Page 38 of The Orc Chief's Baker
After one last look, he turned away and followed the sound of his brother’s angry yells back to the trade pavilion.
It would take at least a moon to travel back and forth from Baelrok, plus the time it would take to make the trays. He’d have to convince Karthoc to let him come back here...
He’d manage it somehow. There was no doubt in his mind that he would find a way. He’d visit her as often as he was able and eventually... maybe...
She might play conquest for him.
His hope at the thought was too stark to ignore. He’d lost count of the times he tried to find a conquest. So many women who’d shrunk from him in terror. Who he’d kept at a respectful distance and returned to their homes untouched.
Trinia was far different from them. They’d never wanted something from him, only wanted him to go away. Trinia wasn’t like that. She’d kissed him.
His lips still tingled from the touch. Fades be praised. He almost couldn’t believe this was reality.
“Brovdir!” Karthoc hollered as he made his way out of the woods and back under the canopy of the birch trade pavilion. “Where the fuck have you been?”
“I apologize, Warlord,” he said. “I was preoccupied.”
Karthoc inhaled deeply and said, “I can smell that. She got awfully close.”
Brovdir wasn’t keen on giving his brother any of the details and, thankfully, Karthoc didn’t ask for them.
“Ergoth—the bastard—told the village headman we would bring elk to every family here. Insinuated we’d gone back on our word because we showed without them. Now I’ve promised we’ll all leavenowand get them hunted before the end of tomorrow.”
Fuck,thatwould certainly be a feat. He looked toward the line of tables, counting. There were almost thirty separate tradesmen. Thirty elk. He could hardly fathom it.
Though, he supposed it would be easier to find thirty or more unblighted elk in Rove Woods than it ever had been outside them.
His mouth was watering with want already. He’d smelled the roasted elk in the hall the night before but hadn’t been invited for a meal. Perhaps he could bring down an extra and the warriors could feast tonight.
“And I told themyouwould get five, as a show of good faith.”
Brovdir jerked with surprise. “Five?”
“Yes. I’m certain you can handle it.”
He could, but it would still be a challenge. Would likely take him all day and perhaps into the night.
But if it was the warlord’s order, then he would obey. He nodded.
The confusion must have still lingered on his face because Karthoc said, “You need to do this in order to leave a good impression on them. You need to be well liked by Oakwall, Brovdir. That is my order to you. To be friendly and outgoing toward them. Themandthe orcs of Rove Wood.”
Brovdir’s brow furrowed and his stomach sunk with dismay. Being sociable and outgoing was difficult enough for him already to say nothing of how his voice faltered after a few sentences.
He would normally never question Karthoc, but his confusion got the better of him.
“Why?”
Karthoc took a deep breath, his expression flat, his eyes stern. They left no room for argument.
“Because I’m naming you the next chief of Rove Wood.”
And with that, Brovdir’s heart fell out of his chest for the second time that day.
Chapter
Eleven
TRINIA
