Silver Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

tonight. I know Patrina's been beside herself but she's carried on beyond her years. She said she wanted you to be proud of her. Of course you was dead then, so there's no telling what she's thinking now."
    "Better that she thought me dead," Alto said.
    Teorfyr frowned. "That's not the way to be thinking! Come on , lad, live while there's yet breath in your lungs."
    Alto shook his head. "Not while there's others who can't."
    Teorfyr's brow furrowed. He sighed at length. "All right, to my office then and let's have it."
    Alto nodded. He turned and saw Caitlyn's head bowed while Karthor held her hand in one of his and his holy pendant in the other. Alto smiled and sent a silent thank-you to the priest. He turned and followed Teorfyr out of the hall towards the jarl's office.
    "Alto!" Patrina cried out as he strode towards the door that the jarl stood waiting for him at.
    Alto tried to ignore the lady but she was having none of it. She caught up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him. "Alto, wait!"
    Alto turned and saw her smiling at him. She wore a pale blue dress this time that matched the blue ribbons tied in her hair. "Trina, I have to speak with your father," he said. He didn't want to talk to her. Not now. Or, perhaps, not ever. "Can we do this later?"
    "Oh! Uh, yes, I guess so." Lady Patrina's smile faded. "I want to know how you escaped and what you did to the mountain. That was you, wasn't it?"
    Alto nodded.
    "I knew it!" She smiled again and hugged him. She backed away quickly. "Sorry, I couldn't stop myself. I'm really glad you're okay."
    Alto nodded. "Thanks. I'm glad to be here, too. Now—your father?"
    "Yes, go! Sorry. Come to me later, when you're done with him? I don't care how late it is. That's an order!" Patrina winked at him and turned away, releasing him to rush after Teorfyr.
    Alto groaned as soon as he was away, and then he continued down the hall and made his way to the jarl's office. The door was cracked open so he stepped in and shut it behind him. Teorfyr was sitting at his desk and looking up at him.
    "Patrina tells me she made you her champion," the jarl began.
    Alto nodded. "Yes, my lord, she did. I should not have accepted but, well…"
    "But she's a pretty girl and she's got you wrapped around her finger," Teorfyr said with a chuckle. " Trust me, I know. She's so much like her mother, it scares me at times. Except she'd rather play with swords and axes than dolls and books. She's got a sail full of air for you, too, you know."
    Alto nodded. Hearing it confirmed didn't do him any good. Not anymore. Now Alto had other goals, other needs that he had to take care of. "Jarl, the favor?"
    "I've been thinking about this for some time now, Alto. I wasn't sure how to get away with it until now, but that business in the mountains clinched it for me. The eastern edges of the Northern Divide were once home to the dwarves, but we now know what became of them thanks to you and your friends. There was once a town that dwarves and men built and lived together in called Rockwood. The dwarves are gone and the town long buried, but I would like to see it rebuilt and resettled. And I'd like you to be the Thane of Rockwood, which would be much the same as a baron in your kingdom."
    Alto stopped his head from shaking as Teorfyr misunderstood the request he wanted to ask him. He stared in mute shock as the jarl went on.
    "As thane, you'd be a noble, and that gives you the rights and bloodline to ask for Patrina's hand," he finished. He looked at Alto, waiting for a response.
    "Jarl, I'm honored," Alto stammered. "But that's not the favor I would ask."
    "It's not?" Teorfyr's brows drew together.
    "My sister, Caitlyn. I need to find someplace safe for her."
    "What of the rest of your family? Is she not safe there? Is there some local boy she's gotten in trouble with?"
    Alto shook his head. "There's no one else, just her."
    Teorfyr frowned and leaned back. After a moment of thought, he gestured to the seats behind Alto.