Page 11 of The Song of Sunrise
He lowers his fingers to the kindling and a flame sparks.
“Incredible,” I whisper, transfixed by the dancing flame. “How did you do that?”
“Channeling.” He taps the sigil on his chest. “Well, sun magic to be precise.”
“Did you… always have it?” I warm my hands over the small flame.
“Only Elves and Underlings are born with magic. The rest of us need siphons. I’m still learning how to channel the Source at the Watch.” He wiggles his fingers again, but this time, I notice the two bulbous rings, each adorned with a small golden stone.
Marrow had told me countless stories about powerful Watcher warriors who use their channeling stones to harness the magic flowing around us to tip battles in their favor. To see the stones up close and in action isfascinating.
Castor places the game over the fire then gathers a few larger logs for us to sit on. His movements are practiced, natural. Like he has spent a hundred nights outside preparing meals with nothing but good instincts and a fire.
His icy blue eyes meet mine, but I look away quickly, refusing to let him see too much beneath the surface.
“I cannot wait until we are back at the Academy. I can only take so many nights of thiscuisine.” Leaf makes himself comfortable on a log and lets out a dramatic sigh.
“You will eat whatever I find,” Castor says flatly and turns the squirrel slowly over the fire.
“Fantastic,” Leaf says and rolls his eyes before winking at me.
The part of my chest just above the ribs, feels a little less heavy.
Once Castor is done roasting the meat, he procures a knife from somewhere under his cloak and flips it in his hand before sawing off a piece.
“Here.” Castor holds out a piece of steaming meat to me.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You must be starving. Please.” He inches the meat closer.
I only shake my head once more. The thought of nourishing myself while the rest of the people in Goldenpine suffer seems unfair, selfish. Even the notion of chewing through meat repulses me.
“At least take this.” Castor stands up and begins to unpin his cloak, revealing his large, barrel-chested physique. The type that is undoubtedly warm under layers of muscle despite the chilly night air.
I shiver.
He walks, or more like prowls, around the fire toward me, then drapes his cloak around my shoulders. His touch is so gentle and caring despite his formidable size. Warmth lingers inside the cloak, still soaked in his body heat. A soft, involuntary moan escapes me before I can stop it.
His hand stills at the sound, grazing my shoulders before walking back around the fire to his spot.
Castor stares at me from across the flames, his blue eyes and dark hair flickering in the shadows. He is a complete juxtaposition from the golden light of the fire. I pull the cloak tighter around me.
This is the worst day of my life.
Worse than when I woke up on the side of a road with nothing other than two coppers, a bundle of carrots, and a splitting headache.
Worse than the time one of Rosie’s cooks accidentally made a cake with poison berries that had me sick for weeks.
Something deep within me insists that this day will never leave my mind. I want to hold on to every detail—Marrow’s furrowed brows, Rosie’s wooden spoon, the small, quiet moments. But, just as fiercely, I want to erase the others—the ones stained with red-tipped arrows, blood, and empty, lifeless eyes. The war between remembering and forgetting rages inside me as we sit, transfixed by the dancing flames.
“In the morning, we can escort you elsewhere if you wish. Where do your relatives live? Somewhere in Midland, I assume?” Castor asks.
“I…” It’s a simple question, yet it breaks me all over again. A pang of sorrow stabs fresh through my chest. “I don’t…”
I don’t have any family.
“Why don’t you come with us?” Leaf quickly interjects. He is smiling, though another undetectable emotion glints in his eyes before it’s gone a moment later. “No need to rush answering, just think about it. We are headed west to the Watch, at least another three days. You’re welcome to join our humble traveling crew. Plus, you smell nice, which is a major improvement from who I usually am with.”
