Page 24 of Staff of Nightfall

“Unless you don’t want to.”

“No, I do—”

“Then get dressed. The second group of messengers are about to leave. If we’re going to do this, we need to hurry. Plus, it’s only a matter of time before someone finds your guards.”

Adelaide tossed off the covers and hurried to her dresser. It almost surprised her how quickly she agreed. But it was her plan, after all. Even if the clandestine, against-Father’s-orders-thing was unexpected. “What did you do? How did you get here?”

“I picked the locks. And I knocked your guards out. They’ll be fine, although they might have a headache when they wake up.” Regulus winced. “And I don’t envy them the experience of facing your parents.”

Adelaide pulled an outfit she sometimes used for combat training out of her dresser and slipped behind her dressing screen. “You know how to pick a lock?”

“It’s a useful thing for a mercenary to know.”

Oh.She slipped out of her nightgown and struggled into the suede fitted trousers. Next, she slipped on a thin, sleeveless white undershirt and wriggled into a fitted sleeveless leather tunic she had based on a drawing in one of Mother’s Khastallander books. With a hemline at mid-thigh in the front and just below her knees in the back, and slits up to her hips on the sides, it could hardly be called a dress. She tightened and tied off the laces over the bust. The back came up to her neck, but the front curved well below her collarbone.

From the dresser she grabbed tall riding boots, a black cloak, a belt, and a baldric with slots for throwing knives she had thought she would never use. Regulus’ mouth fell open as she moved past him and sat on her bed to put on the boots.

“That’s...you...” He cleared his throat, and she smiled to herself as she laced up her boots. “You look fierce,Tha Shiraa.”

Adelaide pulled her box full of weapons out from under her bed. She picked out five throwing knives and put them into the baldric before throwing it over her shoulder and across her chest. After feeding the belt through the sheathes of a couple daggers, she cinched it around her waist. She grinned as she stood and threw on her cloak.

“You’re a bad influence, Regulus Hargreaves. This will be twice I’ve run off with you.”

“It’s your fault, really.” The candlelight danced in his pupils. “You make me reckless.” He grabbed her hand. “Ready?”

She stepped forward. “I’ll lead. I know every hall in this castle. We’ll be at the stables in no time.”

“That’s my tigress.”

They snuck past the guards slumped against the wall next to her door and down the hall. Every moment they spent in the castle set her on edge, every little sound startling her, certain they had been caught. But they made it to the stables and found Zephyr and Sieger without a problem. They saddled them in a hurry, then stole through the shadows to the small servant’s gate in the rear of the castle. Just large enough for a horse and rider, and easily blocked off, it presented little threat in case of attack. But it did provide an excellent way to slip out. The two guards standing in front of the gate straightened as they approached.

“Who goes—Lady Adelaide?” The guard on the right bowed. “I’m sorry, my lady, but you have to turn back.”

“I command you to step aside.” She put as much confidence and authority into her words as she could muster.

“Can’t do that, my lady,” the second guard said. “We’re under orders from your father not to let anyone in or out without his express permission.”

“Do you think I would be here without his permission?”

The guards exchanged a glance. “He’d be here if he wanted to give his permission,” the first guard said.

Regulus stepped forward. “Look, gentlemen, you’re doing a wonderful job. What are your names, so I can commend you to Lord Belanger myself?”

“Um, that’s close enough—”

Regulus jumped forward and grabbed both men by the collar of their leather armor. He pushed them back into the stone wall, grabbed their helms, and knocked their heads together with a clang that was sure to draw all kinds of attention. One of the guards staggered in a daze to the side, then sagged against the wall. The other slumped to the ground. Regulus retrieved the key from the belt of the fallen man. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, then turned back, breathing hard.

“Better hurry before anyone else shows up.” Regulus winced as he mounted Sieger. Adelaide bit her lip when he pressed a hand against his ribs and grunted.

She mounted Zephyr as a man shouted from further along the wall. Regulus kicked Sieger forward, and she urged Zephyr after him. They raced away from the castle, the wind from their speed pulling at her braid and cloak, the air cool and crisp on her face. She glanced back at the castle, at the cluster of torch-illuminated men near the door.

Be safe, Father and Mother.

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