Dexa numena dei

'Dexa numena. Sounds Latin, hmm if I remember latin class well Numena means deity, Dexa means right. Right of deity, Deity of right?'

Master Roland's voice broke Ethan out of his reverie. "No need pondering son, the words can be a bit deceiving."

Picking up a quill from the table, his hand quickly danced over a piece of parchment.

Maester Roland's hands trembled slightly as he pushed the parchment across the table, the words penned in smooth cursive came into full view for Ethan.

Dexa numena dei: Divine right of names.

Without waiting for Ethan to digest the words, Maester Roland repeated, his voice heavy with reverence. "Dexa numena dei..."

Leaning back on his creaking wooden chair, his eyes twinkled with age and remembrance.

"That's Old Vaelorian. Translates roughly to The Divine Right of Names. Most folks call it the Law of Names or the Law of Legacy a rather uneducated oversimplification. Anyway, in Vaeloria, last names aren't just something you're born with—they're proof that someone in your bloodline once ruled, built, or bled for something worth remembering."

"Your father was a Chief, which gave him the right to bear the name 'Cross'—and so, by the extension of Dexa numena, it became yours too. That is why you have a last name, and why most villagers don't."

He gestured to the window, the evening sun descending alongside the bustle of the village.

"If someone wants a last name — they either marry into one, or they earn it. The easiest known way… own a settlement, get conferred by nobility, or become nobility. Rare, that last one."

"And mind this—only Barons and above can confer their last name on others, the reason being they're no longer just settlement leaders but house leaders. A Town Lord might wear a last name, pass it on even to his kids but he can't bestow it on one without a last name. Not unless he rises higher and becomes a Baron. That's Dexa numena in a nutshell."

Exhaling, Maester Roland picked up a wooden cup on the table. Downing it, he resumed, "Of course just as those without names earn their keep to a name. Those with names can't also hand out names as they please, if memory serves me correct, a Baron can only confer two names a year. And the higher your nobility level the more you can bestow names on the nameless."

Smiling wistfully, he continued, "So when someone hears a last name, they don't just hear a name. They hear history. That's what the Dexa Numena protects—the right to be remembered."

Seeing Master Roland about to continue, Ethan cut in, "Sorry for the interruption Maester Roland but if I may?"

Catching the old Master's nod of approval, he continued, "According to Dexa numena dei nobility can bestow names on the nameless. If a Baron were to bestow his House name on a married man does his wife also get the name or just the man?"

Nodding in approval, Maester Roland clarified, "Common question, intelligent nonetheless. Let me ask you this—perhaps it'll help you understand Dexa Numena more deeply. If I give a man payment for work done let's say a bag of gold, who owns it the man, both him or his family."

Maester Roland continued, oblivious to Ethan's attempt to answer the question. "Most would argue it's his family, and they're not wrong the man's family gets the gold, but you have to understand the payment was to the man—even if his family benefits."

Pausing briefly, he continued, "Just because a man earns gold doesn't mean his whole family earned it. The name, like gold, is awarded to him—but passed to what he builds after, not what he brought before."

Clearing his throat, he added, "In essence what I'm trying to say is, gold unlike name can't be shared wantonly."

Hearing Maester Roland's words, Ethan's lips twitched vicariously. 'Of course I know a name can't be shared wantonly unlike gold. There was no use adding the analogy if it went nowhere.'

"In the case of Dexa numena, the man gets the name, so does his subsequent family… although his immediate family doesn't."

Raising his hands weakly, Maester Roland added, "By 'subsequent,' I mean that only the family he builds after gaining the name inherits it—children born after, or a new spouse. Those he had before—like a first wife or previous children—don't receive the name."

After absorbing the content of the Maesters words, Ethan asked the last question on his mind. "Have you heard of the last name Rivera?"

Closing his eyes, Maester Roland bobbed his head gently. Opening his eyes after a few minutes, he shook his head. "I have no inkling of such a name."

Catching Ethan's subtle disappointment, he added, "The world is large, Chief. But there is a place that will have a comprehensive record of last names and their origins."

