Page 72 of The Song of Sunrise
I try not to let the anger and disappointment flush my cheeks. At least I’m ranked higher than Leo and Artemis, who are also currently lying in an infirmary bed.
“I cannot believe they took off points for that tiny scratch I gave the kelpie,” Ramona whines. “If you ask me, it was the least damage I could have done.” She twirls a dagger between her fingers.
I finally peel my eyes from the piece of paper. “Congratulations, Castor.”
His expression remains neutral, like he’s ignoring the giant way his father just rigged the entire first task. So this is the game we are playing, huh.
We stare at each other in challenge.
Ramona breaks the tension, dropping a few books on my bed.
“Homework from Elementation—Gregorio is asking for ten pages by next week—your Old World History textbook for tomorrow, and a few other books I bought from our room.”
While I appreciate her bringing me supplies, there is no way I’m staying here another night. “Thanks for the books, but let’s go back to our room. I want to sleep in my own bed.” I start to stand, but white hot pain stabs in my torso. My vision pulses.
Frustrated, I sit back down.
“Easy does it, Cadet Nox.” A woman in all white walks toward me and sets a gentle hand on my shoulder. Her eyes are narrow, and small smile lines frame her mouth. Her skin is peppered with age, yet her movement is graceful. A large silver name plate pinned to her ironed coat saysPanacea, Moon’cher Healer.
“You are going to stay one more night under our care. You only just woke up, and I’m afraid that you need more time to heal before we release you.”
“But I have to get back to class tomorrow or I’m going to fall even more behind.”I have to get back to training for the Summit.
“We will reassess your condition in the morning, dear. This decision was finalized by the Elder Superior himself.”
Of fucking course.
Castor’s downcast eyes are all the confirmation I need to know that he won’t be stepping in to discredit his father’s orders.
“I understand.” My words come out bitter.
The Moon’cher Healer leaves, and soon thereafter Ramona, Leaf, and Castor head out to dinner and train. As the night descends, my only company is Leo’s snores, flickering orb lights, and the… glowing lily on my bedside table.
It’s the same type of lily thathetouched down in the hot springs.
The Lord of Terraguard doesn’t care about me. He just needs his champion healed so he can win the advantage to negotiate the peace treaty deal first. That is what all the royals want out of the Summit: the ability to write new laws in favor of their territory for the next twenty-five years.
The vase is small and circular, clear with a wide opening on the top. A singular closed bloom floats on the surface of the water. The petals are the lightest shade of pink and pulse with light, as if hiding a glowing treasure within.
I absolutely donotthink it’s beautiful. Not a kind gesture at all. The Underworld Lord probably sent one of his Coredivers to deliver the flowers anyway. He doesn’t owe me anything; perhaps he already regrets picking such a weak champion.
As if my words conjure it, a stabbing pain rolls through my side. I hiss through my teeth. I swear the floating lily glows brighter, taunting me.
Enough.
I carefully swing one foot over the side of the bed, tugging the infirmary gray robes against my chest. My slippers are quiet on the stone floor as I sneak through the shadowy room between the rows of beds.
I know the path by heart, walking steadily until I’m deep under the castle standing in front of the softly bubbling spring. Miki brushes against my ankles. He’s been purring since joining me in the library, happy to saunter next to me down to the caves.
My body begins to hum at the thought of being submerged in the hot water. In the distance, I can hear the persistent dripping echoing in triplets, like a siren calling me into her depths.
I untie the waistband of my robe and wince in pain as I shrug the shoulders down my arms. Tears well in the backs of my eyes, half from the pain in my ribs and half from the emotion bottled deep within. I should be proud of making it into the Summit. Hell, making it into the Watch.
So then why do I feel so exhausted? So much closer to and yet so incredibly far from completing an impossible task? It’s like I’m crossing a ravine, balancing on a rotting beam that could break at any moment.
The fall doesn’t scare me. It’s the fact that no one is at the bottom to help me pick up the pieces.
“Here, let me,” a deep voice rasps. The Lord of Terraguard comes out from the darkness between columns of rock. He is wearing a loose black shirt, half unbuttoned. His white hair is tousled, silver eyes strained and dark, like he hasn’t slept. The flare of a cigroot burns in his mouth. In a few powerful strides, he stands behind me, his chest a solid wall behind my head. He smells of leather, seabreeze, and smoke.
