Silver Dragon Read Free Page A

she could manage where she could leave a donation to the church and perhaps ask a favor. He directed her to a priest at a smaller altar in a side room.
    "How can Leander's grace shine upon thee, young man?" the priest asked with a smile when Aleena remembered to drop to her knees before the altar.
    With her head lowered respectfully , she asked, "I'd like to give up all of my worldly belongings and give myself into Leander's grace."
    "You seek to become a member of the clergy?"
    "No, uh, Father," Aleena stumbled. "I meant I wish to become one of Leander's knights."
    The priest paused a long moment before he looked down at her. "That's an unusual boon to ask."
    "I have money!" Aleena blurted out. She grimaced and roughed her voice up. "I mean, for a donation, Father. To prove I don't take this lightly." She reached and untied each of her pouches and tossed them in a basin in front of the altar for offerings. One of the pouches opened and spilled out several coins. Aleena heard the priest's intake of breath but she forced herself to keep scowling.
    "What is your name, young man?"
    "Aleen, uh," she stammered, realizing she hadn't thought her disguise through all the way. "Excuse me, Father. Alin."
    She could almost feel his frown as he looked down at her. After a painfully long moment of silence he said, "Come with me, Alin. I will take you to Sir Amos. He is the Chief Protector of Leander's Portland church."
    Aleena jumped to her feet and had to bite down on her tongue to keep from squealing in excitement. She was pretty sure boys didn't squeal. She followed the priest out of the offering room and down a hallway. He took her up some stairs and then down another hallway to an office. He knocked and waited until they were bid to enter.
    " Sir Amos, pardon the interruption but you've just received a young man who expressed considerable interest in becoming a Knight of Leander."
    Amos was a bald man Aleena guessed to be half again as old as he r father. He lifted his eyes to look at her and saw right away that they were clear and skilled at picking out deception. She dropped her head in submission and shame. He knew she was a girl, he had to!
    "What is your name?" Amos asked her.
    "Alin, sir."
    "And you wish to become a paladin? The right hand of Leander, striking out against injustice and evil?"
    "Yes, sir, I do."
    "Why?"
    Aleena hesitated. Telling the priest she wanted to impress a boy was probably going to get her kicked out of the church so hard Leander himself might strike her down from the heavens above. But it wasn't about that. Not really. Sure, being with Alto promised an exciting life filled with grander things than she'd ever imagined, but there was more to it.
    Standing ther e in the bastion of Saint Leander, she felt something inside her. She remembered all the times Alto and Karthor had spoken of his church in her presence. She'd pretended to be working or paying no mind, but she'd listened close. Recalling them now, she heard the words again and found new meaning in them. She admired what Leander stood for, or at least what Karthor had explained Leander stood for. It seemed to her that Alto personified a lot of those traits, but that didn't mean she couldn't do the same. She lifted her head up until she was staring at a painting on the wall of Leander's crest, a blazing yellow sun with an all-seeing eye in the middle of it.
    "I admire what Leander stands for. Purity, growth, protection , and justice. I want to help to fight darkness and cruelty. I want to help people."
    "That is what serving Leander means to you?"
    Aleena nodded. "Yes, Sir Amos."
    "You will be tested. Should you fail any of the tests you will be turned away. Do you understand?"
    Aleena nodded.
    Sir Amos turned back to the other priest. "I will take this from here."
    "Of course, Sir Amos . Thank you. And good luck to you, Alin. Place your faith in Leander so that you may grow from this as well."
    Aleena nodded and offered him a tight-lipped smile. She