Page 58 of The Orc Chief’s Baker (Orc Mates Of Faeda #4)

“Generosity?” Trinia chuckled. “Is that what forcing me into servitude is?” Ronhold’s face was beet red as he sputtered.

Trinia continued. “Even if some might consider your offer to be generous, I still wouldn’t take it.

I won’t continue to labor at something I don’t enjoy.

That’s not what my mother would have wanted for me. ”

“This is your last chance, girl!” Ronhold raged so loudly she could smell the sour stink on his breath. “If you don’t agree, I will never let you set foot in this bakery again!”

That should have spiked fear in her. Fear and sorrow and grief.

And instead, her chest lightened with . . . relief.

“Then I’d better finish gathering my clothes.” Trinia turned toward her cabinets. “Or will you try to say those belong to you too?”

But as she stepped away, Ronhold snatched up her arm and held it so tight she yelped in pain.

“You think you can make a fool of me, girl!” he bellowed in her face. “You’ve seen what I do to people who stand in my way.”

“I have.” Trinia tried to yank out of his grip, but it was too strong. “And it’s shown me I’d rather be destitute than work with someone who could be so savage.”

“You will obey me!” Ronhold raged. His eyes were bloodshot. “You will marry my son and bake my goods and you will be glad for it .”

In a flash of green, a force pulled Ronhold back. Trinia was yanked and nearly toppled as her arm was wrenched out of the vile man’s grip. A thunderous crash sounded as Ronhold was pinned to the wall.

By Brovdir.

Trinia blinked in shock at the sight of the man going deathly pale in the face of Brovdir’s snarling countenance. Her recipe book fell out of his hands and hit the floor with a hard thud.

Her shoulder was gripped tight and Yerina appeared at her side, holding her. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

The concern on Yerina’s face was so startling Trinia almost couldn’t process it.

“What is going on here?”

The headman’s booming voice sounded loudly as a deadly quiet fell over the room. Only Ronhold’s gasping could be heard. His face was going bright red as he scrambled against Brovdir’s chokehold.

“Chief Brovdir.” Gerald’s voice was tight. “I understand you’re distressed, but don’t choke him to death or you’ll ruin the peace.”

Trinia hurried forward and placed a hand on Brovdir’s arm, and he instantly released Ronhold, who collapsed to the floor gasping and sputtering.

“Ronhold, explain yourself,” Gerald demanded. “Why are you here attacking Trinia?”

Ronhold coughed as he grated. “I was not attacking her. I was trying to make her see reason!”

“Explain.” Gerald’s tone was low and unyielding.

Ronhold gritted his teeth, clearly unwilling to lay out all his dastardly plans to the headman.

“He made a deal with their father.”

They all looked to find Tobbis in the doorway. His head hung and his eyes darting to his father and away. “He made a deal. Drink in exchange for... the bakery.”

“I’ve heard about that from Chief Brovdir,” Headman Gerald said with a glower at Ronhold. “ Mead in exchange for the bakery ? A dastardly deal, even for you .”

“It was a fair deal!” Ronhold rose to his full height but flinched as Brovdir growled low. Trinia gave Brovdir’s arm a tug, and he backed off. “I have the contracts to prove it!”

“Bring them to me. Now,” Gerald said firmly and Ronhold instantly dug in his inside jacket to produce the dreaded paper Trinia had been shown before. Gerald took it and examined it, his brow furrowed by the moment.

Trinia knew from his expression that the contract was grim.

Gerald looked between Trinia and Yerina. “Why did you not tell me of this contract before now?”

“I didn’t know,” Trinia said.

“Yerina?” Headman Gerald’s voice left no room for dismissal.

Yerina looked at the ground. “There... there was no way out of it. And Ronhold offered to let us keep control of the bakery until his son came of age, as long as we paid a stipend every moon. After Tobbis came of age, Trinia could marry him and still keep half of the bakery.”

Gerald glowered at Ronhold. “Is that true? Did you coerce her?”

“It was no coercion! It was a fair deal! I was very generous!”

“Generous, huh? Tell me, how much was this stipend?”

