Page 10 of The Song of Sunrise (The Prentice Teller #1)

A Reminder

T he grand room is much tamer the next morning during breakfast. With the morning sun not yet risen, the room has a whole different aura.

No half-naked servers, glazed eyes, or flirting couples.

Instead, everyone is moving on with their days without a trace of shame, dipping biscuits in their tea and nibbling on toasted bread.

The laundry service had come into our room earlier, providing us with our impressively clean garments.

Castor was already doing a series of stretches and strengthening exercises when they entered, whereas Leaf and I stumbled awake, grumbling for bean brew like starving stray cats taking turns begging for a sip of milk.

Castor dragged us down to the lobby somewhere between our combined sixth or seventh complaint that we had not had bean brew yet.

“Better?” Castor’s eyebrows lift ever so slightly, a look that I have learned as teasing on his minimally expressive face.

“Much,” I say, taking another sip of the delicious bitter brown liquid.

Leaf hums in agreement.

The bean brew is heavenly as it slips down my throat, warming me slowly from the inside out. I hold my cup in both hands, appreciating the way the steam slowly curls upward until it disappears.

I could see myself here. Redrock, that is.

The people seem welcoming and nonjudgmental. Home to folks of all different types, sizes, and colors. No one would bat an eye at a young woman looking for work and lodging.

In a few weeks, once the northern roads are a little safer, I’ll find a way back to Goldenpine. In the meantime, I’ll find work here.

I’ve been alone before, and I can do it again. I smear some more butter on my toast.

“We are roughly a day away from the Watch. We should head out soon before sunrise,” Castor says.

“I’ll check on the horses.” Leaf bites an apple, rises from the table, and looks at me. “Come on, Kem, you can ride with me today.”

I leave the toast on the table untouched, unsure how to broach the topic. “Actually, I was thinking I’d stay here in Redrock. Possibly here at the Inn, if they’ll take me. I could even Tell in the evenings. Then head back to Goldenpine after a month or so.”

“You are not coming with us?” Castor asks breathlessly.

Is that a hint of sadness in his voice?

“You can’t go back there! It’s not safe!” Leaf shouts. A girl wiping the table next to us scurries away. A few more curious eyes glance toward us.

Clearly, he isn’t taking my news too well.

“I know, I know,” I start. “That’s why I’ll stay here for a while, at least until I hear word that the northern roads are safe again.

I can wait until the formal WatchGuard memo is issued if that makes you feel better.

” The next memo would likely arrive in the next eight weeks, if I have my math right.

Most Midlander towns only get status updates from The Watch four times a year.

“I can still help with the horses, Leaf. Make sure both of you are set to go.” I stand and toss the napkin on my plate.

“Fine,” he mumbles, now in an unapologetically sour mood.

We find Lux and Tiny easily in the stables, as they are by far the largest horses, towering above the others. By the time Leaf and I are done tending to the horses, Castor joins with a large satchel of food.

“Essential travel snacks,” Castor says.

“A must have,” Leaf adds. He tips the stable attendant as we lead the horses out the back alleyway stable entrance and onto the road. Their hooves clop happily on the stone road.

We work our way to the west gate in silence, as if unwilling to say goodbye.

“Ma’am! MA’AM!” The boy from the counter runs breathlessly, trying to catch up to us. “You forgot … som… something!”

He pauses briefly to catch his breath. “You… you forgot something.” A small piece of fabric dangles from his hands.

Marrow’s patch!

I gasp and grab the dark green patch out of his hands, swiping it gently on my cheek before clutching it tightly at my side. Spots flicker across my vision, and my face pales, half ashamed I forgot about Marrow’s patch, half filled with relief at the touch.

“We’re sorry, ma’am.” The boy finally seems to have caught his breath. “The laundress didn’t see it until just now. Looks like an expensive piece of cloth. Ran right here to catch you before you leave town.”

“Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am,” I say in earnest. The boy bods a little too profusely, then pivots on the spot and runs back to the Inn..

I turn the patch in my hands, the fabric waving through my fingertips—its weight a comfort I did not realize I missed—as Castor, Leaf, and I head toward the western town gate.

I want you to take it. I can practically feel the reverberation of Marrow’s comforting tenor voice whispering in my ear.

We pass by small shops filled with glittering glass sculptures, knitted animals, and candles shaped into goats and cows. Redrock seems like an interesting enough town. Certainly more shops than Goldenpine, and much bigger. Maybe later today, I’ll peruse some of the shops.

The road begins to stretch and widen as we near the west gate out of the city. The town’s border guards are now stationed every few blocks. Their brown guard cloaks and iron armor are a status of safety, sure and steady as the mountains in the west.

I glance down at the dark green piece of fabric clenched tightly in my fingers.

Have it on you as a reminder to be bold, the phantom Marrow encourages.

I tuck the quilted patch in my bodice as we approach the gate. Am I making the right choice by staying? Castor hands me Lux’s reins and runs ahead to talk with the guard, occasionally pointing toward Leaf and me and tapping on his Watcher sigil. Eventually, he waves us forward.

I know you are destined for greatness, Marrow says in my head.

I could start again in Redrock, but what honor is there in that choice when so many others are in danger?

Tiny shakes her silky white mane as Leaf swings himself into the saddle.

I reluctantly hand over Lux’s reins back to Castor when he returns. Lux lowers his head, his black eye looking at me expectantly, as if he is waiting for me to act.

And what if I do? What if I act for once not out of self-preservation, but for something larger than myself?

Break apart the wrongs of this world with one small choice at a time.

Staying in Redrock would keep me safe, but even then, my future is unknown.

I wish Marrow was here, so I could ask him myself.

Lean into his chest and smell his scent of bean brew and old scrolls once last time. But I know what Marrow would say.

He may not be here, but he is with me.

Both Watchers begin to mumble their farewells. Leaf mentions coming back to visit, and Castor keeps his goodbye short and sweet. A tingling sense of dread begins to rise along my spine as they turn their horses to the gate.

Only you are holding yourself back, that familiar voice rings once more in my head.

“Wait!” I say, knowing in my gut this is the right decision. “I’m coming with you.”