The Orc Chronicles Urim

Chapter 1

          Brandyl watched his adopted daughter Plum as she planted the next season's harvest. Such an innocent, lovely child, he thought. A full-blooded elf, her jet black neck-length hair framed her warm brown walnut skin. Her deep-set golden eyes smiled at Brandyl when she saw him watching her.

"It's time, father," Ogrul said.

"I know, but she's an elf. What if they don't accept her?" Brandyl said.

"And what if they do," Ogrul said. "But we'll never know. She'll never know. You should at least let her live with no regrets."

Brandyl took in a sharp breath. He knew his son's words were true.

"That's very sound advice." Brandyl smiled. He was so proud of his son. "When did you become so capable." Brandyl playfully punching Ogrul in his arm.

Ogrul's chest seemed to rise a bit, and he stood just a little taller. But when Brandyl walked away, Ogrul grabbed his arm and rubbed it. Though his father was growing old, he still hit like a warrior. But he would never tell his father that.

          The sun had already sat when Plum returned home. Brandyl anxiously waited for her. When she entered, he took a deep breath and thought for a moment, maybe he shouldn't say anything. But his son's words echoed in his mind.

"Sit," was the only word Brandyl managed to say.

Plum could see the uncertainty in his eyes. And felt a nervousness coming from him like never before.

"What is it? What's going on?" She asked.

"Plum, my child, my... daughter," Brandyl said. "I realize now it is not my place to stand in your way."

Brandyl slowly lifted his head to meet Plum's eyes.

He handed her a long, tattered old brown cloth tied in the middle.

"I probably should have given this to you a long time ago,"

Plum carefully unwrapped the old cloth.

"A bow," Plum said.

She studied the bow carefully, and the tips were pure silver with elegantly engraved markings. The wood that made up the bow had a greenish tint to it.

She pulled back on the string, and it had a powerful stretch as she had never felt before.

"This bow... where did you get it?" She asked, unable to contain the excitement in her voice.

"It's a master-crafted elven bow," Brandyl said. "In all my years, I've never seen a more powerful elegant weapon. I picked it up last time I was in Orrin Serine."

"Orrin Serine, the elf city," Plum said. "That was over three years ago. You've had this bow that long."

"Plum, it's time for you to join the hunt,"

          Plum couldn't sleep, It's time for you to join the hunt. Her father's bow was the only thing going through her mind. She held her father's bow and wondered what the hunt would be like.

Since she had become of age she begged Brandyl to let her join the hunt but all those years he had refused to leave her behind year after year despite her protest and now that she was going to Dimmore, going to the hunt. It terrified her.

The journey to Dimmore itself would be long and tedious, and she had no idea what to expect. She was excited, nervous, scared, and unsure.

Plum tried to open her sleepy eyes, but they were heavy for lack of sleep. She thought she may have been dreaming. Her father would never allow her to join the hunt.