A collective gasp burst from the crowd, and Fawnlum looked with everyone else, to see a lone figure striding out into the open.

Her breath caught in her throat as she recognized Baneck Lichner, her beloved, walking toward Felldrake, carrying a sword and shield.

Baneck stoically kept his eyes on the dragon, his five foot nine inch frame marching up as if he was ten feet tall and immune to fire.

Felldrake turned slightly to regard him.

“Baneck!” Fawnlum shouted, among the people murmuring around her.  “Stop!”

Baneck ignored her, then shouted at the dragon, “You say you’ll take one family member in place of your treasure.  And threaten King Dregor with war if he refuses.

“I’ll make you pay for your insult.”  He pointed with his sword arm toward King Dregor, but specifically at the guards next to him.  “I’m not family of King Dregor, but if Lady Saraty Raijum approves my marriage with her daughter, I will be.”

Fawnlum looked back with everyone else, including Felldrake, at the king.  Her mother stepped forward, coming almost abreast of Dregor and Allarah.

Fawnlum started to walk toward Baneck, and shouted, “Stop this right now!”

She barely got the words out of her mouth, when Saraty’s sharp voice snapped out from the ledge, “Stand down!”

Fawnlum stopped in her tracks.

Felldrake eyed Fawnlum, then looked back at Saraty.

Standing before the king, Saraty bowed low.  “Your Majesty,” she said evenly, “I ask, allow me.”

Dregor looked at her, hesitated for just a second, and then loudly said, “Granted!”  Then he and Allarah stepped back, putting the authority of the situation in her hands.

Saraty gave another small bow, and stepped closer to the edge of the wall.

“Baneck!” she shouted, “Is this just an effort to win my daughter’s hand?”

“I would do anything for Fawnlum!  But I’m putting an end to this!”

“You offer yourself as a sacrifice, boy,” Felldrake interrupted, his voice alight with amusement.  “But you come at me with magical weapons?”

Fawnlum looked more closely at Baneck.  From this distance, she could see runes carved into both his sword and shield, which was a common thing in the Coast.  It made sense that Felldrake would perceive the magic in them.  But those marks would do his weapons no good, without a wizard to activate them.

“King Dregor would offer himself before sacrificing anyone to the likes of you!

“I said I’d fill the role of a family member.  But I’ll not go quietly!

“You say you offer a deal.  Here’s a deal in return!  When I beat you, you agree to leave and never bother any of us again.  If you beat me, I agree to be carried off by you with no attempt to escape.”

Fawnlum screamed with all her might, her balled fists shaking at her sides.“Baneck!  No!”

Baneck paid her no mind, but she stayed rooted to the spot.  She could not interfere with a public challenge; no one could.  But her legs twitched; her arms tensed.  She was close to ignoring all formality, marching out, knocking Baneck on the head, and dragging him away from this foolishness.

Baneck had his eyes fixed on Saraty, over 75 yards away, to hear her answer.

Fawnlum looked at her mother, also.

Saraty called to Felldrake, “Do you agree to these terms?”

“I do.”

“Mother!”

“Fawnlum!”  Saraty shouted back, silencing her.

Saraty looked at Baneck.  “There’s a difference between bravery and foolishness.  Do you accept my daughter as your wife, and all the obligations thereof?”

“Yes!”

Then she shouted to her daughter, “Fawnlum!  Do you accept Baneck as your husband?”

Fawnlum could read her mother at this distance, and see the truth behind her eyes.  And with it came fear, though she tried to hide it.

But as always, Saraty was set in her resolve.  The threat of the dragon must end, even with this blood on her hands.

When she called to Fawnlum again, she did not falter, but a minute bit of her bluster was gone.  “Fawnlum!  Do you accept Baneck as your husband, according to our laws?”

To save him, Fawnlum would have to publicly reject him.  That she would not do.

She was frozen.  She wanted to take his place.  But she could not.  With a hurt greater than any she had ever felt, she inhaled, about to give her answer, and sacrifice her heart.

But she was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders, and whipped around by Sienna.

“Don’t!” her friend fervently whispered, glaring her in the eye.  “Say you accept.”

“Not with his life at stake!” Fawnlum hissed back.

“And you think the bastard will settle for another volunteer?  Don’t trust a dragon to do what you expect.  He’s already acted strange here by talking so much.  Say yes.”

Fawnlum hesitated –

Sienna gritted her teeth at her.  “Say it!  Now!!”

And then she released her.

Numbly, Fawnlum turned back to her mother.  With her mind swooning, she called out her answer.

“Yes!”

There was dead silence from the crowd as she looked back at Baneck.  It was a crime to send him to his death; and she felt a cold numbness sinking down from her chest into her body.  She gripped Sienna’s shoulder.  She needed the support, as she admitted to herself, her battle-sister was right.  She was not going to let the dragon force her to forsake him, not even for death.

Baneck just looked at her and smiled, stupidly confident.  And Fawnlum glared back.

Why was he doing this?

She looked at Sienna.  Sienna just looked at her in return, directing her eyes back forward, urging her to keep her head.

“Well then,” Felldrake said.  And he turned back to face Baneck.  “Now we – “

“A moment!” Saraty shouted, with all the arrogant hostility of a goddess at the tyrannical wyrm.

A small growl started to vibrate around the red’s fangs.

“If you accept Baneck as the family member, then you accept our laws!  You agree to leave us in peace and not bother us again if you lose, as he said.  If you manage to carry him off, you agree to the same.”

“You humans.  Always making such trouble for your short lives.  Very well,” he chuckled, “I agree.”

“Fawnlum!” she called again.  “Do you agree to abide by our laws, no matter what the outcome?”