Page 50 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“So she thought she’d compete against Estevan?” Dresden shook his head as they stopped at the edge of the group of bystanders.

Adelaide adjusted her stance, raised her arm. She threw the knife. With a flash of reflected sunlight, it arced through the air and buried in the tree with a soft thud, less than a palm’s breadth from one of Estevan’s knives. She tilted her head to the side, then grabbed another knife. The onlookers, most of whom had been talking and several laughing, had fallen silent. She threw the next knife, then threw the rest as quickly as she could pull them from the post, which was impressively fast. When she finished, she leaned back on her heels, crossed her arms, and grinned at Estevan.

All her knives had landed close to Estevan’s. Three of her knives were practically touching his. Estevan stared at the tree, jaw slack. Silence. Regulus looked back and forth between the knives and Adelaide’s jubilant expression. Her eyes sparkled over her confident smile. Regulus’ heart squeezed strangely.Etiros, I’m in love.

“Let’s hear it for the lady,” one man shouted. The rest of the congregated men cheered, and Adelaide blushed and gave a small curtsy. A few of the men looked downcast as they handed over coins to jubilant friends.

“We have a new winner,” said a man with gray-flecked black hair. He handed Adelaide a handful of coins. “Most impressive, m’lady.”

Adelaide pocketed her winnings and crossed over to Estevan with a smile. “Excellent throwing.”

“You too,” Estevan said slowly, jaw still slack. He shook his head and smiled. “I’m sorry. That was...spectacular. Congratulations, Lady...?”

“Belanger.”

“Lady Belanger.” Estevan’s eyes went wide. “B-Belanger?” Regulus watched in amusement as terrified realization dawned on Estevan’s face.

“Yes...?” Adelaide chuckled awkwardly.

Regulus walked up to them. “Lady Adelaide.”

She looked up and beamed. “Lord Regulus!”

He smiled. “I see you’ve met another of my knights, Sir Estevan Wolgemuth.”

Estevan bowed, although his face was red. “It’s an honor to meet you, my lady, even an honor to lose to you. Reg—Lord Hargreaves speaks highly of you.”

“Does he?” She pushed some of her hair back behind her ear, momentarily hiding her face.

“Never letting you live this down,” Dresden whispered to Estevan. Estevan scowled and went to retrieve the knives from the tree.

Sir Gaius and Lady Minerva came up next to Adelaide. Sir Gaius chuckled and shook his head. “I knew you threw knives, but by my sword, that was something to watch.” Minerva elbowed him. “What? Swearing? Your sister just gambled and threw knives against a man she didn’t even know, I think I can be forgiven for an innocent oath.”

Regulus bowed. “Sir Gaius. Lady Minerva.”

“Lord Hargreaves,” they said in unison as they bowed and curtsied.

“Dresden and I were on our way to see the jousting arena.” He looked at Adelaide. “Perhaps you all would walk with us?”

“We would love to,” Adelaide said.

Regulus smiled. “Excellent.” For a moment, he hesitated. He offered her his arm. She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and stepped closer to him. Close enough her skirt brushed his leg. He cleared his throat and started toward the jousting arena.

Dresden and Sir Gaius and Minerva fell behind them. Regulus suspected this to be on purpose, probably a design of Dresden’s. But he couldn’t think of anything other than Adelaide’s hand on his arm.

“I thought Estevan was the best knife-thrower I’d ever met.” He chuckled. “I may have to re-evaluate.”

“That wasn’t exactly ladylike, I suppose.”

He looked down at her in surprise. “What? Why not?”

She looked up, brow creased. “Gaius is right. I gambledandthrew knives in competition against someone I didn’t even know. Not things ladies are supposed to do.”

“Why?”

Adelaide wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know why. I’ve been asking for years and no one will tell me!”

They laughed and Regulus felt warmth spread through his chest.

---