Silver Dragon (37 page)

"No!" Aleena shook her head and offered a smile a moment later. "I've never been happier with my life than since I've been here. Even with the bruises."

Sir Amos chuckled before he grew serious. "Walk with me,
Aleena." He turned without waiting for her and began walking down the hall of the palace.

Aleena swallowed and hurried behind him, catching up to the sp
ry elder knight but staying silent as she walked at his side.

"You're concerned for Alto, aren't you?"

Aleena felt the heat return to her face. "Yes, sir."

"Why? Has he not
proved himself capable?"

"More than capable!" Aleena blurted. "Did you know he's been tested by two saints? Saint Preth and Saint Jarook."

Sir Amos nodded. "I had heard that. Remarkable and enviable, but take care that envy does not turn to jealousy. It is good to admire but not to covet."

"Oh no
." Aleena shook her head. "I'd never do that."

"Then what troubles you?"

Aleena walked in silence for many paces. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "I'm trying to figure that out. It's Alto, or he's at the heart of it."

"Go on," Sir Amos nudged her.

"He said I was perfect," she blurted out. "What does that mean? I'm perfect but he's still going after Lady Patrina? I'm perfect but not for him? What does being perfect mean?"

"I'm an old man who knows little more than what the church has taught me," Sir Amos said. "I can only guess that he meant he's proud of you and all that you've done. As are we all."

Aleena shook her head. "That can't be it; it can't be. I joined the Knights of Leander for him. I wanted to prove to him that I wasn't just a silly girl who would never be more than a barmaid."

"There's nothing wrong with being a barmaid," Sir Amos interrupted. "It's as noble a profession as any."

Aleena's thoughts tripped over themselves. She frowned. "I suppose it is, but we admired people like the Knights of Leander. Nobility. Even men such as Alto and Tristam who made a name for themselves. I wanted to prove to him that I could be the same as he was. That I wouldn't be a burden or an embarrassment."

"I don't know Alto well at all, but I can't imagine him ever thinking that of you."

"No, he wouldn't," Aleena admitted. "Or at least he'd never admit as much. I guess I want to know what it is that I did wrong. How did I push him away?"

"I don't believe you did anything wrong. You are headstrong and driven, but I believe those are qualities that a man like Alto would admire. I'm a poor person to ask, I'm afraid. I've been with the church since I was younger than you. It is a demanding life, but one I enjoy. There are no prohibitions from a
knight taking a wife—or in your case a husband—but it is rare."

Aleena turned to watch him as they walked. She didn't buy it. "Sir Amos, you can't tell me that a virtuous man like yourself, in all those years, never took a fancy on a woman."

"Taken a fancy to? Many times, but my true calling remains my finest lover," he answered. "Let me pose a question to you that you must answer for yourself. Had Alto asked you to be his, would you have given yourself to him? Not before you came to the church but now? Would you forsake Leander to be with him?"

Aleena stopped in the hallway and stared at the knight until he came to a rest a few steps later. He glanced back at her with a knowing smile on his face. Aleena shook her head. "I would not forsake Leander," she said. She nodded as she felt the weight of her words and how they rang true in her heart. "Whatever he asked me, or no matter what he asked me, I would not turn my back on my vows to Saint Leander and to the Knights."

Sir Amos nodded. "Then that, daughter, is the answer you seek."

Aleena smiled as she realized Sir Amos was true. Her smile grew into a wide grin and she had to restrain herself from hugging him. "You are truly a wise and wonderful leader," she praised.

Sir Amos waved her compliment away. "Give yourself another thirty years and you'll find a few pearls of wisdom to share as well. Now come, I've been talking to Sir Celos and I have something I'd like for the two of you to do."

"Of course, Sir Amos," Aleena said, pushing her troubles away and falling into the familiar and comfortable role of duty.

Sir Amos led her back to the throne hall, where the other worshippers of Leander were already gathered. He nodded for her to join the others and then moved to stand in front of them all.

"Knights and Squires of Leander," he began without pause. They grew quiet and turned to face him. "I've gathered you for a special purpose. Our numbers are diminished and there are many things we wish we could do. Quests we would like to undertake and
foes we would put to rest. There are not enough of us to do these things, yet that does not stop our enemies from growing.

"A young man stumbled into our midst recently. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. He has sought out the saints and does the sorts of heroic deeds that our knights did in times past. Responsibility has shackled us, but our service to the people and Saint Leander is not without its own reward.

"I fear that Alto's is doomed. As it is, he journeys with only a small troop into hostile and difficult terrain. He challenges the mightiest of foes, both in terms of strength and numbers. It is not a matter of faith so much as a matter of experience. He will die in those mountains."

Aleena felt the muscles in her neck twitching as she strained to keep herself still. She didn't believe Sir Amos
; she couldn't believe him. Alto had escaped a falling mountain that he himself had caused to fall!

"I have called you here for that reason.
It is more than just that I do not wish to see such a promising young light in the world go out. I have sought the counsel of others, some unusual sources, and I have prayed long and hard on this. While we cannot help Alto directly, we can, perhaps, confuse our enemies. We will journey into the mountains and attack our foes. Find their camps and disrupt them. We shall leave no doubt of our passing, but there are not so many of us that we dare not be ready for a swift and deadly reprisal. It is this distraction that may prove the only chance Alto and his companions have of reaching their destination. Between our anvil of faith and his hammer of purpose, it is my hope that we can avoid this war before it is begun."

"But
, sir," Aleena risked the interruption to ask. "Alto's already gone. By several hours now!"

