All right folks, we're on the homestretch. This looks to be the last post in this series, barring something unexpected. Any characters besides those I've discussed previously and those I'll be considering here either have unknown parental situations and/or have not, to my mind, been within so much as the whiff of the subject of romance.

Children of citadel lords

This last group of characters are, as it happens, all the children of citadel lords. We begin, naturally, with Cole and Heyna Blackstar. It may seem a bit of an odd place, as neither of the pair have love interests so far as we know. But it seems to me that there's still some thoughts worth exploring.

Heyna and Cole were fortunate to be raised by two loving parents, up until their mother's murder some years prior to the start of the series. I have little doubt that Victor Blackstar and his wife loved each other, and demonstrated that love to their children. By the twins' own account, Lady Blackstar was not only courtly and refined, but also funny. They seem to have picked up the heir sense of humor from her, as Lord Victor-apart from the occasional witty comment-seems to typically be a bit more reserved.

It's worth noting, however, that the love of the Blackstar family is strongly tied to their sense of duty. Cole, for instance, was so committed to his role as a soldier that he saw marriage and a family as something for after the war's end. Perhaps Heyna has similar feelings, given that she's never shown any interest in the matter herself. Then again, maybe that's just because she knows the treatment any prospective suitor might receive from her brother.

Duty before love also seems to have been a theme of the relationship between Lord Hewson and his wife Lynn, if their daughter Amber's word is anything to go by. Amber demonstrates this in her commitment to Lokson. She also demonstrates patience and a willingness to guide him away from an errant path. No doubt she saw her own parents exhibit such traits, particularly through her mother's illness and Harbone's apparent mistrust of the Longtreaders.

Lokson, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have fared as well as his bride to be. No mention is made of his mother, and his father apparently suffered under some condition or other at the end of his life. Lokken apparently died when Lokson was still a child, leaving little time for his son to learn from him in the matter of showing love. Perhaps this helps explain Lokson's insistence on a secret engagement to Amber, his jealousy at her concern for Jo, and the depth of his passion at the idea of losing her. Losing his father taught him what lord feels like, and he's desperate not to go through it again.

Finally, we consider Lord Morgan of Vandalia. Like Lokson, we don't know anything about his mom. However, his dad didn't die until he had reached maturity. Booker had at least one other son who died young, and it's unclear whether he or Morgan learned anything about wooing a doe from him. Could be Morgan learned about patience from his dad, given that he was still pining for Emma years down the road.

Well, I think that's about it. If anyone feels I've neglected anyone feel free to point out my glaring error.