Silver Dragon by Jason Halstead

said. "I know he's near and dear to many of us, but is this wise? He's made his choice and this isn't the first time he's put the safety of himself and his friends aside. If there's trouble coming, should we invite it upon ourselves or make ready for it so we can be better defended? I'm not saying this isn't a terrible loss or that he's a bad lad. I'm saying that I've got to look out for the rest of my company and balance the risks against the reward."
    Patrina's eyes narrowed as Tristam talked. She rose up to face him. "For those of you who won't go after him out of love , I will pay for your services. I choose to do it out of love."
    "Patrina, walk with me," Lady Kenna said as she rose to stand beside her daughter. She turned away without looking at her and walked towards a door that led out of the hall.
    Patrina caught up to her and waited for her mother to speak. The moment didn't come until Lady Kenna turned and entered her garden, the same place where she'd spoken to Alto only a few weeks past.
    "Daughter, did you know I spoke to Alto in this very same place?" she began the conversation.
    Patrina nodded. "Well, I didn't know you'd brought him here, but he mentioned you'd talked to him."
    Kenna stared down at the frozen fountain for a long moment before she said, "I fear this may be partially my fault. I told him that we were all fond of him, but that the only way he could have your hand was if he proved himself worthy and had my blessings, your father's blessings, and yours since he was not a noble. I didn't expect anything to come of it, to be honest. The truth of it is he'd also need the blessings of your uncle, the king, in order to wed."
    Patrina stiffened as her mother spoke but she said nothing.
    "I fear that perhaps I dangled too sweet a carrot in front of him," Lady Kenna continued. "I'm worried that he might be rushing out to try to prove himself."
    "You're fond of him?" Patrina asked.
    "Yes, quite. I've always thought well of him. Even more so now, though I think he may be rash."
    "You haven't seen what we've fought," Patrina rushed to say. "You've heard tales of it told by drunken soldiers, but you haven't been buried alive and surrounded by men and monsters that want nothing more than to hurt and kill you. You haven't seen how he stands there like an island with waves breaking against his shores and will not allow the people he protects to be swept away. You haven't been there."
    Kenna watched as her daughter rubbed away her tears and lifted her face. "I don't care whos e blessing he has—he has mine," Patrina said. "I love him and if I have to leave this city and this land behind to be with him, I'll do it. I'll miss you horribly, but I'll do it."
    Patrina's mother blinked at the moisture in her eyes as her daughter went on.
    "I'd spoken to Father and he knew how I felt before any of this happened. He promised me that he was going to see what he could do to help us out. I hoped that when he talked to Alto last night, those arrangements would be made clear to all of us."
    Kenna shook her head. "I don't know of any such thing," she said. "I will tell you that you do have my blessing if Alto should return from his quest. I can't imagine what it is that he thinks he can do, but his devotion to his sister and others is admirable."
    Patrina took a deep breath and nodded. She let it out and said, "I gave myself to him last night."
    Kenna's eyes jerked up from where she had dropped them to the fountain. "You did what?" she said in clipped tones that showed a forced calmness.
    "I slipped into his room while he was with Father," Patrina confessed. "When he showed up at last, I offered myself to him and told him how I felt. I know he loves me. I see it so clearly!"
    The lady nodded and bit her lip.
    "He turned me away," Patrina whispered and drew a gentle sigh of relief from her mother. "Now I know why . He wanted to protect me. He does love me."
    Kenna nodded and gathered her trembling daughter up in her arms.