Page 15 of The Orc Chief's Baker
Karthoc groaned and Brovdir held his breath.
And then the tension finally left his brother’s frame, and he thought he might collapse with relief.
“Brovdir, I can’t decide if I want to slap your back or punch your nose clean off your face.”
Brovdir huffed a laugh and was pleased to find that his ribs had fully healed.
“You really have made my work here so much more complicated. I was hoping we couldleavein a few days’ time. I’ll never be able to tear my males away from the women if they start getting their attention.”
Brovdir brought arms up and rocked them as if he was cradling a babe.
Karthoc sighed heavily. “Yes, I know it would be worth it. I know better than all of you.”
His brother’s expression turned haunted and Brovdir lowered his arms back down. Karthoc hadn’t had a son, but he’d gotten incredibly close. The woman he’d taken for his own had lived with them for nearly a year and none could deny how dearly their warlord had cared for her.
Brovdir did not know what had transpired between Karthoc and Ovinia in those final days before she had gone, but whatever it was still haunted his brother even now.
“Fine.” Karthoc’s voice was flat. “I will find a way. Perhaps Govek knows of a path we could take that would conceal our sight and scent and prevent Ergoth from stopping us. But youare going to owe me quite a weighty boon. I hope you realize that.”
All the pain was instantly forgotten, and he gripped the bag tight in his hand. Pleasure and contentment burst through him at the warm, sweet scent.
He’d pay any price to see his woman again.
Chapter
Five
TRINIA
“Ulia, it’sreallyfine. You don’t need to apologize again.”
Trinia’s stomach was already in knots and the sun had only just started to rise above the horizon. The bakery was too hot from hours of endless baking. Many of the loaves had overbaked or underproofed. There just hadn’t been enough time.
But somehow, she’d managed to get all the rosemary bread doneandfinish three batches of cream buns. She was sure the orc would like them. He’d liked the vanilla cookies, and the buns were just a larger, more flavorful version of them.
She’d made the vanilla cookies too just in case.
Fades, she hoped this would work. She really didn’t have any other options.
“I still feel bad. I know your cart is stuffed to the brim this week,” Ulia said from where she was perched on the edge of the counter. Her golden hair looked particularly shiny and soft, and her bright blue eyes were outlined with a dark charcoal line. She wore her best yellow cotton gown which accentuated her slender figure and brought out the peachy color of her creamy skin.
Trinia was theexactopposite of her friend, but with a lifetime of being compared to her sister, she had plenty of practice stopping herself from making harsh comparisons. She’d never minded being a larger woman, and her body had always been able to carry out every task she needed it too, from long walks in the woods gathering herbs to carrying stacks of trays full of bread loaves.
Except for, of course, pulling her massively overwhelmed hand cart. But she doubted she ever would have been able to accomplish that, even if she were slender.
“My father feels terrible he can’t help you as well.” Ulia’s face was a mask of contrition and her red lips were downcast in a pretty frown. “I swear I’ll find someone to pull your cart for you.”
“There’s no need, Ulia, really,” Trinia said with a wave of her hand. “I’ll just ask Victir to do it.”
“I suppose,” Ulia conceded quietly. Trinia crossed the room and put on her thick gloves and pulled open the front of her huge cast iron oven.
The loaves were placed directly on the baking rack which left dark lines etched into the bottoms as they burned. She could only fit half the number she usually would inside because the oven was too hot at the back without the barrier of a pan and would scorch them even worse.
She carefully pulled one of the loaves near the hottest part of the oven and let out a ragged sigh as she examined the burned bottom and still doughy top. They weren’t done, but any longer and the bottom would be completely inedible.
Trinia took out the loaves and tossed them onto the counter with the rest of the burned ones.
“Allthose are bad?” Ulia hopped down from her spot and came over to look.
