Page 21 of The Song of Sunrise (The Prentice Teller #1)

Lucky Lovely Ladybug

F or the next four weeks, I return to the Lower Fields after Ramona falls asleep to train with my staff and work on the course.

Most nights I improve, if even by a few seconds or making it to a new obstacle.

But some nights I revert, and the panic takes hold.

My legs, arms, and abs flex with more muscle than I have ever had before.

Even the staff is starting to feel like an extension of myself.

It’s invigorating and exhausting at the same time.

So when I find myself at the point of utter exhaustion, I picture Marrow, Bane, Rosie, and the gaunt faces of the nomads, homeless and starving, just trying to survive in this broken, cold, and unforgiving world. And I am fueled. To do more, be greater.

Tonight is no different as I maneuver through the second to last obstacle.

Two pillars rotate with sharp spikes jutting out on all sides.

The spikes are about a foot each, honed to a perfect point, so sharp they could impale someone.

Hopefully that will not be the case and they have Moon’cher healers prepped and ready during the test.

No use in worrying about things outside my control.

This section has been the bane of my existence for the past few days, and I cannot seem to find the right timing in order to get to the other side without slashing my arm or backtracking to the starting ledge.

Finals are tomorrow, and if I don't make it to the other side of this blasted Battlefield course, I won't make the cut for the Presentation.

Pass this final by completing the course, complete the Presentation with an unforgettable demonstration of my magic and weaponry skills, then somehow manage to be selected as a champion from one of the fifteen rulers.

Absolutely achievable.

I huff a laugh. If everything goes to plan, these next few months will be worth stitching on a Teller patch.

I chance it and open up the door deep inside to the fury below. The place where I keep all of my rage simmering, the dark part of me inside that no one knows about but myself. I let it run over the edge enough to remind me of my purpose.

I stare at the pillars and watch as the deathly columns rotate and hum. Without thought, I begin to sing the lilting, repetitive tune Lucky Lovely Ladybug . A rather silly tune about a woman being married off to a notoriously horrible lord but escapes in the form of a ladybug.

Tonight, I am feeling lucky.

As I sing, my mind searches for the pattern, and… there it is! A brief opening where—if I sprint—I’ll be able to pass through unscathed. I just have to time it right. I wait, watch, and listen, the rhythm of my heart increasing as I prepare myself.

The spikes line up, and I run. Time seems to slow down, and for a terrifying second, I wonder if I miscalculated when the gap would open, but I keep running until I reach the other side.

So excited I made it through, I continue my momentum and pump my legs faster and faster until I’m flying over the last patch of open water to the sand beyond.

I land right on my tailbone and grab my butt as I roll to the side in pain. Ouch! The sand sticks to my sweaty arms as I roll in the pit.

The sand pit…

I fucking did it! I made it across!

I cup my hands on my face, already feeling the tears welling in my eyes, half from my aching tailbone, the other half from pride.

The sounds of the latch creaking open and shuffling footsteps in the background send a thread of panic through my veins. It’s relatively dim in the room, especially on this side of the course, but I slide onto my stomach, burrowing myself in the sand and getting as low as possible.

Surely cadets must be allowed to practice in the off hours, but I am not about to test out that theory now. I will my heart to stop beating so hard and work to slow my breathing.

“It’s getting worse. Dozens of villages attacked. People are turning to nomad organizations to provide instead of us. We are losing our grip on control,” a low feminine voice I don't recognize snarls.

“You think I do not know that?” a familiar male voice snaps.

My pulse quickens at the sound of his voice. Elder Superior Markus. Why is he here?

“We have to win. It’s the only way,” the woman says. “We’ve been waiting for years to collect the stones, dealing with the fallout of our powers decreasing with each generation.”

“Those Underworld beasts will pay. I’ll be surprised if both the Jord and Terraguard Lords even show up to the Presentation. And the Elves… they cannot be trusted, though I think they are starting to suspect us.” Markus pauses, and I hold my breath until he continues.

“The first task is going to be outsmarting various magical creatures. The Elves from Forest Tribe are going to allow us to use some riderless rocs from their aerial legion. The River Tribe hasn't decided yet but likely the shape shifting kelpies. From the Underworld, the Jord Lord insists on his ghosthounds, and the Terraguard Lord hasn’t responded to my inquiry yet.”

“Hmm, do you think he'll dare bring up an Erebos?” the woman asks hesitantly, a hint of fear in her voice.

“What did I just say, Elder Hightail?” Markus chides, “It is not decided, and if I knew, I would tell you. Regardless, are we in agreement? That you’ll select Castor as your champion?”

A pause of hesitation, then Elder Hightail answers, “Of course.”

“Good. Then it is settled. I will make sure Castor is paired with a kelpie and poison the water beforehand so the task is easily won. I need Castor at the top of the ranks. The Helios Blessing stone is the closest thing to a Starwatcher we have. And I want that leverage in my bloodline. A human bloodline.”

“Understood, Elder Superior,” Elder Hightail replies.

Their steps fade away, and I don’t move or breathe until I hear the faint click of the hatch. Though my mind is splintering into a million different directions, I know I need to commit every last detail to memory.

Luckily, I have a great memory. At least when I try to.

I stand and a groan of pain escapes my lips. My body is singing with aches from the overexertion on the course then forcing myself to lie still.

Only when I’m confident the way is clear do I sneak back toward my room. I cannot help but turn over and over the conversation I just heard. Magical creatures? From the Elves, kelpies and rocs, and from the Underworld, ghosthounds and erebos?

Surely there were tales of these creatures from my studies… but as I sneak along the corridors, nothing comes to mind. I need to find out more and warn Castor. Tell him that his father is lobbying Elder Hightail to pick him as her Champion. That he plans to cheat for the first task.

