“Dane’s common. Loghain was but it says a bit too much now so it’ll probably die out until there’s a big anniversary of River Dane. We’re not good at the naming thing though; d’you know how many people I’ve had to turn down because they’ve got the same name as my siblings, or worse, my parents? Even I couldn’t do it, it’s just weird.” Time to deflect, he’s getting too close to feelings given Bronson and his siblings are the sole beneficiaries of the good side of Asher, the warmer, open, more gentle side, most of all Bronson and Aura.

“Oi!” He gives her a shove, somehow managing to look offended. “She wasn’t swooning, I don’t want Orlesians swooning when they’ve made a sport or a game out of it but she wasn’t put off. Who can blame her, you’ve fallen for my many charms before, even Mal. Distinguished gent or whatever he’s calling himself. He’ll have a title next time I see him, Duke Reynolds, I can imagine it now.”