Free The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom by Sean Russell Page B

Hands that had never seen a day's work. Hands not even fit for cleaning house. The hands a ... scholar might have." He said the word "scholar" with a disdain that Tarn thought would be hard to equal.
    "But what was it that Alaan wanted to know? Surely what given names reoccur in a family would hardly profit a stranger?"Gallon eyed him suspiciously.” You think that useless knowledge, do you?""Well, I'm sure it isn't," Tarn said quickly.” I just don't see why some stranger passing through the Vale should want to know it."Old Gallon shook his head as though Tarn were almost too stupid for him to bother with.” Because families who've fled their lord's service in the wars change their surnames; but even so, given names are passed from one generation to the next. Who were you named for?""My great-uncle who died before I was born.""And who was he named after?"
    "My great-grandfather, I think."The old man cocked an eyebrow at him.” If your surname had once been something other than Loell, a man might still find your family by knowing what given names your people favor.""I take your point, but not why Alaan would care about that.""Because he was like that bird of his: steal any bright thing it saw. Any bright thing belonging to someone else, it coveted." The old man sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.” But he'll be doing no more of that." The old man sighed with satisfaction.” Your grandfather is well?" he asked suddenly.
    "Well enough."
    "He's a good man, your grandfather, a good man." He sipped at his tea.” You were going off in a boat down to Inniseth. Isn't that what I heard?"Tarn nodded.
    "Well, you're better off here. Take a lesson from what happened to Alaan and stay where you're welcome."Tarn nodded but said nothing, and old Gallon's attention seemed to wander.
    They sat a moment longer in silence, and then Tarn rose from his chair.” I have to be going if I'm to make it home this day."The man nodded, not registering what was said, but then he seemed to notice his guest was standing.” Where're you off to?""Home."
    "Ah Well, give my regards to your grandfather, and stay away from rogues. Come back sometime. I've four more daughters, and they're not all as misguided as my Lizzy, bless her foolish heart."Tarn's grandfather listened silently to the story, never interrupting. By the time Tarn was done the old man's face was grayer than barn board. He got up from his chair and wait to the big sideboard that dominated the room, his movements stiff and jerky. He poured them both a cup of harsh spirits, then drank his off in one swallow. His eyes were rd and watering when he lowered himself back into his chair.” Thank everything good and kind that you're unharmed," the old man said.” All of you. I lost a wife and a son and that's all the loss a man can bear in one life."Tarn reached out to put a hand on his grandfather's am, but the old man took the hand in his own—rough and hard from a lifetime of toil. His grandfather took a sudden deep I breath, almost a gasp.
    Tarn was at a loss for something to say, and unsettled by I his grandfather's show of emotion.” Why do you think this man Alaan journeyed so far?" Tam asked.” And why was he asking old Gallon about given names reoccurring in families? Who could he have been seeking?"For a moment the old man said nothing, his face half hidden by a hand gently rubbing his brow. He lifted his cup to drink but found it empty, and set it back down—a sound like a door latch opening.” In wars, Tamlyn, men do things . . . things that haunt them the rest of their lives, if they have any soul at all. It is not always men-at-arms meeting upon a bright field of honor. Villages are burned; common people put to the sword. The men who perform these horrors are sometimes sought out. Vengeance is not the exclusive right of the Renné and the Wills. Alaan might have been searching for such men here—for his own reasons or on behalf of some other. But it seems someone else