Page 13 of My Orc Has Big Tusks
“Yes.”
His gaze took in the emberkit still staring at the front door. “Sofia went to her.”
“She did,” I reluctantly admitted.
He grunted. “She’ll return.”
Greth didn’t say things he didn’t mean. If he thought Laina would come back, he had a reason.
“Maybe,” I said.
“Definitely,” Drogar said. “If Sofia’s waiting for her, she’s coming. Sofia knows things we don’t.”
“Sofia’s an emberkit,” Traig said. “She doesn’t see the future.”
“She senses things. Emotional energy. It’s the same thing.”
“It’s not.” Krem was frowning now, his gaze flicking between me and Sofia. “I’m surprised. Sofia never goes to anyone new.”
“She tolerates us,” Drogar said. “But she doesn’t prefer us.”
“That’s not true,” I said.
“It is.” Drogar leaned against the counter. “Sofia has high standards for who she likes. And if she went to this veterinarian?—”
“Laina,” I said.
Silence echoed in the room.
“You remembered her name without prompting,” Krem said softly.
“Of course I did. She introduced herself.”
“But you kept it,” Traig said. “That’s different.”
Drogar let out a hoot. “Yourememberher name. Brovish, you called the feed supplier the grain human for six months.”
“That was different,” I said.
“In what way?” Krem asked, leaning forward.
I knew the answer. I wasn’t going to give it to them.
“I offered her a full-time job,” I said.
Silence followed my announcement.
Drogar tilted his head, studying my face. “You like her.”
“She’s pleasant. She does a good job. What’s not to like?”
Greth shook his head and grunted again.
“We should finish rounds,” I said. “Cooper needs monitoring, and there are still outdoor enclosures to check.”
“Speaking of,” Krem said, flipping through his clipboard. “We need to make some plans for the vellicharm, though she won’t be here until next week. It’s best to be prepared, however, because these creatures can be a challenge. It was caught by a high lady in the kingdom, and now it has adopted all her mannerisms. I expect it will want to sit at a high table and dine on gourmet foods.”
“We don’t have a high table, and last I checked, we don’t eat gourmet foods,” Drogar said.
