Farnor hesitated, almost expecting Edrien to answer for him again. ‘I’m a little thirsty, sir,’ he said eventually. ‘And my name is Farnor, Farnor Yarrance.’
‘Farnor Farnor Yarrance,’ Derwyn echoed. ‘Two names the same, that’s unusual. Is that always the way with your people?’
Farnor looked flustered. ‘No sir,’ he said, hastily. ‘It’s just Farnor Yarrance. Farnor is my given name, Yarrance is my family name.’
Derwyn nodded slowly and thoughtfully, as if he were having a little difficulty taking in this information. ‘Ah, a sirename,’ he decided. ‘And do you have a stock and branch name, or a tree dubbing?’ he went on, expectantly.
Farnor gaped.
‘Apparently not,’ Derwyn concluded, after a brief but awkward silence. He glanced up at his daughter. ‘Ask your mother to join us, would you, E
