Page 115 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Regulus nodded. “Together.”

He led her through the hedged lane to the stables. Adelaide went to mount her horse, but he stopped her. “This way.” She shrugged and followed him to the trap door. As he stepped down onto the dirt steps, Harold ran into the stables.

“You have to hurry!” Harold panted. “Nolan Carrick is here with Sir Gaius, Lord Drummond, and several knights. The gate was open for deliveries, and they just rode in, didn’t even slow for the guard. Carrick says Lady Belanger is missing and he’s accusing you of kidnapping her. Dresden said you’re not at home, but Carrick wants to search the castle, and I don’t think Drez can stop him. You need to gonow. I’ll put a barrel over the trap door. Go!”

Anger surged, but Regulus couldn’t do anything about Carrick. He led Sieger down into the tunnel, not bothering with stopping to light the torch. Adelaide followed close behind, but her horse whinnied and pulled back.

“Easy, boy.” She stroked his face. “Come on.” The horse backed away from the tunnel, yanking on the reins.

“You have to go!” Harold’s voice sounded muffled from above the tunnel.

“Let’s try this.” Adelaide placed her hand on the horse’s forehead. A faint blue shone between her skin and the horse’s forelock. The gelding calmed, and she led it down into the tunnel. Harold closed the trap door and the tunnel became pitch black. A scraping sound indicated Harold moving a barrel over the door.

“There’s a torch in a nook over the steps if you can get to it,” Regulus said.

“No need.” A soft blue glow illuminated her face and grew to a pale blue shining orb hovering over her palm. As Adelaide lifted her hand, the orb drifted just below the top of the tunnel, above Sieger’s rump.

“Right.” He smiled sheepishly.

The blue-white light illuminated the tunnel. They walked in silence, the orb floating with them. At the end of the tunnel, Regulus moved aside the door and boulder and put on his helm before emerging into the space beneath the tree. No one around. Good. He went back down for Sieger, and Adelaide followed, her orb of light vanishing without a sound.

Regulus replaced the door and boulder over the tunnel entrance and turned to find Adelaide watching him, her forehead wrinkled and head tilted.

“I was right.” She looked at the boulder and back at him. “You were holding back at the tournament.”

He blinked. “Yes. The mark enhances my strength. You...could tell?”

“I’m used to holding back power.”

“Oh.” He went to Sieger’s saddlebags and paused, biting his cheek. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way. And you can say no. But I think it might be a good idea if...”There’s no good way of saying this. “If we tied your reins to my pommel and bound your hands.”

“Why?” Adelaide stepped back, uncertainty flashing over her features.

“I’m not doubting you!” he said quickly. “But there’s a chance someone could see us. I try not to be seen, but it happens. You know, you’ve heard the stories. It might be better for your reputation and safety if someone sees us if they think you’re a captive.” He held up a hand as she frowned. “Just a thought. You don’t—”

Adelaide sighed. “You have rope?”

He pointed at his saddlebag with his thumb. “Yes.”

“All right.” She mounted Zephyr. “Do it.”

He tied the ropes as loose as possible without them falling off. She could get free easily, but at a glance, the binding was convincing. He pulled the reins over Zephyr’s head and tied them to his own saddle before mounting.

Regulus kept off the roads as much as possible and listened and watched for signs of people so he could avoid them. They narrowly evaded a hunting party. A few minutes later, a solitary man in bright clothes, riding a gray horse and brandishing a bow, broke through the brush.

“Gerard, I swear if you leave—” He stopped short as he realized they werenothis hunting party. His wide eyes looked to Adelaide. “My lady...” He knocked an arrow and trained the bow on Regulus, but his hands quivered, making the arrow bounce against the side of the bow. “Release the lady, foul villain!”

“Stand down.” Regulus lowered his voice, letting it rumble in his helm. The man released the arrow. Frightened as the hunter was, it would have flown right past Regulus. He reached out and caught it anyway. Both the man and Adelaide gasped.

“Run!” Adelaide screamed. Regulus looked back at her, startled by her high-pitched outburst. “Flee!” She gave him the slightest nod. Oh, she was clever. “Find the Drummonds and Nolan Carrick! Find Regulus Hargreaves of Arrano!”

He pulled the reins to her horse, drawing Zephyr closer. “Silence!”

“Tell Lord Hargreaves the Black Knight has taken Adelaide!” The hysteria in her voice made the man turn pale. He backed his horse up, jaw trembling.

“I saidsilence!” Regulus covered her mouth with his hand but didn’t touch her.

She pulled his hand down. “Tell Nolan Carrick!”

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