"I had a discussion with a most unusual source.
I know of a way through the mountains that will take us near one of their camps. We should arrive there in two days or less, long before Alto is able to reach his destination. The hard part then will be digging in and defending ourselves against the enemy."

Aleena narrowed her eyes and wondered at the mysterious source Sir Amos spoke of. Was it the troll Alto had befriended? Who else would know of passages through the mountains
? Miners, trappers, and scouts might, but would Sir Amos call them 'unusual'?

"You are the men, and woman,
who have been chosen for this. I pray that you will take care and come to no harm, yet I also pray that we wreak havoc upon our foes." Sir Amos smiled as he looked at them. "In this special case, the restriction on recruits bearing arms and armor is lifted. They will serve as messengers but should the need arise for them to do battle, and it will, they must be prepared to do so.

"The absence of Baron Mackay has left little doubt as to his loyalty. To run Highpeak until the
duke sends a suitable replacement, I leave the task to my recent aide, Tristam."

Sir Amos
turned and nodded to one of the knights, Sir Ethan. He stepped forward and turned to look at those assembled. "Prepare yourselves. We go without horses and leave in an hour. Meet at the north gate."

The men fell out and left to gather what they would need. Aleena stepped out of the way until she saw Durak heading towards the door into the palace. "Durak!" she hissed as she stepped over to him.
"We're going to do this! We're going into battle with the knights!"

He grunted as she walked beside him.

"Congratulations!" she said, undeterred by his brusqueness. "I heard Sir Amos say how much he respected your skills before, too. You're going to be a squire soon, I know it!"

Durak glanced at her and then shook his head. "Thanks."

Aleena frowned. She grabbed him and pulled him off to a side corridor. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. We've got a quest to do."

"You're mad that I'm a squire, aren't you?"

Durak scowled. "Of course not."

"Remember Leander's teachings."

Durak took in a breath and looked up at the ceiling. He blew it out in a huff. "Of course I'm mad! I've been here far longer and you come in and because you're the first woman in two hundred years
, you're special. You're a shining example, so you get rushed through everything."

"You don't think I deserve it?" Aleena asked, shocked.

"I…" Durak's words fell off as he stared at her. He dropped his eyes and shrugged. "It doesn't matter what I think. Sir Amos does and he's a paladin. You must be—he's above reproach."

"Nobody's above reproach," Aleena said to him. "We are human
; we can do wrong no matter what our position is. We must always remember that if we hope to advance as knights and in Saint Leander's eyes."

"Quit reciting the books to me. I read them
, too," he growled.

"I'm not quoting the books," Aleena protested. She grimaced and admitted, "Okay, I am, but that doesn't mean the words aren't true. You're good enough to be a squire
; what you're lacking is in your heart."

Durak glared at her. "How dare you speak to me like that!"

She shook her head. "Durak, I love you as a brother. Hear me without seeing me as the girl who stole your glory. You told me yourself how frustrated and lazy you can be. Work hard and you will have what you want. You will shine with Leander's light. I believe in you and I will support you. When we're done with this, I will help you with anything you wish. Studying, prayer, training, or anything else you can think of."

Durak stared at her for a long moment. "Why? You got what you want
—why spend your time on somebody beneath you?"

"You're not beneath me," Aleena insisted. "I spoke with Sir Amos earlier and he helped me realize something. No matter our station
, we are all people and all equally deserving. We all need help buckling our armor on. You are my friend and my brother-in-arms. I will sweat and bleed with you, but you must show Leander that you are willing to do what you must to be worthy of his gift."

After a long moment of studying her
, Durak finally opened his mouth and said, "I have to get my things. I'll see you at the gate."

Aleena nodded. Her heart felt heavy in her chest at his cool reception to her. "Think on what I said. I'm not any better than you
. I've just opened myself up to His light more quickly than you did."

Durak grunted and turned away,
and then walked swiftly down the passage. Aleena watched him go and wondered if he'd ever be the same man she'd trained with day after day at the church. She sighed and then jumped when Sir Celos walked past the alcove she was in. He kept going, not seeing her, but it reminded her she only had a little while to gather her things as well!

Aleena rushed out of the alcove and hurried back to her quarters.
Since her promotion to squire and acceptance of Sir Celos as her mentor, she'd been quartered in his room. It had been awkward for both of them at first; too much had changed since they had shared a barracks as recruits. In the days that followed, they grew accustomed to it and eventually both had little trouble with the arrangements.

When she arrived
, Sir Celos was settling his armor about his body and doing his best to fasten it on. "About time," he growled at her. "You left before me. What took you so long?"

Aleena moved up to help Celos with the buckles on his armor. "I wanted to speak to Durak."

"Is he still sulking because you passed him by?"

Aleena bit back the retort that came to her lips. Celos was right
. Durak was sulking and it was because of her. Or rather, it was because of himself but he blamed her. Still, if she hadn't come along, he would have had no problems. Unless Sir Amos still might not have passed him because he lacked the proper understanding of Saint Leander's teachings.

Aleena nodded when her mentor turned to look at her. "Yes, he is."

"He's got no right to do so," Celos allowed. "You're better than him in a fight and you're practically a priestess, you're so in tuned with the teachings."

Aleena stared at Celos in shock. He turned when she slowed in her fastening. "What's wrong?"

"I, um." Aleena felt her face flush with heat. "Nothing, Sir Celos. Thank you for your kindness. Durak can be great. I told him I wanted to help him."

Celos chuckled. "That'll fire him up. He may kill the entire goblin army by himself just because of that!"