Page 48 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Chapter 18

THE TOURNAMENT GROUNDSwere already buzzing with activity as Adelaide dismounted. She held her hand up to shade her eyes from the bright afternoon sun as Gaius helped Minerva out of their carriage. Lord and Lady Drummond had decided not to attend the tournament as Lord Drummond had sprained his ankle. All the better for Adelaide, who could get away with riding Zephyr instead of being trapped in the carriage. Since Lady Drummond wasn’t around to purse her lips at Adelaide’s fashion choices, Adelaide wore a comfortable riding dress.

The close-fitting bodice of the gray-blue dress had long, fitted sleeves. The skirt, split beneath a wide black belt, parted when she walked to reveal a dark blue, smaller skirt that came to her mid-thigh. While still Monparthian and conservative in style, the split skirt would have scandalized Gaius’ prim-and-proper mother.

Adelaide wandered toward whatever caught her attention. She admired a fine bay stallion here, looked at the archery field being assembled there. Gaius and Minerva followed as she wove between tents and rushing servants and squires leading enormous destriers. Dust coated everything, and the air smelled of manure, cooking food, and sweat.

As they walked, Adelaide spotted a large group of men. They wore clean but plain clothes, and most had a sword on their belt, but none wore armor. Probably knights there serving their lords and not competing; a few of the younger ones might be squires. A glint of sunlight on flying metal caught her eye, and she looked closer, slowing. Another glint of metal. Knives. They were throwing knives. A thrill went through her, and she sped toward the group.

Several knives with red handles were embedded in a large, sprawling beech tree a few paces away from the group. A few of the red-handled knives had blue-handled knives near them. Sometimes the red and blue were right next to each other, sometimes they had a good bit of space. Plenty of holes showed where knives had been thrown and removed.

A stocky man with a balding head and bushy black beard threw another blue-handled knife. It scraped across a branch, just below a red-handled knife, but fell to the ground. Several men groaned. The thrower stood next to a post with three more blue-handled knives stuck in it. Adelaide watched with interest as the man threw the remaining knives with no better luck.

“Not bad,” a thin man with salt-and-pepper hair said. “But Estevan wins another round.” Several men grumbled while others gloated as money exchanged hands. A boy of about ten ran out to the tree and pulled all the knives free.

“Any other takers?” Salt-and-Pepper asked.

“What exactly is going on?” Adelaide asked a lean man with a weathered face and blond hair.

He looked at her in surprise. “Oh, just a bit of fun, m’lady. That there is Estevan.” He pointed at a young man of average height and a thin but muscular build with tan skin and thick, curly brown hair. The dark edge of a tattoo showed just above his collar. “He’s about one of the best knife-throwers there is. He gets the first throw. His opponent throws second. If he can get all of his knives within four fingers’ breadth of Estevan’s, he wins. If not, Estevan wins.”

Adelaide nodded, as Salt-and-Pepper kept asking for volunteers. “I take it Estevan hasn’t lost yet.”

“No, m’lady.”

“Come on,” the older man crooned. “Is no one bold and skilled enough to knock this upstart down a peg or two? Someone must want to try their hand at it.”

“I’ll throw.” Adelaide said it before she even realized she was speaking. Minerva sighed behind her and Gaius choked.

Amusement, shock, and confusion showed on the men’s faces. Adelaide cleared her throat. “I’ll throw,” she repeated. No way would she back down now.

“With all due respect my lady,” Salt-and-Pepper said, looking uncomfortable, “this is a gambling game—”

Adelaide reached into the purse at her belt and pulled out a few silver coins. “Is this enough?”

“Um...” The man looked lost and confused, so Adelaide smiled sweetly at Estevan.

“Won’t you let a lady have a little fun?”

Estevan chuckled. “I’m not going to make it easy for you.”

Adelaide grinned. “I should hope not. Fair’s fair.”

“All right... I guess the lady throws.” Salt-and-Pepper shrugged.

Estevan stepped forward, and the boy stuck the red-handled knives into the post. Estevan threw in rapid succession, each knife burying deep into the oak in different places and angles. Adelaide studied him, noting his ease, balanced stance, and excellent follow-through. Once he’d thrown all eight knives, he stepped back. “My lady.”

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