This is part of a series of posts I’m writing to introduce characters from the Castle Keepers epic fantasy series. This week, it’s Sawney Cronin.
Sawney Cronin
In short: Dwarf, male, brown hair, brown eyes, born at Maskil, junior corporal with Aruam Castle, scout.
Family and Teen Years
The only part about family revealed in Shadows in the Stone is that Sawney has a younger brother. He sympathies with Bronwyn when Isla is kidnapped, and says he knows if his little brother, who is around Isla’s age, was taken, he’d take every risk to find him. No doubt, Sawney’s parents are living in Maskil, and he has more than one sibling.
Insider Tip: Sawney’s little brother was mentioned here not to connect Sawney with Bronwyn, but to bring the boy into the story. I don’t know what his name will be but look for him in Healing Stones. He’s going to do some bad before he does some good.
Sawney is a typical dwarf, went to Study Hall, completed his courses, tried a few trades, then enlisted with Aruam Castle because he has a sense of adventure. He’s dedicated to friends and family.
Where I Found his Name
Sawney was not part of the original cast in the novel written in my youth, but I added him because I wanted a few friendly faces on guard at the castle, ones Bronwyn could trust and ones readers would become familiar with over time.
In a search for names, I came across it, liked it, found it unique and assigned it to this quiet character. The last name, Cronin, was a name I liked at first, but I’m not a fan of it now. I wished I had picked a better one for this character who, unbeknownst to me at the time, has a bigger part in this epic tale than I first imagined.
Role in Novels
Sawney began as a private in Shadows in the Stone, and we see him promoted to junior corporal in chapter 10. He becomes more prominent when called on as a scout to track Isla’s kidnappers. He gets seriously injured when the dragon attacks and returns to the castle. Unlike the others in the group, he calls Bronwyn ‘Sarg’ instead of ‘Sergeant’…unless it’s official business.
Sawney appears in Vignette #9 where we see he’s made a special friend, Willow. Whether this grows into something more, you won’t know until Revelation Stones is released.
Sawney appears in Scattered Stones where “an intricate copper-coloured conch laced into leather decorated his scabbard belt.” He plays an intricate, silent part in the series, so I think he’ll be around for some time.
Insider Tip: Project M involves Willow, so Sawney might show up…but I’m only 5,000 words in, so I’m unsure what ground will be covered.
Diane McGyver 