Page 91 of Staff of Nightfall

“But—” Breck started.

“Don’t make me report you to Captain Russell,” Antar said. “You’ve already got two strikes this month for abuse of power.”

As they walked to their room, Regulus leaned over and murmured, “That was risky.”

“It was riskier not to.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Well, maybe hold off on the praise until we determine if I’ve just made our lives a living hell.” Her stomach still felt uneasy.

“I’m sorry,” Regulus said quietly. “That should never have happened. I should have been there, like I promised.”

“It’s not your fault.” They turned into their little room. “And it wasn’t...” Her voice dropped. “I’ve been through worse.”

“Doesn’t make it okay.” Regulus closed the door, plunging the room into darkness.

She created an orb, the soft blueish light filling the room, and sat on the bed.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I had the opportunity and means to fight back.” Adelaide laid on the bed and rested her hands on her midsection. “Somehow, that helps.”

He shifted and his brows pinched. “If I ever make you feel uncomfortable, if you need me to back off... You know you can tell me, right?”

Sorrow accompanied a swell of love. “Thank you,” she whispered. She shifted over and patted the bed. He hesitated, then laid next to her and wrapped his arm around her. Adelaide nestled against him, thanking Etiros for Regulus.

“I always want you to feel safe with me.”

“In your arms is the only place I feel safe right now,” she murmured.

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AGUARD ARRIVED SHORTLYwith orders to give them an exhaustive tour of the palace. Regulus got his uniform that evening, and a servant delivered several dresses for Adelaide. Adelaide skipped dinner, opting to stay with Regulus. A servant delivered a parchment with their schedule for the next day. They would have breakfast together, but the rest of the day one would be on duty when the other wasn’t. The following days were similar, and often they had late night and early morning shifts. The king wanted one of them on guard whenever possible, which made it difficult to see much of each other.

Adelaide asked for a set of throwing knives and dagger and wore them on her belt, which seemed to help some more with the other guards’ opinion of her. They still stared, but they gave her space. The king didn’t care if the guards knew she was a mage, but wanted it kept a secret from the nobles, so she practiced magic behind the mess hall.

Breck glared whenever he saw her, took every opportunity to make suggestive comments when the other officers weren’t present, and relished every order he gave, even if it was, “Tie your boot laces, Belanger.” But he didn’t try to touch her again.

Guard duty was boring. She hung back, standing in the shadows, observing anyone the king interacted with. Listening to him talk and talk about harvests and food supplies, trade routes, taxes, approving marriage arrangements, and laws and bylaws. She practiced forming her magic into various shapes behind her back or while guarding the king’s chambers at night to pass the time.

Despite having a son and two daughters, the king and queen rarely interacted. Adelaide discovered Russell had been telling the truth when she watched a lady-in-waiting her own age enter the king’s chambers one night. It made her sick.

The king held a meeting with the officers of the royal guard, a few of his top knights, and Regulus and Adelaide on the third day, four days before the masque. Breck turned pink when he saw them in the council chamber. The king elected not to cancel the masque. He hoped to catch Kirven and wouldn’t be dissuaded. Captain Russell suggested a double, but the king said his brother would know, and wouldn’t reveal himself to a double.

After the meeting, Adelaide secured permission to go into town and buy masque-appropriate clothes for herself and Regulus. She had managed to convince the king that if she and Regulus blended in with the crowd, they stood a better chance of finding Kirven and Nolan before they could attack. She found a dress she would only need to alter slightly and bought matching material to make Regulus’ outfit. More importantly, the trip gave her an opportunity to visit Father.

They sat in the inn’s tavern, quiet during the mid-afternoon slump, sipping on ale. The place smelled of spilt food and drink mixed with soapy water as a maid scrubbed the dented wood floorboards. Occasional clatters rose from the kitchen, and whenever a worker passed through the door to the back, the scent of preparing stew drifted through. Adelaide wrapped both hands around her tankard and gazed at the candle flickering on the table between them. They’d tucked themselves into a shadowy corner where Adelaide drew less attention.

“You don’t have to go,” she said. “Weapons aren’t allowed; what could you—”

“The king has granted me permission to bear my sword. Sir Jakobs, too.” Father leaned back in his chair. “Jakobs has an unfortunate lack of respect for his king and takes his cavalier attitude a bit far sometimes, but I rather like the fellow. Yesterday, he—”

“This isn’t about Dresden.” She stared at the lingering foam along the wall of her tankard. She still hadn’t told Father about Kirven’s threats. But she couldn’t risk him falling into Kirven’s hands. “Even if you have a sword, Nolan is still immortal, Kirven is—”

“Adelaide.” He reached across the table and pulled one hand away from her tankard and held it. “Do you have so little faith in me?”

She looked up and softened at the gentleness and determination in his green eyes. “I’m just...afraid.”

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