The Staff of Sakatha Read Online Free Page A

of Hobgoblins in Hram’dros the orc nation to our east. You probably came through there if you traveled from Doria unless you braved the lands of the Formia?”
    “The insect folk,” said Jon with a shrug his shoulders. “I was advised to avoid them so you’re right. I did come through Hram’dros. They consider the knights of Elekargul to be quite fearsome foes and cannot understand your nation’s aversion to slavery.”
    Thaddeus laughed aloud. “They might not understand it but I’m grateful for it. As a Hobgoblin in Hram’dros I was a slave, although a willing warrior. I was wounded and captured while raiding Elekargul. It didn’t take me long to realize that a life of freedom is preferable to old loyalties and I was able to aid my new home in battle and gain my knighthood.”
    “Yes, what did Sorus say your name was, Redhand?” said Jon. “And the girls, they are sisters but they have different last names? It seems confusing.”
    Sorus took that moment to stick his head out from a back room. “I’ve got the water in the vats Thaddeus, do you want me to start mashing the barley?”
    “Go ahead and get started,” said Thaddeus. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Where were we Jon?”
    “Names, it’s a bit confusing how it’s all set up,” said the powerful lad and sat back in his chair. “You don’t have any beer ready to go by any chance? I’ve been traveling for over a month since I left Doria.”
    “Of course, how inhospitable of me, Lara!” he called out and a young girl not yet into her teens appeared a moment later from somewhere in the back. She looked at the young man who sat next to Thaddeus and her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped before she came over. “Lara, get Jon here a Smooth Strider, will you?”
    The girl curtsied quickly and nodded her head up and down, “Yes, Sir Thaddeus. Hello,” she said to Jon and smiled at him. While Jon was seated they were almost eye to eye.
    “Scoot now, Lara,” said Thaddeus and the girl shut her mouth, turned around, and dashed off towards a long bar near the side of the big chamber.
    “You’re going to have to fight them off,” said Thaddeus.
    “I’m not much good at fighting, at least that kind,” said Jon with a smile.
    “Hmm, I doubt that, but in any case, you wanted to know about how people are named, right?” said Thaddeus.
    “Right,” said Jon with a nod, his eyes watching as the young girl pulled down on a tap and a golden amber liquid poured into a large mug. “The sisters with the different names?”
    “All girls are named by their mother or aunt’s name as a given name and then Quick as the surname until they are of marrying age then they are called Speed. That way any knight knows if a girl is ready to be married or not.”
    “What is the marrying age?” asked Jon as the young girl came over and carefully set the drink down in front of him.
    “I hope you like it,” she said with a smile.
    “Run along now, Lara Quick,” said Thaddeus and the girl frowned at him and wrinkled her nose.
    “It’s up to the father to decided when a girl is eligible for marriage, or an uncle or brother if the father is not available to make that decision. Once the girl marries she takes on the given name of her husband as her own last name.”
    “I think I see,” said Jon with a shrug. “And apprentice boys and what not take the name of their job, so Sorus’s surname is Brewer.”
    “That’s right,” said Thaddeus. “Boys like that who are not chosen as squires by the time they are ten usually became lifetime craftsmen. Often they are actually the ones who run things and a knight doing his twelve month learns from them.”
    “And the knights themselves?” asked Jon.
    “Well, that’s a bit complex. When you are granted knighthood you can choose your own last name but it has to be from the list of acceptable names,” said Thaddeus. “You’re supposed to pick something that fits your temperament but people don’t always