Page 27 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"Yes, you are," Khiann agreed. "Any other memories returning?"

Adaluh shook his head. "Nothing. But I noticed we don't speak as you do. Hildegard says it's because we are only immortals and you are a god, which makes you more important."

Khiann didn't know how to respond, and Esag's arrival spared him the need to.

"I need to snap a picture of the five of you sitting in your motorized chariots on the porch," Esag said.

"I already did," Hildegard said. "I'll send it to you. Better yet, I'll post it on the clan's virtual bulletin board, but I'll wait until these three decide on their names before I do it."

Esag came up the ramp with a cloth bundle under his arm and set it on the porch table. "I have a present for you." He unrolled it, revealing four small carved faces.

"I carved these before I saw you," Esag said. "I thought I was getting a vision or a premonition about who you were, but they don't look like you, so I don't know who they are." He took a piece of folded paper from his pocket. "I made a list of names from our time. Guardsmen I knew, merchants, uncles and cousins. Real men. You don't have to take any of them, but if you do, they are yours."

The four men leaned in to look at the figurines, and given their expressions, the faces did not evoke any feelings.

"I assume none of you remember how to read." Esag lifted the list. "So, I'm going to read it to you."

There were twenty-seven names on his list, and he read each one slowly, then looked at the men. "Any you liked?"

"Ubhar," Raffy said. "I like the sound of it. It sounds like a word for something solid."

"It belonged to a quartermaster," Esag said.

"Good. Ubhar." Raffy sat back, and just like that, he became Ubhar, and it suited him much better than Raffy.

"Michael," Khiann said. "You're next. Did you like any of the names?"

"I'm keeping Michael."

Adaluh laughed. "The turtle warrior?"

"The turtle warrior." Michael crossed his arms. "It's the first name anyone ever called me that I can remember. I'm already used to it."

Khiann couldn't argue with that. "You can always change your mind."

"I won't. My name is Michael."

"Leo?" Khiann asked. "Are you keeping your name as well?"

Leo picked up one of the carved figurines, the one on the far left, and held it close to his face. He looked at it for a long time, then sighed and put it back.

"Still nothing."

Esag looked at Khiann, and Khiann looked at the carving. Neither said a word.

"I'll take Zalag," Leo said. "It means bright in our language, and since we are choosing our own names, I want one that means something good."

That sounded like a good choice. "I like Zalag."

"So, everyone has decided?" Hildegard asked. "I need to know whether your choices are final before I change the names next to your pictures in the directory and post the lovely picture of you on the clan's bulletin board."

"Ubhar." The one formerly named Raffy patted his chest.

"Still Michael," Michael said.

"Zalag." The one formerly known as Leo nodded.

When she was done, she showed them the post, but none of them could read it, so she read it aloud.