Page 1 of Song For His Siren
PROLOGUE
Khuldruk
Khuldruk sat in his war room, his gaze fixed on the purple crystal in the middle of the table. For years, that crystal had glowed bright. When he was an orcling, the light from the crystal filled the room, but now, it was faint. As its light faded, so did the magic of his people. He had been chief for over a decade since the death of his parents and had only watched this crystal's light fade into nothing since then.
The light of this crystal was the magic that made their warriors strong, filled their healers with the gift, and gave their seers sight. There hadn’t been a clear vision in years, and many of the healers were turning to medicines from other places or using herbal remedies only. Their magic was dying, and he needed to fix it.
"Brother," called Thavros.
He turned to him with a grunt. "What?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't yet know,” Khuldruk said, trying not to sound as desperate as he was to help his people.
Thavros closed the book he had been reading and gave a deep sigh.
"I have heard rumor of a witch in the eastern forest. She is said to have the ancient power of the mating match."
Khuldruk had heard of her as well, but there hadn't been a mating bond since his parents. The magic of his people lay in the mating bond of the orcs.
"How could she help me?" he asked his brother in a grunt.
"She may be able to help you find your mate. It could awaken your magic and maybe the magic of our clan."
"Doubtful," he grumbled.
"I agree, but we’re running out of ideas, and the western clan seems to know that."
Both brothers sat at a round stone table, examining the crystal.
"The eastern forest, you say?" Khuldruk said with a deep sigh.
"Yes. She is said to reside in the Cridhe forest in the northeast, a day’s journey from here."
"I’ll set out in the morning," he decided.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, you stay here and continue your research. I’ll journey to this witch. It is decided."
Early the next morning, Khuldruk set out before the sun rose. He made it to a forest in a day and a half time. He wasn't sure how he would find the witch of the wood, but he would find her.
Once he set foot into the woods, he could feel more magic than he had felt since he was a child. There was still magic here in his clan land, and that gave him hope.
"Can I help you?"
He turned and saw a small human woman. While there were humans in the realm, they were not as large a segment of the population, especially here in the orc lands.
"Are you the witch of the woods?"
"I've been called that before," she said with a smirk. "Along with Freya, which is what my parents called me."
"Freya, it is an honor to meet you," he said, kneeling and taking her hand, pressing the back of it to his forehead.
"What brought you all the way here, Chief Khuldruk?” she said with a glint in her eye.
"I am searching for a way to find our old magic."
