"You don't have to be especially strong. You just have to handle someone who is.
I love you. I'd gladly give my last drop of blood for you.
"Young man, if this succeeds, I'll get the credit. Outsiders may never even know you were involved.
But if it fails, I won't protect you. You'll bear all the blame and be cursed for generations to come.
Whether you go or not is up to you."
I set down my weapon and respectfully knelt before the old man.
"I will."
"Young people never think about the consequences," the old man said with a shake of his head.
"I'm a man of lowly birth, down to my very bones. If I want to stand before her openly, I'm willing to risk everything."
"
