Page 42 of The Savage Vow
The contract was inside.
She had taken it.
The realization sent a shiver through her. Fear and pride tangled in her chest. She had never stolen anything in her life. She had always been the one to obey. She’d endured solars of Yambul’s tantrums, rage, and barbs, but never had she done anything like this. She had crossed a line that she couldn’t go back over.
No matter what was written on the parchment, she was proud of herself.
Finally, she reached her home. She was breathless, and her hands trembled. She fumbled with the lock, eventually getting the door open. She slipped inside and shut it behind her. Shebarred it and breathed a sigh of relief. The small space smelled faintly of woodsmoke and herbs.
She was home.
This was her private domain.
She rested back against the door for a moment and squeezed her eyes shut. She held her breath and listened. Nothing.
No footsteps. No shouting. No enraged orc demanding answers to why she’d stolen from him.
Slowly, she went into her bedroom. She went over into the far corner and pulled up the loose floorboard beneath her bed. Her hand shook as she tucked the folded parchment beneath it. This would hide it deep where it would not be found unless someone knew exactly where to look.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
A knock came at the door.
Orlena nearly screamed. She caught herself, her hand flying to her chest. Her heart pounded so fast she could hear the rush of blood in her ears.
“Orlena!” a familiar voice called out throughout the door. “It’s Isha.”
Orlena let out a shaky breath. She dropped her bag onto her bed and headed out of the room. She smoothed the wayward strands of hair from her face then opened the front door.
Isha stood there, her smile warm. She was older than Orlena by a few solars. Her dark hair had strands of silver streaking through it. She’d said that the women in her family grayed early and she was proud of her silver strands.
“You ran past my window like the hounds of Hell were after you,” Isha said with a chuckle. Her eyes were kind but sharp. There was a curious glint in them. “I thought you might be hungry. I cooked something good today.”
“I didn’t realize I was that obvious. I-I didn’t eat lunch today,” she fibbed. She hadn’t had a chance to go out to themarket for a meal, but she’d snacked on some dried meat and bread she had taken with her.
Isha stared at her. She canted her head to the side, her lips still curled up in a soft smile.
“Come over and eat. You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Isha said.
“Just give me a moment. I’ll be right over,” Orlena said.
Isha nodded and spun on her heels and headed down the walkway. Orlena closed the door and sighed. She went back into her bedroom and made sure the floorboard was still in place with no signs of being manipulated. She quickly used the facilities to relieve her bladder and washed her hands, then went over to Isha’s.
The warmth of her neighbor’s home wrapped her up immediately. Some of their other neighbors were there, sitting around Isha’s circular table, enjoying the meal. The home smelled of spices and roasted vegetables. Someone had caught a few pekares that Isha had skinned and prepared. The meat was succulent and the vegetables divine. Orlena actually enjoyed the small conversations. They were all enjoying the calm before the next storm that was promised, going by the dark, heavy clouds that had gathered overhead in the last hour.
For a brief while, Orlena let herself be normal, forgetting what had transpired at the shop before she’d come home.
She ate her food and listened to the latest gossip of the neighborhood. Jokes were shared, and most of the tension that had rested in her shoulders eased away.
Soon, one by one, each person made their excuses of needing to get home. It left Orlena and Isha alone. Isha had put on a kettle of water and had made some tea. She poured them both a cup and sat across from Orlena at the table. She propped her hand on her chin and arched her eyebrow.
“So,” Isha began casually. “The orc.”
Orlena’s fingers tightened on the handle of her cup. Her breath froze in her chest.
“What orc?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Orlena.” She stared at Orlena with a knowing glint in her eyes. Her lips tipped up. “The one who walked you home the other night. Tall. Green. Walked close enough as if she were ready to punch the shadows for daring to look at you.”
