Page 125 of Staff of Nightfall

“But only the kingcanpardon her,” Beale added. “Belanger. Are you going to come without any trouble this time?”

“Comewhere?” Regulus demanded.

“Yes, sir.” Adelaide’s voice was soft.

“Do I need cuffs or are you going to come along willingly?”

“No.” Adelaide shook her head. “I’ll come.”

Beale motioned for her to follow him and headed out of the courtyard.

“You can’t seriously be putting her in the dungeon?” Regulus stepped in front of Adelaide, panic squeezing him. He had promised not to leave her alone again.

“That’s the law, Hargreaves,” Beale said sullenly.

She patted his shoulder. “It’s all right, Reg. It won’t be for long.” She kissed his cheek. “You said it yourself. I saved the king’s life. He’ll pardon me. Behave. Please?”

Regulus whirled toward Beale. “I want to stay with her.”

Beale rolled his eyes. “Not protocol.”

“Hang protocol! Look at her!” He pointed to Adelaide. “She was wounded, she’s drained herself of her magic to kill the sorcerer, she nearly died, she’s exhausted. She could have run, but she came back! If you were a decent person, you’d let her stay in her room! Post a guard if—”

“Enough!” Beale’s expression darkened. “Your attitude grows old, Hargreaves. As does your inability to call mesir.Now back off, or you can spend the rest of the day in the stocks.”

Regulus clenched his jaw. “Yes, sir.” He stepped aside and watched Beale lead Adelaide to the dungeons with a heavy heart.

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REGULUS GLARED AT THEwall of the mess hall with enough intensity to burn a hole through the wood. He clutched his fork. Just when things seemed to have finally looked up, Adelaide was taken from him again. Most likely not permanently, but he didn’t like it.

The other guards in the mess hall avoided him. Whether because he’d brought back the sorcerer’s severed head, because he was the mage’s betrothed, or because of the murderous look on his face, he wasn’t sure. But he was thankful to be left alone. After lunch, he laid on their bed in the dark room, unable to sleep in the empty bed while Adelaide slept alone in a cell.

He wandered around the gardens until he was too tired to walk anymore. A spot under a willow tree, hidden by well-manicured bushes whose leaves were starting to show hints of red called to him. He hadn’t meant to doze off, but it was early evening when he awoke to the rustle of willow branches and buzz of bees. His stomach drove him to the mess hall, and then his heart drove him to the dungeons. The guards wouldn’t let him see Adelaide and threatened to throw him in a cell far from hers if he persisted. He left, muttering and cursing under his breath.

Their little room felt empty and harsh. He would have given anything to be lying in bed, sleep pulling at his eyes while Adelaide crouched over a formless blob of fabric, her brows drawn close together and absently biting her lower lip as she moved the needle and pulled out a staggering number of little pins. So help him Etiros, this was the last time they would be separated unnecessarily. He pulled off his boots and belt and tossed the dagger Carrick had stolen from Adelaide on the table before he blew out the lantern.

He’d only been lying on the bed a few minutes when someone knocked.This can’t be good.He stumbled toward the door and slammed his foot into a bed post. Biting back a curse, he hopped on one foot. He survived mutilation and torture; he wouldn’t be brought down by a couple stubbed toes. The person in the hall knocked again.

“You in there, Reg? Adelaide?”Dresden.

Regulus opened the door so quickly it banged against the wall. “Drez!”

“Oh, good.” Drez peered inside the room. “Where’s Adelaide?”

“In the dungeons.” He stepped aside to allow Dresden to enter.

“What?” Dresden stared, rooted in place. “They’re not still charging her with desertion, are they?”

“Wait, youknew?” Regulus crossed to the table and lit the lamp, filling the room with flickering orange light. “Drez, I swear—”

“Hey, you ever tried stopping her from doing something? She was throwing magic and fire and telling people off. Besides which, I was on her side. If she was doubling over in pain at what they were doing to you, I can’t imagine...” Dresden gulped. “I was worried.” He sat in one of the chairs by the table. “I like Adelaide’s light better. Makes the corners less shadowy.”

“What? How would you know that?”

“Come on, Reg.” Drez leaned back in the chair. He looked worn; his beard considerably less well-kempt than usual. “She lost you; then her father died, and she couldn’t save him. And she tried, Reg. It...was rough.” He rubbed the side of his beard, his eyes distant. “I wasn’t about to leave her alone.”

Regulus sank onto the edge of the bed and a pang of sorrow went through his heart. “Thank you,” he whispered.

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