Page 34 of Staff of Nightfall

Adelaide laughed and brushed the grass off. “She’s just protective.”

His lips twitched toward a smile. “She threatened to slit my throat when you were unconscious.”

“She did not!” At his serious expression, her chuckle died. “Sorry. She wouldn’t...I don’t think.”

“I believe she would if it saved you.” He handed her a neumenet leaf. The leaf shimmered, pinpricks of color dancing along its translucent surface. The soft and pliable leaves in contrast to their glasslike appearance still surprised her. “Here. Something you can practice that’s not dangerous.”

She pinched the stem of the leaf between her thumb and forefingers and rolled it back and forth. The leaf glittered as it twirled. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“You’re smart.” Regulus laid back. “You can figure it out like everything else.”

“Right.” She stared at the leaf. Just...direct the magic into the leaf. Sure. Her palm glowed, and she imagined her power flowing into the leaf. Then she sensed it. The transfer of energy running down her hand and into the leaf. The leaf glowed blue. “Regulus.”

He sat up and looked at the glowing leaf. “That was fast.”

The magical energy stopped flowing, as if it had nowhere else to go. The leaf ceased glowing, and then so did her hand.I guess an object can only hold so much power.Adelaide spent the next hour practicing storing magic in leaves, then in neumenet twigs, and finally a couple of sticks of a pine tree at the edge of the meadow. That proved more difficult, and between fighting Regulus, healing herself, and all that magical transference, she was drained. She sensed the neumenet tree replenished her magic faster than it would otherwise come back, but she had used a lot.

“I think now’s a good time for you to rest. Maybe try to sleep,” Regulus said.

“I look that tired?”

He stroked her hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch.”

“I’m not worried.” She laid under the massive canopy of the neumenet tree and drifted to sleep within minutes.

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ADELAIDE WOKE TO Afire crackling in the darkness. Regulus sat next to her, staring into the flames. She stretched and sat up. “It’s night?”

“Sun set half an hour ago. You hungry?” He held out a small cloth bag.

Inside, Adelaide found dried venison. Between bites of the tough, salty meat, she said, “I think we should only stay here one more day.”

Regulus raised a brow. “The fairies said—”

“Yes, I know.” She ate another bite. “But I want to find out if Father has heard anything about the progress of the messengers.”

Regulus pursed his lips. The intensity of the unspoken question in his eyes made her uncomfortable.

“What?”

“I thought we were past secrets.” He picked up a long stick from next to the fire and poked at the glowing embers. “Are you not being honest with yourself, or just not with me?”

Adelaide lowered the food to her lap. “I don’t know what you’re—”

“Why do you want to go back? Really?”

All right, there was another reason. But did she have to say it out loud? She tore off another piece of venison and tossed it in her mouth.

He sighed. “Information on the messengers will be important for plotting our next step. But it could wait. I don’t want you ever to feel you need to hide from me.” The softness with which he repeated her own words back to her pricked her conscience.

“I need to make sure my parents are safe.” Saying it aloud somehow made the threat seem more real. “I’m afraid of what Nolan might do.” She met his eyes. “Truthfully, I’m more afraid of him than Kirven. And I know that’s stupid, but I can’t help it. Kirven wants to rule. He’ll kill the king and anyone who gets in his way. If it was only Kirven, maybe...” She trailed off, ashamed of herself.

“You’d be tempted to let him win.” He didn’t sound disappointed or disgusted. In fact, he sounded sympathetic. “I had the same thought. Would it be so bad? Maybe if we ignored him, he would ignore us. But he’s vindictive. I doubt he’ll feel satisfied with killing the king. I’m not sure anyone would be safe. And if he learns your magic is back... He’d see you as a threat. I don’t think we can be free until he’s dead.”

“I know.” She set the bag of jerky on the ground, her appetite gone, and pulled her cloak tighter around her arms. “And even if I could convince myself that wasn’t all true...” She shuddered. “If Kirven gives Nolan the political and military power he wants, I’d never be safe. You and my family would never be safe. I’m more worried about that than the kingdom.” She laughed weakly. “I suppose that’s selfish.”

“It’s not selfish to want to protect the people you love.” Regulus stood and offered her his hand. “Come on.”

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