“I let them stay in the bakery! Control all the trades!”

It dawned on Trinia then. She turned to her sister. “Is that why you kept selling things off? Why you kept taking pans and supplies? To pay for Ronhold’s stipend?”

“What else was I supposed to do?” Yerina sounded alarmingly close to tears.

“You could have come to me,” Headman Gerald said firmly and Yerina shrunk like a scolded child. The headman sighed heavily. “Yerina, I know we’ve been at odds before, but I can’t believe you wouldn’t trust me to help you with something so vital.”

“There’s nothing you can do!” Ronhold spat. “You may be headman, but you cannot override valid contracts. You know that.”

“I do.” Headman Gerald rose his head. “And that is true. I cannot override valid contracts, but this contract isn’t valid. The bakery wasn’t Jevin’s to give.”

“Of course it was!” Ronhold said. “Mirrani was dead! Jevin had full control of the bakery at that time.”

“No. He had no control,” Headman Gerald said. “Mirrani willed the bakery to Trinia.”

There was a pregnant pause where even the air felt still. All of Trinia’s breath left her.

And then Ronhold raged. “That’s absurd! Trinia wasn’t old enough to inherit anything! She was still a child!”

“Children can still inherit, Ronhold,” Headman Gerald muttered. “Just because you do not trust your son with your business does not mean others don’t trust their own.”

“I never heard about Trinia inheriting! She clearly didn’t even know.”

“Yes, it’s clear she didn’t. And for that, I apologize.

” Gerald met Trinia’s eyes again. “Your father said that you and your sister were too distraught to attend the reading of her will, so I approached you delicately after. Too delicately, it seems. Do you remember when I came to you and told you that the bakery was yours now?”

“Yes.” Trinia clung to Brovdir’s arm for support as she reeled from this new information. “I just thought you meant it was my responsibility .”

Gerald exhaled, “I’m sorry. I should have been clearer. I should have known your mind would be clouded at the time. The bakery is yours, Trinia. Here is the will to prove it.”

Trinia felt like her chest would burst and her voice warbled as she took the paper from Headman Gerald. Her mother’s hand was obvious. “My mother... really left it to me.”

Brovdir shifted to bring an arm around her middle and pull her into his side. She sagged against him.

Headman Gerald’s eyes softened. “She did. She loved you dearly and trusted you above all others to run it.” He sighed. “I am ashamed to admit that because you immediately took it over, I took that to mean you knew it was yours. I am truly sorry for all the hurt this has caused you.”

Trinia’s stomach twisted and she couldn’t find words. Brovdir pulled her in closer and she leaned into his strength and warmth. His support seemed endless, and she soaked it up.

“They still owe me for my deal with Jevin!” Ronhold raged. “They owe me his debt!”

The headman scowled. “Stop spouting nonsense. Debts die with the person who made them. You know that better than anyone.”

Ronhold went so red in the face that Trinia thought he might explode. “I’ll overturn that law!”

Headman Gerald grinned slyly. “You likely could. You have enough friends to sway the vote. But if you do, then all debts from the past will be owed by the kin. Including your fathers . How much leather had he neglected to pay for before he died? I suppose I can just look in the town ledger. I’ve kept excellent records. ”

Ronhold huffed and heaved and then stormed out of the bakery, shouting. “This isn’t the end!”

“Oh, I think it is,” Headman Gerald said smugly.

Ronhold turned to glower at him before shouting. “Tobbis, come on!”

His son reluctantly followed his father, but not before pausing to give Trinia a sorrowful look and stare longingly toward Yerina one more time.

“S-so . . .” Yerina said cautiously, “it’s ours? The bakery is really . . . ours?”

Gerald gave her a flat look. “It is your sister’s and no one else’s.”

Yerina went pale and wouldn’t meet Trinia’s eyes. “I’m... I’m sorry. Truly, Trinia, I thought I was doing the right thing.”

Trinia didn’t have words. She’d hardly begun to process that they’d won over Ronhold, let alone think about the part her sister played.

But one thing was clear. “It isn’t entirely your fault, Yerina.”