Why does he need to win so badly? And why is the Helios Blessing stone the closest thing to a Starwatcher?

I fail to find the connection to much of what I heard, but one thing was certain—Markus was conspiring to unfairly swing the first trial in his son’s favor.

I need to see Castor now.

It only took asking a few questions of the early risers walking around the Academy to point me to Castor's room.

I knock on the door lightly. “Castor? It’s Akemi. Are you awake?”

A faint creek of a bed frame and footsteps escape from the other side of the door.

Castor swings the door open and leans against the frame in nothing but sinfully low hanging pants, framing two long lines of muscles from his hips to down beneath his waistband.

Shit! My eyes were lingering a little too long. My cheeks flush.

He reaches toward me and lightly grasps my elbows. I stifle a wince at the pain zinging through my ligaments from landing on my elbow a few days ago. “What is it? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Well, a little sore, but okay.”

He doesn’t look convinced.

“No honestly, I’m fine,” I reassure him and tilt my chin up to his gaze. “Can I come in? I want to talk with you.”

If he is surprised by my forwardness, he does not show it. After all, we did sleep practically wedged against one another on our journey here.

I would never admit to him that I think about those nights often. That I miss the touch of his body against my back, blocking me from the crisp night winds or lurking animals.

He simply steps aside and I walk in. His leather and spice scent surrounds me.

Castor’s room is large but simple. A disheveled bed, a small seating area, fireplace, and most interestingly, a balcony.

“Beautiful,” I say, walking toward the views. The forest-filled mountainsides are cloaked in the last bit of moonlight before the sun fully rises. My breath hitches as I look down. The balcony hangs off the side of the Watch.

“It is,” he whispers. His tone is softer than usual. I glance at him, only to find him looking back at me.

My cheeks heat once again. Sun burn me! Why does this man have such a hold over me?

I shake my hands at my side, forcing myself to refocus.

“Your father is conspiring to swing the first trial of the Summit in your favor. I don’t know exactly how he is going to do it, but the Elves are going to bring magical creatures, kelpies—”

“Akemi.” He steps closer to me, smiling ever so slightly. “You are mistaken. There is no way my father would purposefully risk breaching the contract between the territories.”

“I heard him myself. He was talking to Elder Hightail in the Lower Fields. He was saying that the humans needed to win the Summit and that he would ensure you won.”

“Of course he is going to want the Champion from the human leadership team to win. That’s the point of the game.”

Irritation begins to prickle my skin. “Castor, he is going to break the rules, maybe even poison a creature to make sure you earn enough points in the first task—”

“Do you not think I can earn my way to the top based on my skill alone?” He takes another step toward me.

I back away. All the heat I was feeling earlier evaporates.

“Castor, stop! I’m trying to talk to you right now.

You know I think you are excellent at fighting.

I say it practically every time you help me with my staff training.

” His eyes search mine for reassurance. “It’s your father who doesn’t believe you’ll make it, or at least wants to swing the favor in your direction. ”

He stands there and tilts his head thoughtfully, though I know this look. The look of a man not taking a woman by her word. Something inside me cracks.

“Thank you for telling me, Akemi,” he says with a clenched jaw.

I let him clasp my hand for a moment before I break away. “I’ll see you at the Lower Fields for our Battlefield final. Good luck.” I turn and stride out the door, letting the fury of my steps carry me back to my room.

I hate it when men do not listen to me. It is so frustrating, flustering, and just plain fucking annoying. I let myself stew the entire walk back to my room, telling myself that by the moment I get there, I need to let it go and change my mindset for finals.

“Just returning now?” Ramona asks as I enter our room.

I don’t know what to say, so I just stand there, mouth agape. A mouse caught in a trap. I had expected Ramona to still be asleep. I would sneak in, take a quick bath, then pretend to wake up.

Instead, I am standing in our doorframe, disheveled, sleep deprived, and trying to ignore the patches of sand still stuck to my clothes.

“Akemi, I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve noticed that you have been sneaking off. What did you think? I wouldn’t pick up on it? Who are you cozying with until the wee hours of the morning?”

I wondered how I had gone this long without her noting my nightly stealth routine. I didn’t see the point in lying any further.

“Well, I came from Castor’s—”

“I knew it! Castor is a hot third-stone, not to mention the son of our Elder Superior.”

“No, Ramona—”

“I knew he had been checking you out. Have you seen the way his eyes rake over you?” Ramona’s excitement permeates the room. “Well… I guess you wouldn’t really notice because you are usually facing the other direct—”

“RAMONA!” I yell, waving my hands back and forth until she stops babbling. “I haven’t been sneaking off to Castor’s. I’ve been training in the Lower Fields to prepare for our final today. I actually made it across fully for the first time last night… well, technically this morning!”

“Oh my gosh, Akemi!” Ramona rushes over and squeezes me in a tight embrace. “That’s amazing! You’ve come so far from your first attempt. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped.”

She did not push on the Castor subject, so I decide not to elaborate on that part. Not yet, at least. That would involve telling her about what I overheard Markus say, and I don’t want to throw her off before finals.

“I guess I am telling you now, aren’t I?

Plus, I really needed to do this for myself.

Prove to myself that I could do it. Today will be the ultimate test. I just have to get through my Elementation and History finals first.” I walk to my dresser and brush my hair.

My entire appearance is disheveled, from my flushed cheeks to my torn battle gear and messy hair from my practice.

I’m a mess. And I have a final starting in one hour.

“I cannot wait to see you kick ass on that course later today. You’re going to fucking crush it.” Ramona cheers me on so authentically that I feel bad for holding back information.

I hastily shower and get ready for my Old World History final. Luckily, I’m a living, breathing history book.