Fantine

Silas stared down at me with his heavy jaw clenched and his hand resting on his sword hilt, but I didn't back down as I reached into the neck of my wool shirt and unhooked the silver chain that I had worn every single day since my mother died in the city estate. I pulled the heavy silver signet ring off the metal clasp and held it out directly toward his face, letting the morning sunlight hit the polished surface so he could see the wild roses and double daggers carved deep into the metal.

"You say my mother was just another city woman, Silas, but she gave me...