Page 38 of Staff of Nightfall

Chapter 15

“Where is Nolan Carrick?” Her heart pounding, Adelaide drew two throwing knives and readied them as Regulus stopped next to her. “What did he do?”

The men circled them and raised their swords. “We don’t want to hurt you,” the deep-voiced man said. “But you have to come with us.”

She threw a knife into his leg. He cursed and howled as he stumbled backward. “Where is Nolan Carrick?”

The blond bolted to one of the horses. She threw a knife at his neck, but he moved to mount the horse and it hit his back, bouncing off his chainmail. She cursed in Khast and drew another knife.

“Watch out!” Regulus’ sword grated against its scabbard.

She looked back at the man with the braid just as he grabbed her cloak and pulled. She twisted and stabbed the knife into his forearm as she slid sideways in the saddle. The man cursed and leapt back, yanking her cloak against her neck so she tumbled out of the saddle and fell hard on her arm. Adelaide drew a dagger and staggered to her feet as Regulus ran up next to her. Her knife still stuck out of the man’s forearm, but he had dropped his sword. Regulus held the tip of his sword to the man’s throat.

“The lady asked you a question.”

“He’s at Belanger castle!” The man glanced at his friend, but he had sat down a few feet away and was trying to stop the bleeding from his leg. “He got some men together and took the castle by force.”

“By force...” She swayed, suddenly dizzy. “Lord and Lady Belanger, are they alive?”

The man nodded rapidly. “Sir Carrick locked ‘em up! But they’re safe. I swear it! He said none of the Belangers could be hurt.” She lowered her dagger, relief mixing with fear.

“Why were you posted here?” Regulus asked.

“To keep an eye out for you.” The man swallowed hard, his eyes wide. “We was ordered to kill Hargreaves and take Belanger to Carrick. And if we couldn’t, to let him know you’re coming.”

Oh no, the blond!Adelaide whipped around, but he was gone.

“How many men does Carrick have holding the castle?” Regulus looked eerily calm as he held his sword to the man’s throat. Meanwhile, panic pushed against Adelaide’s lungs and squeezed her throat. Incoherent thoughts of despair and anger chased each other through her mind.

“I don’t know!”

“Think about it,” Regulus coaxed. Adelaide wanted to shake the man. Or scream. Or cry. Maybe all at once.

“He brought twenty with him—”

“Nolan took Belanger castle with only twenty men?” Adelaide’s eyes widened. “Was there a sorcerer with him?”

The man shook his head and glanced toward her knife still embedded in his forearm. Blood dripped from his elbow to the ground. “I don’t know about a sorcerer! But you ever seen a man get run through with a sword and shake it off like a punch? You ever seen a man rip an arrow out of his throat and keep walking? Seeing that does things to men’s spirits. He ripped a side door off its hinges, and we walked right in. We only lost a few men before the castle surrendered. Carrick locked up anybody who didn’t join him.”

“Join him?” Adelaide clenched her fist. “My father’s men would never—”

“Carrick can’t die and keeps saying he’s gonna be the second most powerful man in Monparth soon. Greed and fear get men to do a lot.” The man looked from her to Regulus. “I answered your questions. Please don’t kill me!”

Adelaide and Regulus looked at each other. She hesitated before she stepped forward and pulled her knife out of his arm. “Go.”

Regulus lowered his sword, and the man stumbled over to his companion. They ran to their horses, as best as the other ruffian could with a wounded leg.

“They’ll go to Carrick,” Regulus noted.

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