“From what he’d seen so far, the Reckoners were white-skinned, light-haired and fine-boned, while the Bonneys were darker and sturdy, with reddish hair and blunt Celtic faces. Like most old island families, however, they were all related, so the differences likely blurred, and there would be cousins, in-laws, daughters who had married and had new names.  How would he tell one from another when seating them? Was he going to have to make up a chart to prevent gunfire in his dining room?“

The only people on Touperdu who can compare with the Bonneys when it comes to pedigree and influence are the Reckoners. Naturally both families despise each other. Exactly why is lost to history, but everyone, including both families, agree it probably had something to do with a woman. Nobody is sure how it involves a woman, but it sounds right, or at least, interesting.

They have six children but only one son.