Spirit Runner Chapter 9 – Children of Promise

In the twelve years since Legend of the Storm Hawks, the Storm Hawks have returned to their homes and raised their families.

This is probably a good time for a who’s who account of the next generation of young Hawks.

Callan

Seth and Isobel have four children.

Nathalyan (Nate) is the eldest of their three sons. We were there for his birth in the first book, in Whitmoon of 4400. It’s now Grenmoon, 4413, so that makes him twelve years old at the Aleron Conclave. He is most like his father and wants to follow in his footsteps as a soldier. He’s learning how to use his farsight under Daor Ranald’s tutelage. Nate and Duncan Gruder are friends.

Caderyn (Cade) is their second son. He was born in Eldermoon, 4401, while Seth was away from Glenayre on his mission to find and deliver King Walter to the Rhiem of Rhynn. Cade is eleven when we first meet him in book two. He’s an empath, like Isobel, but is more interested in science and inventing with Ranald than in learning how to heal. It becomes more obvious over time that Cade’s clever inventions are coming from glimpses of our cycle through his Hindsight. Edgar Gruder is one of his best friends.

Rogarthur (Rory) is their youngest son, born Dymoon, 4403. Named in honor of Rogart Callan, he is the same age as Avalee Buchanan and they are the inseparable Terrible Twins, dubbed such for their mischief and daring. They’re ten years old. Rory is showing a talent for working with the collies and his horse, Thunder. Daor Ranald believes Rory might develop a minderider’s gift like his father.

Jocelyn (Jossy) is the baby of the family and their only daughter. She was born in Ruadmoon, 4408. She’s too young to attend the Aleron Conclave, but we meet her later in book two. As you might expect, she’s a little bit spoiled.

Buchanan

Gaven and Rosalee have two children. Since the first miscarriage after Gaven rescued Rosalee from the Hollow Hill in book one, they continued to face heartache from lessened fertility and difficult pregnancies. It made sense to me, from an evolutionary perspective, that the Joining would not have been like flipping a light switch. It would take time, several generations.

Avalee (Ava) is their first surviving child, born in Elfmoon, 4402. Robust and outgoing, she has yet to develop any mindgifts. Later in book two, she gains a very special mentor who helps uncover her amazing potential. In the meantime, she and Rory keep getting into trouble.

Taegan (Tae) is youngest child and only son. He was born prematurely in Sevmoon, 4405, and was so frail they feared he would not live past infancy. But, he did, because of Isobel and Rosalee’s empathy, and Bess and Ranald’s healing skills. His parents are still overly protective and cautious with his health.

Gruder

Aengus and Seara have six children, with a caveat. As Seth says in Chapter 10, Aengus is raising six children as his own. “Some were his. At least one was his brother’s. They all called him Father.”

Duncan is the eldest, of course. Born in Elfmoon of 4399, he was the first in the new generation of Hawks. You may remember Isobel diagnosing the cause of his crying as migraines when Aengus and Seara visited Glenayre in book one. The butterbur preventive continues to manage his condition, which seldom troubles him now. Like Aengus, Duncan is showing a talent for swordplay at a young age, and he’s also good at sketching. He’s a year older than Nate Callan, but they are friends who can’t resist competing with each other.

Edgar is their second son. He was born in Sevmoon, 4401, a few months before the Rhynn army marched out of the North, answering the call of the last Connor king. Edgar is easy-going and clever. Being only a few months apart in age, he and Cade Callan have been friends from the start. Edgar will develop what turns out to be one of the most strategic mindgifts in the final battle of Rootstock Saga, but it’s too soon to name now.

Bethan and Braden are twins, born in Tremoon, 4402. Bethan is deaf and relies on her telepathic connection with Braden to communicate with the world. She is especially talented at drawing. As book two progresses, we learn of another gift she’s been hiding. And why.

The younger two Gruder children are left unnamed and don’t figure into the Rootstock Saga plot. They’re too young to attend the Aleron Conclave.