Page 118 of Staff of Nightfall

Adelaide choked as Kirven yanked on the rope. She stumbled backward and turned around, clawing at the suffocating rope around her neck. Kirven held his hands outstretched, a rope trailing from both hands. She traced the other to where Regulus had fallen to his knees, his face turning blue as he tried to free himself. She sent a blast of fire through the ropes.

The ropes vanished, and Regulus gasped and fell onto his hands, coughing and sputtering. Adelaide collapsed to her knees, dragging air down her raw windpipe. Glowing green ropes wrapped around her arms and bound them to her sides. She looked up as Kirven aimed a spear of sorcerous light at Regulus.

“No!” She pushed to her feet, arms still bound, and jumped in front of Regulus.

Kirven dropped the spear. “That close to being out of power are you, girl?” He strode forward and pulled on the ropes, tossing her onto her side.

“You were defeated.” Regulus rubbed his throat as he looked up at Kirven. “You lost. It’s over.”

“It’s over when I say it’s over,” Kirven snarled.

“Leave him alone!” Adelaide maneuvered onto her knees and blasted away the ropes. She raised a shield between Regulus and Kirven. Even such a small, simple barrier proved more difficult than it had in ages. Her head pounded. Her limbs weighed her down.

Regulus picked up Nolan’s sword and rose unsteadily to his feet, his movements slow.

“Oh, very interesting.” Kirven’s gaze fixed on Regulus’ arm. “You broke the bond to give her strength. I’m impressed, honestly. But,” he smiled, “that technically counts as helping. That means you broke our agreement. According to the ancient and sacred rules of combat, cheating results in a forfeit.”

“Mercenaries have never cared much for the rules of combat,” Regulus snapped.

“Well, anything goes now, at the least,” Kirven said with a wicked grin. He sent an arc of green light toward her. She raised a second shield, but the arc of solid light went right past the edge of the shield. She allowed herself a small smile. At least that blow to the head had weakened him and affected his aim. She had a chance, despite her exhaustion.

Regulus moved into a ready stance, the sword gripped in both hands, and looked toward her. She nodded at Regulus, but his eyes widened. “Adelaide!”

A strong arm wrapped around her as Nolan pulled her back against his chest. Kirven hadn’t missed. He’d freed Nolan. The tip of a blade pressed against her side. She stiffened as Nolan pulled her away from Regulus.

“Drop the sword unless you want to see how well Adelaide handles the treatment I gave you earlier,” Nolan said, his soft tone in glaring dissonance with his words.

Regulus dropped the sword, his face red. “You would torture the woman you claim to love? What sick kind of love is that?”

Kirven sent ropes around her shield. The ropes wrapped around Regulus’ wrists and throat. Adelaide let the useless shield fall, conjured a dagger, and stabbed it into Nolan’s thigh. He cursed, but didn’t let go, so she stabbed again. Nolan released her and stumbled back.

“Let him go!” She burned through Kirven’s ropes, the effort making her dizzy. Regulus coughed.

Kirven grunted. “Here’s my offer, mage. Swear to serve me now, and I’ll let the mercenary go. Otherwise, I’ll have Carrick carve his heart out.”

Adelaide glowered at Kirven, even though she didn’t feel particularly defiant. “I beat you.”

“Yet I’m still alive.”

“She still won,” Regulus protested.

“By cheating!” Kirven clenched his fists.

Nolan grabbed her arm, but Adelaide turned and sent a blast into his chest, knocking him to the ground. White spots sparked in her vision and she swayed. She shook her head then ran to Regulus, pulled him to the ground, and threw a dome over them. Her muscles twitched as magical energy leeched from her.

“Regulus.” She had meant to sound more certain, but her voice came out small and weak “I...I’m going to surrender.”

“Smart girl,” Kirven said.

“What?” Regulus gripped her shoulders. “No!”

She lowered her head. “He’s right. I would have lost without your help.”

“That’s ridiculous, and you know it.” Regulus shook his head, his tone gentle. “It was your magic to start with, and what is some extra energy if you don’t put it to good use? He stole energy from the trees! How is that different?”

“Because she can’t repeat that trick, imbecile.” Derision laced Kirven’s voice. “I, on the other hand...” Green light covered the ground around the sorcerer and the grass withered and crumbled to dust.

Adelaide rubbed the heel of her hand over her eye, desperately trying not to cry. “I can’t watch you die again. I can’t.” She bit back a sob.

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