Willow Swan
From Glen Cook Wiki
Willow Swan is a white man from Roses, with long, blond hair. He is perhaps the character whose history is most thoroughly known in all of the Annals. He is a mostly lazy man, described as mostly just "drifting through life, showing an occasional flash but never really grabbing the reins". He is enjoys fishing, not for the sport but mostly just for the relaxation effect of it, having spent much of his childhood fishing with Mather. His ultimately passive personality ends up getting him in trouble i the latter part of his life, being stuck to various prominent officials doing their dirty work.
He originally came from Roses, growing up with Cordwood Mather. About a year after the Company holed in Roses trying to kill Raker, he and Mather decided to pack up and head south. They weren't much more than kids, probably not much older than sixteen. They drifted south through the various cities of the Empire, eventually crossing the Sea of Torments. Soon after they got themselves in trouble with the Empire, and had to leave it. They continued drifting south, saving Blade from some crocodiles somewhere around Gae-Xle, and continued south until they found themselves in Taglios.
Once in Taglios, Swan realizes that there are absolutely no bars, alcohol being under religious ban, and proceed to get Cordy to set up a bar and brewery of their own. This makes them quite popular for awhile, getting the attention of plenty of young girls (especially Swan, with his long blond hair). However, Swan quickly attracts the attention of the Radisha Drah and Smoke. Worried about the encroaching Shadowmasters, they realize that coming from the north, Swan and Cordy almost certainly know more about warfare than the pacifistic Taglios.
And so, together with Blade and Cordy, he helps Taglios lead armies against the Shadowmasters one year prior to visit of the Black Company. He continues to work for the Radisha Drah, often working with the Company (especially Lady, on whom he has a crush) but never formally joining it. He is enchanted by Soulcatcher and releases her from captivity, allowing her to spring her trap on the Company leadership and trap them under the Fortress of the Glittering Plain. For fifteen years after that, he is Soulcatcher's main fall guy and nominal leader of the Greys, the soldiers who serve the Protectorate. He is almost relieved when the Company captures him and he once again tags along with them until he ultimately falls in battle in Soldiers Live. It is during this time period that he forms a strong friendship with Sleepy, Annalist and eventual Captain of the Company.
