Page 141 of The Orc Chief's Baker
“There you are!”
The shriek echoed in the bakery and Trinia spun around to find Yerina barreling into the room with the same ferocity as an angry boar.
“Wherehave you been?” Yerina reached out to snatch her arm, but she stepped back, evading her grip. “You’ve nearly ruinedeverything. Do you know how hard I’ve worked to get Ronhold to agree to marry his son off to you? Do youwantus to be destitute? Now come on! We need to go to Ronhold before it’s too late.”
“It’salreadytoo late, Yerina.” Trinia looked around the room for any more belongings she wanted to take. “There’s no way I’m marrying Tobbis.”
“Youhaveto.”
“I don’thaveto do anything.”
“So that’s it? We lose the bakery because you are too stupid and stubborn to see reason? What would mama think if she were here to see you giving up?”
The roaring flame of guilt that exploded in Trinia’s gut was tremendous. What would she think? “I... I’m not?—”
“Youhaveto marry Tobbis, Trinia,” Yerina snapped. “We’ll loseeverything. What would mother even think of you? You’ve been away from the bakery fortwo days. Don’t you have orders to fill? Where have you evenbeen?”
Then Yerina’s eyes snapped to the bandage on Trinia’s shoulder. One she’d nearly forgotten was there.
Because the injury felt like a part of her already.
Yerina yanked the bandage back so fast it was a blur, and Trinia wasn’t able to smack her hand away in time.
“No!” Yerina gasped out. “Are thoseorcteeth marks?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“It’s that warrior chief, isn’t it? The one who was sniffing around you before! That beast has?—”
“Donottalk about Brovdir like that,” Trinia seethed with enough malice that Yerina went pale and snapped her trap shut.
“Glad to see we’re all in fighting spirits this morning.”
Trinia’s breath seized in her throat as she turned to find Ronhold stepping into the bakery. His eyes were beady and confident. He had perfectly combed his white hair, his face looked fresh, and he wore some of the finest clothes Oakwall offered. His posture reeked of superiority. Everything about him made her want to bolt.
But she couldn’t. She needed to face this.
Tobbis followed close behind his father. He was dressed just as fine, but looked so much more awkward.
“Are you playing conquest to one of our new orc chiefs?” Ronhold asked.
“That isn’t any of your business.” Trinia worked hard to keep her voice level.
A wide grin spread across Ronhold’s face, and Trinia shivered with dismay. “What boons did he offer you in exchange? He’s the chief to the clan, so I know he must have promised something good.”
Trinia clenched her fists and refused to speak.
“I assume it’s for the bakery, since I know how devoted you are. Out with it, girl.”
Trinia glowered at him.
Ronhold smirked in a way that turned her stomach. “Fine, keep your secrets for now. We’ll discover what boons he’s giving you soon enough, since half of it will belong to my son.”
“I amnotmarrying your son.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have much of a choice,” Ronhold said. “If you don’t marry him, then you will lose this bakery forever.”
“Trinia, please, listen toreason.” Yerina stepped forward with pretty, shimmering tears in her eyes. “We’ll starve if you try to go against Ronhold.”
