“Yes, they are, but that isn’t stopping her, and many of her friends, from wanting to leave.”
“It makes no sense,” Trinia said breathlessly.
“Doesn’t it?” Savili asked. “We talked about leaving while we were growing up, don’t you remember?”
“Those were just childish fantasies,” Trinia said with a shake of her head. “Daydreams.”
“They weren’t just daydreams to many. My mother often talked about wanting to see the world. To travel. To leave Oakwall behind and set out to make a new life for herself in a new place.”
“But... but what about our traditions? Our values? The businesses and legacies our ancestors left behind?”
Savili’s eyes softened but her words were firm. “Trinia, I know your family’s traditions mean a lot to you, but there are many in Oakwall who didn’t inherit their families’ businesses.”
Trinia’s throat closed.
“Many have started to think that if the warrior orcs can settlehere, then humans could easily settle out there. They’ve come with their new stories and their new ways and tales of all the amazing things they’ve seen—the mountains, the rivers, the new plants and animals.” Savili looked her in the eyes. “Human settlements ten times larger than Oakwall with new opportunities to match.”
She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t do anything but wring her hands.
“They want to leave already, Trinia, and if they found out about the sinkholes, about theprophecy, that would push them over the edge they are already teetering on.”
Trinia took a deep breath as her mind rebelled against the truth she already knew. Most of the villagers worked under business owners. Most had siblings they shared their inheritance with, or they didn’t inherit anything at all.
She was one of them now.
She was going to have to start all over.
Iytier came down the stairs and had obviously heard their conversation. “I’ll contact Sythcol and let him know you’re here.”
Trinia’s back straightened. “There’s no need. I’m going back to Oakwall now. If you won’t help me tell Headman Gerald about this, I’ll do it on my own.”
Iytier’s eyes were cold. “We can’t let you do that, Trinia.”
Goosebumps broke out along her arms. “I’d like to see you try to stop me.”
She got up and went to the door. Yanked the doorhandle.
But it didn’t budge.