“So... so you forgive me?” Yerina’s voice was tinged with hope. “You’ll still help me, right? I’ll starve without the bakery, Trinia. I have no way of supporting myself otherwise.”

Trinia took a deep breath, chest tight, stomach twisting. She looked up at Brovdir, who looked equally tense as he waited for her response.

Her heart swelled, and she gave his hand a squeeze before letting him go.

She steeled herself and walked over to where the recipe book had been dropped to the floor. She picked it up, brushed off the dust and flour, hugged it tight to her chest.

“For a long time... I worked this bakery out of duty. And I didn’t love it like mama and grandma, but I couldn’t give it up either, because it’s all I had.” She met Brovdir’s eyes. “But that’s not true anymore.”

She walked over to Yerina, who was watching her with wide, hopeful eyes, and placed the book in her hands.

“I give the bakery to you, Yerina.”

“W-what?” Yerina fumbled with the heavy tome.

“It’s hard work, but if you keep at it, you’ll have more than enough to support yourself.”

“You can’t be serious!” Yerina gaped like a fish. “You can’t expect me to—to work ?”

Trinia smirked. “You’ve relied on me and others long enough, Yerina.”

“I’ll fail, Trinia!” Yerina said frantically as Trinia grabbed the last of her clothes from the cabinet. “I’ll ruin it! All of mother’s hard work will be destroyed and it will be your fault.”

“Perhaps you will destroy it, Yerina. But that will be your fault. Not mine.” Trinia walked over to Brovdir and took his hand. He beamed down at her and she could feel his happiness warming her up from the inside out.

“But this is your home!”

“I have a new home now,” Trinia said, still looking into Brovdir’s eyes. “One I chose for myself. And it might not be the bakery my ancestors built, but I think they would be happy to see me thrive just the same.”

Brovdir’s face crumbled, and he gathered her up in his arms, lifting her so effortlessly it made her burst into laughter.

“Are you sure?” he asked, searching her face.

“Yes.” She cupped his cheek. “Yes, Brovdir. I choose you over everything . I want to stay with you.”

He clasped the back of her neck and kissed her so deeply it curled her toes and turned her muscles to mush. She felt awash with relief and comfort and wonder.

She felt like she was home.

“I can’t believe this!” Yerina cried.

Brovdir put her down, but the feel of his warmth remained all around her. She took him by the hand and guided him out of the bakery.

Headman Gerald gave them both a nod as they exited. “I’ll note the change in ownership in the records.”

“Thank you,” Trinia said. “For everything.”

“I’ll see you again soon, Chief,” Headman Gerald said with a nod. He turned and began making his way back to the meeting hall.

“Wait!” Yerina rushed out of the bakery as Brovdir helped Trinia put the last of her clothes on the cart. “You can’t just leave !”

“The bakery is yours now, Yerina,” Trinia said with a little laugh.

“I refuse to take it!” Yerina stomped her foot like a child. “I refuse .”

Trinia snorted. “Well then, you’d better catch up to Headman Gerald and tell him not to write your name down when he takes mine off.”

Yerina sputtered, went pale, clenched her fists.

And then dashed off toward the headman.

“Are you concerned?” Brovdir gave her hand a little squeeze.

“No,” Trinia said with a hard breath. “She’s a grown woman—older than me. She’ll figure it out.”

She walked over and stroked the bakery’s doorframe. “I’ve made a lifetime of memories here. And I still have them.”

Brovdir watched tensely as she came back to his side. She reached up to stroke his cheek, brushed her fingers over the scar at his throat.

“So much about our future is uncertain.” She felt him swallow against her fingertips. “Everything is changing.”

“Too much?” he asked.

She looked into the warmth of his eyes and took his hand. “No. Not too much. Not when we’re together. The future the Fades call forth could shake the foundation of our world, and it wouldn’t matter. Because we’ll stay stable, Brovdir. I know we will.”

Delight flooded his features, and he lifted her off the ground. He kissed her with a passion she’d never known. And when they broke apart, she could still feel his strength deep in her chest. Thrumming and warm and as sure as the coming of spring.

“Let’s go home and make new memories.”

The End