"Where would that be?" Ethan asked, leaning forward with sudden excitement.

Looking at the shelf behind Ethan, Master Roland answered, "The Vaelorian Archives." Seeing Ethan raise his brows inquisitively, he added, "I have no idea where that is. Of course…"

As Master Roland delved deeper into the topic, Ethan recalled his conversation during the day with Morris.

"The phenomena of last names huh? Good to see you're being observant of things Chief. I know a little about it but I presume you need in depth explanation on the topic."

After Ethan nodded, Morris continued, "I'm afraid my knowledge would be lacking on that. But Old Roland the Maester should know quite a lot about that. When you get to his house do be careful though, Old Roland has a habit of veering off topic very quickly and if you're not careful you'll spend hours listening to an in-depth description of a rather simple topic."

Chuckling, Morris added, "Because of that, most folks in the village call him 'the time stealer.'"

Shaking off the thought, Ethan looked toward the window, the reflection of the twin moons peeking from behind thin clouds caught his eyes.

Returning his attention to Maester Roland, he found him still talking.

"I don't know much about the whereabouts or location of the Vaelorian archives."

Stroking his chin gently, Maester Roland spoke to no one in particular. "Of course they were mentions of it being at the Citadel ert Vaeloria, and the location of the citadel is only privy to higher ranked nobles and maesters."

Cutting in, Ethan asked, "I thought all Maesters trained at the same place?"

"Common misconception, like I said the world is large. Most Master's train at regional citadels. I for instance trained at the Tronark regional citadel."

Before Maester Roland could begin explaining about world regions, Ethan cut in politely. "Maester Roland, the night is upon us."

Glancing outside, Maester Roland coughed awkwardly as he stood up. "Apologies Chief, force of habit. When you're... old like me you find yourself talking quite a lot you see."

Chuckling wearily, Maester Roland moved toward the door, opening the door, he gestured. "Do come by next time Chief, there's so much to know about the world."

Nodding, Ethan stepped outside.

As he walked along the dirt path that snaked quietly through the village, his pondered over his conversation with Maester Roland. 'Dexa numena huh? Weird custom. But, that explains enough, not a lot though, the issue with Anna's last name still remains. And I'm nowhere close to being a noble so I can't use the Vaelorian archive Master Roland mentioned.'

Standing before the door to his house, he looked up to the sky. 'Hmm the smaller moon seems a darker shade of gold than the last time I saw it.'

Shrugging, he reached for the door. 'Must be a celestial phenomena.'

Pushing the door to his house, he walked in. The faint glow of a candle mounted onto a desk lit up the room.

Moving to the table, he uncovered the plate of food on the table.

Settling down, he quickly ravaged through the food like a hurricane despite its almost bland taste.

Pushing the now empty plates to one side, he stood up and proceeded to the window. Looking outside, at the overcast clouds, he sighed. 'Very busy two days, and it's only going to get busier. What I wouldn't give to be back on my couch, watching a movie and smacking down on junk.'

Moving back to the bed, he slipped into the thin blanket after rolling around a couple times, he drifted off to sleep.

••••••

Ethan felt his body wheeling down gently, the stretcher he was lying on jerked lightly and a sudden rush of sound came streaming into his ears.

Frantic orders overlapped with each other, "Nurse Francine the.."

"I already put Thelma on that Doc, it should be on the way."

While Ethan tried to move his body, his mind kept reeling apart from the information streaming into his mind. 'Nurse Francine? Thelma? Doctor? What kind of weird dream is this.'

Opening his eyes lightly, he caught sight of white ceilings, a fluorescent light flashed in his vision and he quickly shut his eyes.

Regretting it the next instant, when he found himself unable to open them again.

"Doc it think the patient just opened his eyes."

The doctor in question a middle-aged man with grey hairs looked at Ethan's still body just as the stretcher reached green theatre doors. "I don't think so, but just in case keep it under wraps, wouldn't want to give his family hope only to dash it."

The nurses affirmation was the last thing Ethan heard before his hearing went dark once more.