Silver Dragon by Jason Halstead Page B

grinned. "She is nice, so long as you stay out of her bad side."
    Namitus nodded to support Patrina. "Ladies," the rogue said with a flourish, "if you'll excuse me."
    "Where are you off to?" Patrina asked.
    "I came to find you, but you’re busy."
    "Why?"
    "Well, to talk about how we're going to find that thickheaded man of yours."
    "Oh!"
    "Just tell me where to go. I can find my own way," Caitlyn said after a glance at Patrina.
    Patrina frowned. "Nonsense, I'll show you myself," she said with a reassuring smile. She turned on Namitus. "Wait here, I'll be right back!"
    Namitus bowed again. "Of course, my lady."
    Patrina turned away and led Caitlyn towards a door that led out of the hall. "I hope we end up in the mountains again," Patrina muttered.
    "Why?"
    Patrina smiled sweetly and said, "I want to push him off a cliff!"
     
    * * * *
     
    Patrina pulled her boots on and tied the laces tightly. She was excited and anxious to be on the road. Namitus had confirmed her thoughts. He wanted to go after Alto , too, and if he was up for it, she knew the others would be as well.
    Patrina turned to the stand in the corner where the dwarven chain mail rested. Before , she'd worn it without thinking about it. Now she looked at it more closely and remembered how it had felt on her. It had been comfortable to wear, something she rarely found in metal armor. Smiths had a hard time sizing armor to fit a woman, no doubt because so few women took up the sword.
    She picked up the chain mail and hissed in surprise. It was heavier than she remembered. Patrina scowled, wondering if she'd gotten weaker since she hadn't been training with her sword regularly. She slipped it over her head and pulled it into place, and then gasped anew when she felt it move of its own accord on her.
    The metal links squeezed and shifted, moving just right so that they rested comfortably on her shoulders and chest. She glanced at her mirror and saw the gleaming silver metal fit snugly, even closing about the base of her throat. It wasn't possible ; she'd just put her head through that hole, but there was no denying what she now saw. The chain mail sleeves came to an end at her wrists, allowing her to wear gauntlets or gloves. She glanced down and saw the bottom of the hauberk fell three-quarters of the way to her knees, offering her protection without impeding her legs. She grinned at the dwarven magic.
    "I've got magical armor," she said to herself while buckling greaves on her legs. "Nothing can stop me from finding you now!"
    Patrina turned and buckled her belt and sword around her waist. Her sword was new, too, but something she hadn't used much since leaving the mines. She drew it and stared at it, examining the fine details engraved into the hilt and the emeralds that looked like eyes. The blade itself seemed normal enough, but she had already used it in combat and knew its edge knew no burrs and the blade was well made. Not as sharp as Caitlyn's dagger, perhaps, but it was a fine sword for her.
    Patrina turned and grabbed her helmet. She sat it upon her head and turned to regard herself in the mirror. The smiling warrior maiden she saw appealed to her. "He can't deny me," she said to herself. "You're a stubborn fool, Alto, but even I couldn't fight against what we have forever." It didn't matter that Alto wasn't standing before her; she was facing the truths she felt deep in her heart. "I won't lose you again."
    Patrina turned , grabbed her cloak and set it about her shoulders. She turned away and hurried out of her room. Namitus would be waiting for her in the hall. That or she'd have him drawn and quartered for making her wait.
    She found not only Namitus, but Karthor and Kar sat with him as well at a table. She joined them and looked at the assembled men. "Is this all you could find?"
    "By the saints, you mean to stumble into the wilds straight away?" Kar grumbled. He shook his head and reached for a bowl filled with walnuts.
    "Do you ever stop eating?"