Page 23 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

The rest of the entry detailed the history of the technique and variations on weapon types. No instructions, other than “shape the light they produce.” She slumped back in her chair.

“Maybe if I just concentrate...” She stood and moved away from the vanity. The curtains were drawn, no one would see. She raised her hand, palm up, and let the tingle of energy flow to her hand. A soft sphere of periwinkle-tinted light ignited above her outstretched palm. It had taken months of secret practice to form that sphere, instead of releasing a burst of flame. She stared at the sphere, willing it to become a sword. Nothing.

Okay...start smaller. A dagger?

Her mind ached from the concentration. The sphere elongated, became rectangular, then narrowed. “Yes!” She grinned, and the rectangle of pale blue light vanished like water from a burst skin. “No.” She rubbed her forehead and rolled her shoulders back.Come on. You can do it.

Once again, she conjured the light and focused on shaping it. She practiced for over an hour. Finally, the light took the shape of a crude dagger. A plain, round hilt as long as her palm was wide, attached to a long, thin blade. It looked soft around the edges, but the center appeared solid.

Her pulse racing, she reached for the handle.The moment of truth.Her fingers closed around the hilt—

Knocking echoed from the door, and Adelaide jumped. The dagger vanished. She threw her head back and groaned.No! I was so close!She placed theCompendiumback under the other books and unlocked the door.

Giselle walked in carrying a basket of clean clothes. “Everything all right, m’lady?”

“Of course. Just doing some reading.”

Chapter 8

THE DAY WAS CLOUDYbut warm, and the smell of earth and new leaves and grass filled the air. Regulus adjusted his back against the tree trunk. Above him, the oak leaves stood out bright green against the pale gray clouds.

“If I were you, I’d call on her.” Jerrick slouched against the rail fence encircling the archery range behind the castle and bit into another bread roll. A dull thunk sounded as Dresden threw another knife at the archery target.

Originally from Bhitra, Jerrick Faras’ accent made his vowels sound long and his consonants hard. He was about average height and muscular and could wield a battle-axe with deadly precision. His short black hair clung to his head in tight curls. He favored brightly dyed fabrics because of how well they contrasted with his dark skin. Today he wore a yellow tunic Regulus would never dream of attempting to wear.

“Call on her?”

“Yes,” Jerrick said around a mouthful of bread. “Go visit her at the Drummonds’ like a man.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling him!” Dresden threw his hands up in exasperation. He stood on the other side of the fence, inside the archery range. He didn’t have his bow today, though, just the knives stuck in the top rail of the fence. “I told you, she wants to talk to you!”

“Because you lied to her. I didn’t ask you to say anything. I didn’t even speak to you before I left!”

“Ah, but was I wrong?” Dresden pulled another throwing knife out of the top rail of the fence. “You enjoyed your conversation and regretted leaving early. That’s not a lie. And shelikesyou. I’m sure of it. So do something.”

“I sent her that letter you forced me to write.” Regulus pulled at a handful of grass.

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