Page 49 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

The men whispered to each other and a few sniggered, but she ignored them and handed the man in charge her silver. As she walked to the post, she studied the position of the knives in the tree. All right. A few tricky angles and a couple thinner branches. But not terrible. The boy stuck the blue-handled knives into the post and stepped away.

Adelaide pulled the first one free and held it for a moment, judging its weight and balance. She tossed it in the air and caught it a couple times. She took a deep breath, stood as near as she could to where Estevan had stood, and threw the knife.

Chapter 19

“OKAY, BUT DO YOUneedto do three events?” Dresden asked as they walked across the dusty tournament grounds.

People were everywhere. Noblewomen cast furtive glances their way and noblemen poorly hid their surprise at seeing Regulus. Young men caroused and winked at giggling young women. Servants hurried to do their masters’ bidding and freemen shouted to each other as they finished constructing rough arenas and stands with benches for the audience. The air was rank with the smell of horses. A lord whose name he’d forgotten cast a suspicious glance his way, but Regulus squared his shoulders. He had every right to compete.

Regulus stepped around a pile of horse manure. “Defineneed.”

Dresden rolled his eyes. “I get the joust. What’s the point if you enter a tournament and don’t joust, right? Sword makes sense, even if it’s a touch risky. Archery, though?”

“I’ve been practicing so much, I’d like to see how I do,” Regulus said, a little defensively.

“Archery has never been your strongest point.”

“Then there’s room for improvement. If nothing else, watching the others will give me some ideas.”

“You are a strange man.”

“I suppose you would know, wouldn’t you?”

Dresden snorted. He pointed at a group of men. “Looks like Estevan is getting up to mischief already.”

“Oh?” Regulus looked as Estevan threw a knife at an oak tree and stepped back. “Should have known we’d find him throwing knives. Likely gambling, too.” They ambled toward the group to see how his opponent would fare. Regulus stumbled.

“Is that—”

“Adelaide,” Regulus breathed. Adelaide strode to the post were Estevan had stood moments before. Her blue dress parted as she walked, revealing black boots and fitted breeches. A boy stuck several knives in the post.

“She’s not...throwing knives...is she?” Dresden asked.

Adelaide pulled out one of the knives, hefting it in her hand.

Regulus waved his hand. “Khastallanders teach women to use daggers and throwing knives. So...”

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