Page 21 of Staff of Nightfall

A frantic rapping sounded on the door, and they all turned.

“Come in,” Father called.

The house steward stepped in, clutching his cap in his hands, his eyes wide. His graying blond hair was a mess, as if he had been repeatedly putting the cap on and taking it back off. His bony shoulders scrunched up around his neck.

“My lord, we have a problem, if I may speak with you in private.”

Father frowned. “Speak, Titus.”

Titus twisted his cap. “Perhaps not in front of the ladies...”

“They will find out eventually,” Father responded. “Out with it.”

“My lord...we received back the falcon you sent to the king.”

Adelaide stood and placed a hand on Regulus’ shoulder. What could possibly have upset the steward so much about whatever message the king sent back? The steward shouldn’t have even read a message from the king.

“That was fast,” Father said, his brow wrinkling.

“It’s dead, my lord.”

Adelaide dropped onto the bed next to Regulus, her mind and pulse racing. Dead?

“A peasant brought it to us with an arrow through it, your message still in the container on its back.” Titus tapped his foot. “He said a man named Carrick gave it to him and paid him to deliver the carcass to Belanger castle.” He glanced at Adelaide, then stared at the floor. “The man also said Carrick instructed him to give Lady Adelaide his regards and to tell Lord Belanger to desist.”

Adelaide’s chest constricted, as if something was pushing on her sternum. She gripped Regulus’ forearm and her hands and feet turned cold. Her face felt numb and her mind thrummed with a frantic buzzing. She was vaguely aware of her father dismissing the steward as she struggled to breathe. Her vision went out of focus.

Helpless.Powerless. Useless.She ran through the most likely scenario. The sorcerer would kill the king. Nolan would be a duke with an army of knights at his command. He would storm Belanger castle. Good men would die. Regulus would be killed. Maybe even her father. Nolan would take her. Sweat ran down the back of her neck.

“Adelaide.” Regulus’ voice cut through her internal scream. He rubbed her back. “Breathe, Adelaide.” She took a deep breath. “We’ll figure this out. All right?” His hand moved in circles over her taut muscles. His smooth, deep voice washed over her like a hot bath. “Chin up,Tha Shiraa.”

Her breathing slowed. The tension in her shoulders eased as the weight lifted from her chest.

“We’ll find a way through this together. Together, my brave tigress.”

She nodded, her heart rate easing.

“Good.” Regulus smiled. “Now, don’t take this the wrong way, but your grip is like the jaws of a dragon.”

“Hm?” She looked at her fingers digging into his sleeve. With a gasp, she released her death grip on his forearm. “I’m sorry!”

He shook his arm. “I think I was a few seconds from losing feeling in my hand.” He winked and laughed nervously.

“That settles it,” Mother said with finality. “You’re not leaving this castle.”

“I concur.” Father’s eyes flashed with a fury she had never seen. “I’ll send another falcon tonight. Perhaps under cover of darkness it will make it. And I’ll send messengers by horse and by foot. We’ll have to spare a few knights to escort them. He can’t stop them all. In the meantime, I’ll have a guard posted outside your door. You’re not to leave this room without at least two armed guards.”

Adelaide’s mouth hung open, but she couldn’t formulate a response.

“Alfred, I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think that’s going to work.” Regulus continued to rub her back as he spoke. “I have experience with this. Carrick is nearly unstoppable, especially since he is eager to do his work. The sorcerer is likely stronger with the staff, and that may be reflected in Carrick’s abilities as well. Your only hope is for your messengers to get past Carrick without him catching them. And we don’t know if he is working alone or if he pulled some of his associates into his scheme with promises of fortune.”

“What do you suggest I do?” Father said heavily.

“Send outallyour falcons, to anyone and everyone you trust, all at once. Tell them to forward your message to the king. Hopefully one will get through, and no lives will be needlessly thrown away.”

Father nodded but looked doubtful. “It’s worth trying.”

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