More from Song and Sword, the first novel I published, since I’m working on a sequel and need the motivation. This follows immediately after last week’s snippet.
Picking up from last week, Dakkas has left the Humans to find Kashrya.
He dismounted when he reached the site of the skirmish and frowned as he studied the bodies. He had grown up around Orcs — the Drow had used them as slave labor for almost as long as they had been in exile—and he had never known them to form any kind of organized groups outside of some sort of loose family structure. But these Orcs… They were different somehow and he knelt to examine one more closely.
Orcs were roughly the same height as Drow, but had a heavier build. These had the characteristic grey-green skin and the large dark eyes set into a flat round face, but they were much larger than any he had ever seen, both in height and build. All were wearing a uniform bearing an insignia that he had never seen, and he was puzzled. An army of Orcs would be formidable, but forming an army just wasn’t in their nature – as a rule they were timid and shy, even fearful.
The ground was so trampled that it was nearly impossible to read the signs of the battle, but at last he found the place where they had first come across the river. He could see the smaller footprints of the women, could see one set that did not run, that stood facing the oncoming Orcs.
He stood in her footprints and closed his eyes. She had been in a balanced fighting position, and he could see her clearly in his mind’s eye, the small hand axe that she carried held in a ready position. He opened his eyes and examined the ground. There was some blood, about at the reach of her arms, but none where she had stood, and he felt a wave of relief. At least she was most likely still alive. But why? Why would the Orcs have captured her? That, along with the uniforms, made no sense.
Blurb:
Pashevel: a simple Elven Bard — and the Crown Prince
Marlia: a Paladin of Arithen, the Elven God of Justice – seeking vengeance for the destruction of her village
Dakkas: heir to the Drow throne — if his father and elder half-brother don’t kill him first
Kashrya: raised among a tribe of nomadic Humans, she is unaware of her true heritage — or of the prophecy that made her mother an outcast
Their goal: build a bridge between the Elves and their outcast brethren, the Drow, reuniting them and undoing the damage caused in a time so far gone that history has become legend and legend has become myth.
But first, they have a problem to solve: how do you stop a war that hasn’t started?
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Novel Notes 
Interesting snippet today. great descriptions.
Intriguing deductions.
Many mysteries to be solved, really a terrific snippet!
After seeing the LOTR movies, I’ve never thought of orcs as timid, shy or fearful!
The plot thickens! Great snippet, P.T. :)
I’m curious to know why they’ve changed their behavior and why the took her.
I’m curious about the uniforms and kidnapping too.