George Cooper looked out on his property. He lived at Pirate's Swoop now, the Baron. His wife was Lady, or Sir, Alanna of Trebond and Olau. She was off fighting for some noble cause in Tusaine. He sighed, and went inside to find his children for dinner.

Thom, his eldest son, aged 6, was named after Alanna's twin. He found him first, bugging the cooks in the kitchen. Then, there were the twins, Alan and Aliane, or Aly. Aly he found in her room, playing with her small rag doll. Alan was chasing after the dogs out by the gate. Gareth was 2, and George already knew that he was in his room toddling about with his "sword" that was really a stick from the beach at Port Caynn. His youngest was Thayet, 7 months old, named after the beautiful Queen of Tortall.

Once he had rounded up his children, he thought of Alanna, wondering where she was now.