Page 44 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Chapter 16

THE BARRIER OF BLUElight stretched from floor to ceiling down the length of one side of her bed. Adelaide smiled to herself. She had lost count of how many times she had attempted conjuring a barrier. Only two days prior—the day after the banquet, in fact—had she managed to get a barrier about the size of a small shield to stay up after she broke the link between the barrier and her hands. She walked around the edge of her bed, examining the thin barrier of shimmering, near-transparent azure light.

Now for the real test. She picked a throwing knife up off her desk and threw it at the barrier. It hit the barrier, and a ripple of energy pulsed out from the point of impact as the knife bounced back and fell onto her bed.

“Yes!” She clapped her hands over her mouth. Her heart hammered as she listened.

No one came knocking.

The barrier held.

Adelaide giggled and tried throwing the knife again. Same result. “I wonder...”

She walked around to the other side and raised her glowing palm. A point of light appeared over her outstretched hand and exploded into a small ball of flame. She launched the small fireball at the barrier.

The barrier absorbed the fire with a sound like distant wind.

Adelaide gave a little jump. She rubbed her hands together, pondering what to try next.

Someone knocked on the door of her room and she nearly jumped out of her skin. “Just a moment!” She waved her hand, and the barrier wavered then disappeared.

After taking a moment to collect herself and slow her panicked breathing, she unlocked and opened the door. One of the Drummonds’ maids stood at the door, holding a short, square wooden box.

“A messenger just delivered these for you, my lady.” The maid offered the box and a letter with a slight bow of her head. “From Sir Nolan Carrick.”

Adelaide rolled her eyes. “Thank you.” She closed the door and sat on her bed. The letter bore her name in a neat, flowing script. She broke the crimson wax seal of a gryphon on the back and read quickly.

Dear Lady Adelaide,

I pray you will forgive me for my inexcusable behavior at the Glower banquet. I admit I had drunk too much wine, and I am not ashamed to admit that I acted partly out of jealousy for your attentions. You are a rare and incomparable lady of good name and angelic beauty, and you deserve the affection of a man of similarly good name and appearance. I acted rashly, not as a gentleman, I fear, but as a man blinded by his admiration for you and a desire to see you unsullied by the dark forces of this world. I urge you, as a man of chivalry and honor, and as one who cares for you, not to trust Regulus Hargreaves. Please accept this humble token of my sincere apology and my admiration for your strong spirit, kind heart, and indescribable beauty.

Yours in heart and soul,

Nolan Carrick

Adelaide made a disgusted sound and tossed the letter aside. More out of curiosity than anything else, she lifted the lid off the box. Inside, on a blue velvet cloth, lay a necklace. It was a collar, really, formed of solid, flat silver wire, shaped to fit around the neck, with an elegant swirling design framing either side of a large, oval moonstone she guessed would rest between her collarbones if she put it on. She had no intention of ever doing so.

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