Page 14 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“Pardonme,” a man’s voice said behind him, brimming with condescension. “But you and your man here are blocking the way.”

Adelaide hadn’t even registered the man standing to the scarred man’s left. He had a deep olive complexion, aquiline nose, and thick, dark beard trimmed close to his face. The bearded man frowned at the impatient guest behind them.

The handsome man with the scar looked over his shoulder. “Apologies.” He looked back to Adelaide and nodded. “My lady.” He turned into the great hall, followed by the bearded man.

“Wait!” Adelaide’s chest tightened as she realized in a panic how loudly she had spoken. The men paused and looked back. “I...”Now is not the time to get all tongue-tied!“Um, that is... I apologize, I didn’t hear your name.”

The man’s scarred lips turned up in a slight smile. “Oh. Lord Regulus Hargreaves of Arrano, my lady.” He inclined his head to her. “And my lieuten—um, one of my knights, Sir Dresden Jakobs.” He gestured to the man with the beard, who bowed.

“Pardon me, my lady,” interrupted the same male voice, but in a much warmer tone. “Sir Nolan Carrick, at your service.”

Adelaide looked over in surprise as Sir Carrick snatched up her hand and kissed her fingers. She curtsied, trying to mask her confusion. She glanced toward Lord Hargreaves, but he and his knight had disappeared into the main hall. “Adelaide Belanger.”

Sir Carrick gave her a crooked smile. “I know. I am honored and most pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Belanger.”

Nolan Carrick looked younger than the man with the scar, and far less battle-worn. He wasn’t much taller than her. A crimson doublet with ostentatious silver stitching covered a black shirt that clung to strong arms. He had a square face, with a clean-shaven, defined jaw. With his blue eyes, well-combed light brown hair, he was fairly attractive. But Adelaide was so distracted thinking about the gray-eyed Lord Hargreaves of Arrano, she didn’t care.

Nolan moved on, and Baron and Baroness Carrick entered next. A few more nobles of varying status arrived, and they all entered the dining hall. To Adelaide’s disappointment, Lord Hargreaves sat at a distant table. She wanted to ask Minerva about him but could hardly do so at supper.

Finally, the fish, fowl, bread, and pudding courses were all finished. Lady Drummond invited her to recite. Nerves knotted her full stomach, but she curtsied and stood on the dais at the end of the table with Lord and Lady Drummond and Baron and Baroness Carrick. Adelaide recited the Ballad of Elwynn and Leander, star-crossed lovers who died trying to bring peace to a kingdom torn asunder by war. The assembled nobility applauded daintily when she finished. Now the difficult part of the evening: mingling.

Chapter 5

REGULUS KEPT LOOKINGover at Adelaide during supper. His distraction prevented him from engaging in conversation, but no one at the table seemed interested in talking with him, anyway. Dresden elbowed him in the side.

“She’s going to catch you staring,” he whispered. “Ease up a little. You don’t want to scare her.”

As if that mattered. He glanced across the hall at Sir Mowbray. A little over two years ago, Mowbray had hired Regulus as a mercenary. Now Regulus was a lord—Mowbray’s superior. The pointed way Mowbray ignored Regulus at social events made Mowbray’s feelings on the matter clear.

Everyone seems to either fear or hate me.Certainly no one trusts me. I’m just the bastard mercenary to them. These people will tell Adelaide what they think of me, and then she won’t so much as look my way. Like everyone else.Not to mention that while the sorcerer’s mark marred his arm, he shouldn’t want her to look his way. But he did.

He couldn’t help himself—she was lovely. He hadn’t expected to find her so attractive. Her height surprised him. Fine, it was superficial, but he liked a tall woman. Most women looked small and fragile; like he could accidently crush them even without his enhanced strength. He didn’t get that feeling from her. She felt solid and...magnetic. Her thick black hair escaped from her hairpins, wavy strands brushing against her round face and cheeks. Her complexion was darker than Dresden’s, and even if he hadn’t met her mother, he saw the Khastallander in her. He’d enjoyed his time in Khastalland. By and large, he had found Khastallanders to be a sincere and passionate people.

After supper, Adelaide stood to do a recitation. Her gray-blue dress had a wide, scooping neckline that showed off her shoulders and collarbones without being showy, but still hugged her figure. A wide V-shaped brass belt accentuated her waist. She kept fiddling with the bright blue scarf she had dropped earlier as she recited a poem whose words Regulus barely comprehended. He was too busy telling himselfstop thinking about how beautiful she is. Stop. The sorcerer won’t care if she’s angelic or a hag, he’d just care if hurting her would hurt me.But as Adelaide spoke, saying something about lovers and sacrifice, her gaze momentarily met his.What was I thinking about again?

Her clear, low voice washed over him, releasing tension in his muscles. He had never been so relaxed when surrounded by other nobles. He could have sat there and listened to her all night.No.He was doing this to please Drez, nothing more. When she finished and people rose to move around and socialize, Dresden punched him on the shoulder.

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