Silver Dragon by Jason Halstead

nothing impressive about it. The knife looked plain to her, as though there was nothing special about it at all. She drew it out of the holder and studied the blade, and then reached to test its edge.
    "Don't," Caitlyn warned her.
    Patrina glanced at the young woman. She seemed concerned enough that Patrina turned instead and pressed the tip against the bench between them. It sank into the wood, penetrating it as though it was butter.
    Patrina gasped and pulled her hand away, leaving the knife impaled in the wood all the way to the hilt. "That's amazing," the lady mumbled.
    "Alto said he got it from a friend, a shaman by the name of Thork?"
    Patrina's eyes flew to Caitlyn's. "He met the troll again?"
    "Troll!" Caitlyn's eyes widened and she glanced around to see if anyone had heard her outburst. The men and women moving through the hall ignored her and continued their duties.
    "Thork is a troll shaman we met last spring. I thought he'd left the region after he helped us."
    "He helped you?"
    Patrina nodded. She pulled the dagger out of the bench and slid it back into its scabbard. "I know, a troll. He's large, smells bad, and just looking at him is enough to give you nightmares. But he helped us escape. Later, they found him again and he gave Alto Kevard's Blade, the blade he just turned over to my father."
    Caitlyn nodded. "Alto had two swords after he saved me. The one he wore on his back is the one you're talking about?" Caitlyn paused for Patrina to nod. "Okay. The one at his side was a new one. It looked different, but I never saw it up close."
    "I caught a glimpse of it; it's a long sword, not a broadsword. Alto's not as good with those. The way he fights isn't suited for a narrower blade like that; he tends to break them."
    Caitlyn laughed. "Are you saying my brother's a brute?"
    Patrina smiled. "Your brother reminds me of a draft horse, except he's better looking."
    Caitlyn grinned. "That depends on which end of the horse you're looking at!"
    The two women shared a laugh at Alto's expense. The hall felt brighter for a moment, as though the clouds above parted and promised an early spring thaw. The shadows felt like they closed back in when Caitlyn's smile faded and she sighed.
    "When I woke up, after Alto had saved me, I was in the barn and wrapped in some horse blankets. He'd buried our family. I never asked what he did with the other bodies," she finished her earlier story. She gazed into the fire again. "I'm scared for him because he's not himself anymore. He's so angry now. He said he's going to kill a dragon, but how can he do that? How can any man do that?"
    "I don't know, but if any man can, I think he will find out how," Patrina said. She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Caitlyn, how are you?"
    Alto's sister turned to look at Patrina . Her puzzled expression changed as she considered the question. Her chin trembled and she shook her head, and then looked away. "I've been better," Caitlyn admitted after she took a few calming breaths.
    "I can only imagine what it's like."
    "Don't," Caitlyn advised. "Don't imagine it. It's…I'm so confused."
    "Confused? About what? You haven't done anything wrong."
    She nodded. "I know, but why am I alive? They killed everyone else. All of them, and in such terrible ways. There was so much screaming. So much blood. So much pain!"
    Caitlyn turned to stare at the fire while fresh tears ran down her face. Patrina glanced about, at a loss for how to help her. She remembered her mother reaching out to touch Caitlyn's hand and squeeze it when she'd told her tale that morning. Patrina slid closer to the emotional woman and reached down to take Caitlyn's hand in hers.
    "My sister, Kressa—she was young, only fifteen, but they hurt her before they—"
    Patrina let go of Caitlyn's hand and wrapped her arm around her shoulders when the woman couldn't go on. She pulled her in and held her while Caitlyn's strength crumbled and she broke down. Patrina tried to understand what it must