The room went quiet.
Krem set down his papers. “Oh. That’s significant.”
“It’s a disaster,” I said.
“Why?” Greth asked.
“Because her mother left when Laina was young. She’ll share opinions about Laina’s choices.” I took a drink of too-hot tea. “And now Laina has chosen to work here. With us. With me.”
Drogar’s grin widened. “With you specifically. Because of the claiming.”
“There is no claiming.”
“You’ve kissed her.”
“Yes.”
“Multiple times.”
“Also yes.”
“And you desire her as a mate.”
The word mate landed in my chest and stuck there. To orcs, that word carried permanence, intention, and family approval.
“I do,” I said quietly.
Drogar slammed his palm on the table hard enough to rattle our mugs. “Then you must present her mother with proof of your strength. A kill. Something impressive. A hearthmaw would demonstrate that nicely, but they’re difficult to bring down. Perhaps a?—”
“No kills,” Traig said without looking up.
“Why not? It’s traditional.”
“We’re not in the kingdom. Humans don’t measure worth by hunting prowess.”
“Some do,” Krem said, glancing between us. “I read about the glory hunters. They mount animal heads on walls to show their killing power.”
“That’s different,” I said.
“How?”
“It just is.”
Drogar leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms on his chest. “Fine. No kills.” He frowned at the others. “What should Brovish present instead? Humans value odd things. Bright shiny rocks. Small cards that mean money. Animal companions they keep inside their homes for the evening cuddles.”
“She already has Sofia for the evening cuddles,” Krem pointed out.
“Sofia chose her. That’s different from being gifted.”
Krem reached under the table and pulled out a thick folder, setting it in front of me with a decisive thump. “I prepared this yesterday when I overheard Laina mention her mother’s visit.It’s research on human mother-daughter bonds and the best pathway for gaining parent approval of a claiming.”
I opened the folder. The first page had seventeen bullet points.
“This is a lot of pages,” I said.
“Not if you don’t include the appendix.”
“There’s an appendix?”
