“Are you serious?” Mirana was incredulous. How dare the Troll Warlord talk to her like that? “That is rather misogynistic.”
“It isn’t.” Though the Warlord was fighting, he had enough breath to talk with her. “If I said I wanted you to stand on the side of the road and look pretty because you are female, then it would be misogynistic. As it is, I simply want you to do what I tell you to. Nothing more and nothing less. Now hold some healing salve ready for me.”
He was right, this wasn’t misogynistic, it was pure arrogance. He thought he was better than her because he was stronger, he’d probably treat a male he thought weaker just the same. That didn’t make it any better and Mirana was fuming inside. She was the Priestess of the Moon, she wouldn’t be treated like that without consequences.
Oh yes, she had the healing salve ready for the Troll Warlord when he needed it, he had said he wanted her to do what he told her to. But she did nothing he didn’t specifically ask for. And when he almost died, because he didn’t tell Mirana to help him, had even forbidden her to interfere in his fighting before, she smirked.
She toned the smirk down when the troll stood in front of her, furious. She held a healing salve out for him to take and as soon as it was working, he started yelling. “How dare you let me die? It is your job to support me, that includes helping me when the enemy is about to overpower me. How stupid are you?”
“Oh, I should have helped you to fight?” With round eyes Mirana pretended to be surprised. She wasn’t stupid at all, just too proud to let this troll bully her. “You didn’t tell me to do that so I didn’t know. Maybe you should make sure to call for my help next time you need it, in case I read the situation wrong. Not that I interfere when it isn’t wanted.”
The Troll Warlord narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t stupid as well and he knew what she was doing. Mirana blinked, trying to appear innocent.
With a growl, the Warlord pointed one of his axes at her. “Your job is to support me, do it.”
“But I did and then you told me I did it wrong. Now I don’t want to disappoint my carry so I think it’s best I wait for your command.”
The troll’s skin turned even more red than it naturally was, as if his anger truly burned inside him. He seemed to debate what to do next and Mirana was curious. He could let her do her job as she wanted to or he could actually tell her every single thing he wanted from her. To her surprise, and amusement, he went for the second option. Stupid troll. She was so strong, could be such an amazing support, and he clipped her wings like that. It would end badly, but only for him.
The Priestess of the Moon wasn’t dependent on her carry. Should he fall, she’d be fully able to fend for herself. She was prepared for that to happen. He could die in his arrogance, she didn’t care.
Chin held high, Mirana sat on her mount, unmoving, waiting for the Troll Warlord to call for her. It was the most inefficient method he could’ve chosen, but he had chosen and she’d make him see his error.
When he died, she laughed. And when he reappeared by her side, resurrected by forces that were grander than both of them, she offered him the same deal as before. Let her do her job as she saw fit or wait for his commands.
Skin burning bright red, teeth clenched and hands balled into fists, the Troll Warlord agreed to let her do her job.
Only when he had turned away did she smile in triumph. And then she did her job as his support. Gloriously, as she might add.