{"id":571,"date":"2026-08-17T16:08:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=571"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","slug":"the-name-they-came-looking-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=571","title":{"rendered":"The Name They Came Looking For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If you have genuinely become someone different, how much authority should your past retain over who you are allowed to be now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The men looking for Cael had a drawing of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was their first problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a very good drawing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael had grown a beard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cut his hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gained weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Broken his nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changed his clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changed his profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Changed his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, none of those things had changed his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The artist had drawn the ears perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked at the notice nailed beside the bakery door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>WANTED ALIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below it was his old name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRINCE ADEL VAREN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baker leaned over his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt has your ears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA great many people have ears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot those ears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael tore down the notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had been Cael for eleven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long enough that sometimes he forgot there had been another name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael repaired roofs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He owned three ladders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He rented a room above a cooper&#8217;s shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He owed the butcher six silver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was terrible at cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had once spent an entire winter trying unsuccessfully to grow onions in a window box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prince Adel Varen had done none of those things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prince Adel Varen had lived in a tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had servants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tutors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A ceremonial sword he wasn&#8217;t allowed to sharpen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At sixteen, he had been expected to become king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, he ran away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People assumed he&#8217;d fled because of an assassination attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There had been several.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That wasn&#8217;t why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He fled because one morning his tutor placed a document before him listing seventeen men who would need to be executed when Adel became king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat did they do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSome have done nothing yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adel stared at the names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen why would I execute them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause eventually they will oppose you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His tutor smiled patiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ll understand when you&#8217;re older.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adel decided he had no interest in becoming old enough to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three nights later, he climbed down the tower wall using bedsheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The future king of Varen landed in a manure cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">History did not record this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael was grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now history had found him anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He returned home and packed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His neighbor Nessa watched from the doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGoing somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cElsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou owe me a chair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;ll send one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve been repairing that chair for six months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen statistically, you were never getting it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa didn&#8217;t laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She held up another wanted notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael stopped packing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCael.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t what this says.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat paper is eleven years out of date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt says you&#8217;re a prince.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI repair roofs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBoth could be true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s not how truth works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;d be surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The king had died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael learned this from the men who found him two days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They surrounded his room politely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their leader bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe kingdom requires you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe throne is empty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFind another person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou are the lawful heir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI resigned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou cannot resign from blood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWatch me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The commander did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They did not arrest him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That would have been simpler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead they followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Cael repaired a roof, five royal guards stood below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he bought vegetables, merchants bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he entered the tavern, someone shouted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe king!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael stopped going to the tavern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within a week, people he had known for years behaved differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The butcher forgave his debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael immediately paid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His landlord refused rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael left the coins on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children followed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adults asked favors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disputes appeared at his door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A farmer wanted him to settle a boundary disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGo to the magistrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe&#8217;s corrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat am I supposed to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re the king.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI am a roofer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The farmer looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan you be both?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael hated the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the delegation arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thirty people from Varen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not nobles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ordinary people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A midwife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A man missing an arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They stood in the street outside Cael&#8217;s room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The midwife spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlease come home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone began crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wished they&#8217;d brought nobles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobles were easier to refuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That evening Nessa found him on the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m repairing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve been repairing the same tile for an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDifficult tile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She sat beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy won&#8217;t you go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked across the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeing turned into someone I didn&#8217;t want to become.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd you&#8217;re afraid it&#8217;ll happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cReasonable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat sounded suspiciously like agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m not finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She pointed toward the delegation below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey don&#8217;t seem interested in who you were.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey want Prince Adel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey want someone to govern.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSame thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaybe that&#8217;s the mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael met the delegation the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI will not become Adel again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The midwife nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael blinked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe didn&#8217;t come for Adel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou called me Your Highness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat was the guards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The one-armed man laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe came because the nobles are preparing to divide the kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou need an heir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need someone with enough legal claim to stop them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo you do need Adel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The midwife shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need his name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael went still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can keep the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He returned to Varen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not as Prince Adel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He refused the old clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Refused the ceremonial sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Refused to sleep in the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the day of his coronation, he wore a roofer&#8217;s boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This caused a scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael enjoyed that immensely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then governing began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was awful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone knew who he was supposed to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advisers told him what his father would have done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobles told him what tradition required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Servants corrected the way he held cups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A historian informed him that kings did not eat in kitchens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael ate in the kitchen for a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then stopped because the cooks couldn&#8217;t work with a king sitting in their way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That irritated him too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some traditions, he discovered, existed because they were sensible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others existed because nobody remembered they could stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Determining which was which became most of his job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Cael found the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seventeen names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same document from eleven years before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only five people on it were still alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His new adviser placed it before him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor stability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He almost laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eleven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different adviser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat have they done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwo are actively organizing opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd the others?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPotential threats.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked at the adviser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour Majesty\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou don&#8217;t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael leaned back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A strange feeling passed through him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He remembered being sixteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He remembered the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bedsheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The manure cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then eleven years of roofs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Broken tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being nobody important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps that boy had not been running away from becoming king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps he had been going somewhere to learn what a king was for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI understand exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He tore the list in half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael ruled for twenty-two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not particularly brilliantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That disappointed later historians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were no great conquests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No golden age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No monumental palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taxes remained irritating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roads remained imperfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two rebellions occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One was justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael negotiated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other was not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael crushed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He hated doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That did not make it unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People continued calling him Adel in formal documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He signed them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cael Varen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historians argued about this for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some claimed Cael had rejected his heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others claimed he had fulfilled it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both schools wrote extremely long books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael would have hated them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Near the end of his life, Nessa visited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She brought the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same chair Cael had promised to repair decades earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One leg was still broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou kept this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou said you&#8217;d fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve had twenty-two years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve been busy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They sat together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a while Nessa asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you regret coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you regret leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUseful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;ve become very wise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo I&#8217;ve heard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael looked toward the old tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI spent years thinking I had to choose between being Adel and being Cael.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe boy who left was me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He touched the crown sitting unused on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe man who came back was also me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe king?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe roofer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cael smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy roofs were excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa pointed at the broken chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvidence suggests otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Cael died, the court prepared his tomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tradition required the inscription:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ADEL VAREN, KING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nessa objected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was very old by then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody enjoyed arguing with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The inscription was changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CAEL VAREN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HE LEFT A PRINCE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HE RETURNED HIMSELF.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If you have genuinely become someone different, how much authority should your past retain over who you are allowed to be now? The men looking for Cael had a drawing of him. That was their first problem. It was a very good drawing. Cael had grown a beard. Cut [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Name They Came Looking For - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=571\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Name They Came Looking For - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If you have genuinely become someone different, how much authority should your past retain over who you are allowed to be now? 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