Free The Paths of the Dead (Viscount of Adrilankha) by Steven Brust Page B

mouth.
    “I wonder …” said Teldra.
    “As do I,” said Morrolan. “I wonder many things.”
    “I do not doubt it in the least,” said Teldra. “But there is a thing I wonder in particular.”
    “Well, and what is that?”
    “I wonder about your family name, and who your ancestors were, and so on.”
    “Oh,” said Morrolan. “I know that.”
    “How, you know?”
    “Of a certainty. While I know little of those who bore me, I at least know my family name. Is it important?”
    “Important?” said Teldra. “I nearly think it is!”
    “Well, and why is it important?”
    “Because from it, we can, with some work, learn many things that would be of interest to you.”
    “What sorts of things?”
    “Your lineage, any ancestral holdings you might have, your family history.”
    “How, you pretend we can learn these things merely from my name?”
    “It is likely, although it may take some few years, and much traveling.”
    “Well,” said Arra suddenly, “it seems to me that we were just discussing the idea of travel, were we not?”
    “That is true!” said Morrolan.
    “Travel?” said Miska. “And to where were you considering travel?”
    “We had not yet made that decision,” said Morrolan. “We were waiting to see if the goddess wished to give us a sign.”
    “And,” said Arra, “I nearly think she has. Indeed, were the sign any more prominent, it would block our view of the sky.”
    “Lady Arra,” said Morrolan, “I agree with you entirely.”
    “Well,” said Teldra. “Let us see. First of all, if you will tell me your family name, then perhaps even from that I can make a guess as to a destination for which to start.”
    “You wish me to tell you now?”
    “If you would be so good.”
    “Very well. My father’s name was Rollondar, and—”
    “Rollondar?”
    “Yes, that was it, and my—”
    “Rollondar e’Drien?”
    Morrolan looked at Lady Teldra, who had, quite against custom of the Issola, interrupted him, and had even done so twice, and who was now staring at him with an expression of astonishment on her countenance.
    “Yes, my family name, I learned, was e’Drien. But tell me, for I am curious, why this seems so remarkable to you, for I perceive that you are startled.”
    “I am, indeed, and I will tell you at once why it is so.”
    “I am listening, then.”
    “Here it is: I know exactly who your father was, and, moreover—”
    “Yes? Moreover?”
    “I know where to find your ancestral lands.”
    “Ah! I have ancestral lands.”
    “Indeed you do.”
    “Are they far from here?”
    “Rather, yes. Across the mountains, down a long river, and within a hundred leagues of the great city of Adrilankha, which lies along the Southern Coast of what was once the Empire.”
    “That does sound like a long way,” said Morrolan.
    “It is no quick journey.”
    Morrolan turned his face to the west, and used his hand to
shield his eyes from the Furnace which, in the East, was blazing brightly enough to be annoying to anyone who looked at it.
    “Yes,” said Teldra, as if reading his thoughts. “It is to the West that our destiny lies.”
    Morrolan nodded, and continued staring. After a moment he turned to Lady Teldra and said, “What else do you know of my family?”
    “I know one thing that will amuse you, I think.”
    “Well, I do not mind being amused.”
    “If you do not, then I will tell you.”
    “Do so.”
    “It is this: Your name, Morrolan, means Dark Star in the language of the Silites, who lived in this region many, many years ago, and whose language is still spoken by some.”
    “Well, and if it does?”
    “Your father also took his name from the same tongue, and it means, ‘Star that never fails.’”
    “Ah. That is remarkable. A coincidence, do you think?”
    “It is,” said Arra, “unlikely to be a coincidence when the goddess is at work.”
    “Well, that name was given me by the good Miska here.” They looked at Miska, who merely