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Chapter 1
Jarum
“Yes, Dad, I promise I’ll be there Friday night. I wouldn’t miss Brogis playing in the tournament for anything,” I said into my phone. My older brother played lead gromet for the orc kingdom’s best Gromgret team and no one wanted to miss the final playoff game this coming weekend, including me.
“Good, good,” my father said. “Your mother has a few orc ladies she’d love to introduce you to while you’re here.”
“I don’t need a date for a game.” I slumped on my sofa, kicking my heels up on the table parked in front of it.
“A mate would be better, of course. My age is creeping up on me, son. It’s time for you to start producing orclings and make me a grandfather.”
This had to be my mother talking. It sounded like something she’d say. “You’re not that old. There’s plenty of time.”
“You never know, son. Just the other day, I was telling your mother that I’ll be an ancient orc soon. Some have started calling me an elder. My joints don’t bend like they used to, and it’s getting harder to defeat my friends in sword battles.”
Something he did for exercise and entertainment. Orcs hadn’t charged into a true fight for ages.
“Instead of worrying about grandorclings, why don’t you slow down and . . . I don’t know, take a cruise or something?” I said. “Your joints will feel better. That’s what humans do, take cruises.”
“Why would your mother and I wish to go on a cruise?” he barked.
“To lounge on the deck? Eat some good food? You’d have to come to the surface, of course, but—”
“That sounds appalling.”
“Ask Mom before you make up your mind.”
“Do you truly think your mother would enjoy something like that?” I could see him scratching the back of his thick neck, a frown consuming his craggy brow. He adored my mother, his true mate, and he’d sit in a field and pick enderjumpers all day long if it pleased her.
“I bet she would.” Maybe. How should I know? But if it kept him from trying to fix me up . . .
“Your mother’s begging for grandorclings,” he said.
There it was. “Talk to Brogis. He’s the eldest.”
“He’s busy with the team.”
“That doesn’t mean he can’t find a mate.”
Dad sighed. “We’re relying on you. You’re nearly thirty. It’s past time you settled with a lovely orc female.”
I had someone in mind, a lovely human female, but jeez, it would be nice to take this in the mating direction at my own pace without him urging me on.
“Anyway, we’d be happy to find someone for you.” Steel came through in his voice. A glance at the clock on the wall told me if I didn’t hurry, I’d be late for my dinner date with Kassia. She was the most amazing person I’d ever met, and I’d already made plans to ask her to mate with me for a lifetime.
“I’ve got to go,” I said.
“Fine, fine. There are at least three families in the area who have eligible daughters. We’ll parade them past you when you arrive.”
“No need to do anything like that,” I said. “I’m bringing someone with me on Friday.”
Though I still had to ask her. Tonight was the night. I needed to get ready!
“Wonderful,” Dad said. “We didn’t realize you’d finally found someone. I do hope you haven’t carried her off into the woods yet. You know we’ll expect her to complete the two marriage tests before you two can solidify your mating.”
There he went again, sticking to orc traditions, just like my mother.
“That’s not how we do things here on the surface.”
