Page 17 of The Savage Vow
“You will,” Nargol said with certainty.
“You don’t know that, Bula.” Orlena barked a harsh laugh and took a few steps to bring herself back beside Nargol.
Nargol bristled at the name. She had to utilize a different one here in Soza to protect her identity, but she wanted Orlena to use her birth name.
She wanted to hear Nargol fall from Orlena’s lips.
But that wouldn’t be.
“If it is something you want, then you should go after it,” Nargol said before she could stop herself.
Their gazes locked. Heat flared swift and hard inside Nargol. Did Orlena feel what she felt? Did she feel the connection? She may be human, but she had to feel something—right?
“That’s easy for you to say. You can just go where you please. Not all of us can do that,” Orlena said.
“Explain. Why can’t you go to the ocean to see it if you want to?”
They began walking again.
Nargol folded her hands behind her to keep from reaching out to Orlena. “Does your boss not allow you holiday time?”
“I am an apprentice. I have a commitment,” she said.
“I know. That bow you shot today to win the contest, was it your design?” Nargol’s lips lifted in the corner.
“Maybe,” Orlena teased. Her smile widened. “How did you know?”
“I notice things,” Nargol said. That was an understatement. As the chieftain’s shadow, it was her job to not only blend in, but to find out information, and noticing things that others hadn’t had kept her alive on more than one occasion. “Now tell me. Why can’t you go where you want being an apprentice?”
“There’s a contract I’m bound by. Once it’s up, then I’ll be free.”
Nargol started at the word choice. Free? What the feck did that mean?
“How many solars are left on this contract?”
“Five. I have five solars left until I’m able to leave,” Orlena said softly. She stared down at the ground as they walked.
Nargol didn’t like the shift in her as she’d spoken of this contract. There was a sadness in her words, and even her posture appeared to shrink.
“That is a long time,” Nargol said slowly. She wanted to be careful in what she said. What the hell kind of contract bound a person to another where they were not able to do what they pleased?
A chill overtook Nargol.
Feck.
She glanced back at Orlena and knew immediately what kind of contract. One that should have been outlawed solars ago.
“And this contract doesn’t give you any options to leave it early?”
“I’m not sure. I know he’s added time, and by my count, I have five solars left.” Orlena sighed.
“Where is this contract? How do you not know for certain about it?” Nargol asked.
Orlena hesitated at first. Nargol bit back a curse. Had she pushed the female too far? Orlena’s audible swallow greeted her ears. She ran a hand over her face and avoided her sharp tusks.
“I can’t read Orcish. The contract is written in it. Yambul holds it. I’ve seen it, but I don’t know what it truly says. Only what he tells me.”
Anger rippled through Nargol. It was hot and sharp. It sounded as if this Yambul was taking advantage of Orlena. She would have to stop by the shop when he was there and have a little chat with him.
