Silver Dragon by Jason Halstead Read Free Book Online

later."
    Alto frowned. His own company? He was too young for such honors. He shook his head to clear it. "I'm too young."
    "Do you fancy yourself still a boy hiding behind his mother's legs?"
    Alto scowled, answering the wizard's question.
    "A man your age could be on his way to a handful of children already and be working his own land. You're young, yes, but you've proved your abilities."
    "It doesn't matter," Alto dismissed the wizard's praise. "I'm leaving."
    "What? Leaving? Why?"
    "You know so much, wizard, you figure it out." Alto turned and strode with a purpose towards the stables. If Sarya could be hurt, she could be killed. He was no knight with an army behind him ; he was just a boy. A man, he corrected himself. He was a man who had done the impossible twice now. His father always told him that things came in threes.
    "Where are you going?" Kar called after him. "The others will want to know. Patrina will want to know."
    Alto stumbled at the mention of the lady. He turned and stared back at Kar. "I'm going someplace safe."
    The torchlight outlined the wizard, rather than defined him. Alto couldn't see the puzzled look he was sure Kar wore. He turned and resumed his trek to the stables. He had to hurry now ; the meddlesome wizard would probably tell the others so they would try to stop him.
    Alto waved to the guard who saluted him when he entered the stables, and then walked past four stalls in the stables until he saw a horse that stopped him. Sebas was there, his stallion that he'd thought lost in the enchanted forest leagues to the south.
    Alto unlatched the door and stepped in to the stall, smiling for the first time that he could remember. Sebas greeted him with a happy snort and a nuzzle.
    "Come, my old friend, we've some riding to do and I don’t expect it will end well." Alto frowned as he realized what he was asking. Sebas was just a horse, not a unicorn like Winter. Still, he'd shown Alto love and deserved to be treated fairly. "We'll probably both end up chopped to bits or food for a dragon. I don't know if this means anything to you, but will you ride with me?"
    Sebas whinnied and stomped his hoof. Alto grinned. It reminded him of Winter telling him to stop talking and get on with it. Perhaps there was more to horses than he'd realized?
    "All right, but no complaining when things get tough," Alto said. He went to a wall and grabbed the blankets and his saddle off the hook, and then hurried to make Sebas ready. In a few minutes, his horse stood tall and tossed his head. Still smiling, Alto led Sebas out of the stall and out into the open. Kar was standing outside, smoking his pipe again.
    "Still clearing your head?" Alto asked him.
    Kar nodded. "Watching where you go to," he answered. "That way I can tell the others when they beat it out of me."
    "Beat it out of you?"
    Kar shrugged. "They just got you back. You think they'll stand idly by, not take it out on me for doing nothing to stop you?"
    "Nothing you can do."
    "I'm a wizard!" Kar spouted. "I can do countless things! I could mire your horse in mud or knock you senseless. Steal the air from your lungs until you pass out or leave you wrapped up in that spider webbing I used to stop that wasp. Don't doubt my talents, boy!"
    "I thought you said I was a man?"
    "Bah, boy or man, I'm old enough to be your grandfather! Stop turning my words on me or I'll just leave you a pile of smoking ash and be done with you."
    Alto smirked at Kar's raving but it faded all too soon. "Don't follow me, Kar. Don't let any of them follow me, no matter what Patrina says."
    "That girl has taken to you."
    "I know."
    "You're a fool."
    "I know that too," Alto said.
    "Maybe you should have joined the church instead of Karthor," Kar muttered.
    Alto offered the wizard a smile and swung up on Sebas's back. He opened his mouth but found he didn't know what to say. He gave the wizard a nod and had it returned.
    "Good luck, son," Kar offered.
    Alto sighed and added, "Goodbye, Kar."
     
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