Granted (Granted Series Book 1)

by Kendra Thomas

  “They are vile creatures, Little Bear. The entire forest will be safer from our efforts,” Oli dissuaded, trying to calm me.

  “Don’t worry, Princess Sabeara. It will be a quick, painless process. As long as the boar decides to cooperate,” Mid said, politely addressing me.

  “Well, I hope it gives you all trouble. That’s what you get for being so sadistic,” I said smugly.

  My father frowned, obviously not approving of my opinionated statements.

  “You’ll forget all about the hunt when we set up camp. Speaking of which, I think we should probably stop here.” Oli halted Sovereign and began examining the forest.

  “This looks safe enough,” Shar grunted, jumping down from his steed.

  With the hunting conversation forgotten, we began our process of setting up the camp. Oli stuck to his word, allowing me my own tent, and it wasn’t long before I was safely alone inside.

  It was much different from my past experiences with tents. This one was spacious and wide open. A bed with soft blankets, pillows, and furs had been prepared. Oli had even made sure to provide me with a sizable washing basin I could bathe in.

  “Is it to your liking?” Oli asked, poking his head through the tent flap.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you, Oli. Now if you don’t mind. I think I’ll study here for a while.”

  “Well, if you need anything, I’ll be outside.”

  “You aren't going on the hunt?” I asked, a frown forming on my lips.

  “I’ll have my chance, Little Bear. We are switching hunting shifts around midnight,” he explained.

  His head disappeared from the tent flap, and I sat back, deciding not to worry anymore about the hunt. Instead I settled all my focus on the amulet and trying to figure out its power. I started off with a series of tests. First I tried dipping it in the water basin, then I held the stone between my palms for several long minutes. I even tried touching it against all the items in my tent: blankets, pillows, the tent wall. When nothing happened I decided to try my luck outside.

  The camp was quite cozy. Tents had been arranged in a dainty circle around an already ablaze fire. They had set out supplies, and even organized a weapons station. Oli and two other guards were the only ones still at camp. The guards played cards, while Oli sat lazily at the weapons table, examining a couple large knives.

  They paid little attention to me as I began rubbing the amulet against leaves, dirt, and branches. I buried it for a while but then got impatient and dug it up again. When nothing happened, I tried hanging it over the open fire. It got really hot, but nothing changed.

  “Stupid amulet. It does nothing,” I grumbled loud enough for Oli to hear.

  “No such luck figuring out what it does?” Oli asked, biting into a roll of bread. He offered me some and I took it, tearing off a piece roughly.

  “Are you sure you don’t know how it works?” I asked, through a mouth full of bread. He quickly shook his head.

  “Sorry, Bear, but you know about as much as I do.”

  When Oli proved to be no help, I wandered back to my tent and took up reading my mother's book and the Ethirical. I wanted to learn more about the stories Mid had told me. I was just about to reread the chapter about Wesoltinece, the war king, when I heard the others come back into camp.

  I could hear their murmuring chatter and the stomp of horse hoof beats as they arrived. I yawned from my sprawled out position on my blankets and pushed myself to my feet. I groggily walked outside the tent flap to see my father clapping Shar on the shoulder, a wide grin on his face.

  “We almost got the boar. Only a couple more hours and I think we’ll have him,” my father said excitedly.

  I took a seat by the dancing fire and listened to the men as they talked anxiously about the hunt. They rummaged around at the weapons table, discussing the boar and deciding who was going to go on the second watch.

  “I’ll stay back with Shar, the rest of you can head out.”

  My ears quickly picked out Mid’s voice among the others.

  “Are you sure?” Oli asked, obviously a little hesitant.

  “Oli, I promise she’ll be safe,” Mid said seriously. And I don’t know if I was the only one that noticed, but the intensity of his words was well—intense.

  “All right then, I’ll set off with the others.” Oli seemed to let his excitement for the hunt take over and he quickly came to bid me farewell.

  “I’m heading out, Little Bear. Midennen and Shar are going to stay here with you.” I was about to protest but was quickly hindered. “Thanks for being a good sport about all this.”

  His gentle eyes were too caring, too gracious. I couldn’t risk asking him to stay behind.

  “Go have fun, Oli,” I said reluctantly.

  “Get some sleep. It’s late.” He kissed my forehead and then followed after my father and the other guards who were already disappearing into the inky treescape.

  It didn’t take long for Mid to close in. I could feel his presence the minute he sat beside me on the chunk of wood I’d claimed.

  “Still up? Isn't it past your bedtime?” Mid looked over at me, the lambent fire illuminating his tawny features.

  “Find someone else to pick on,” I said sharply, forcing my gaze to stay centered on the flames.

  “Well, the only other person in this camp is Shar and I’ve learned he doesn’t have the greatest sense of humor. So that leaves you, sweetheart,” he said tauntingly.

  I turned and glared at him.

  “I think you're right, it is past my bedtime.” I stood abruptly and stomped in the direction of my tent.

  “Whoa, easy there.” He reached out, grasping my wrist and quickly tugged me back toward him. “I didn’t mean to scare you away. Please stay.” He towered over me, the shadows from the fire dancing across his handsome face.

  “I’m not an animal you can hunt, Mid. Give up the chase because whatever it is you are trying to do, it isn't going to work.” It was enough to make him release his grasp, and I quickly turned and stomped away.

  I entered my tent and sighed heavily as I crawled into bed. Stuffing my hand beneath my cheek, I stared at the tent wall, anxious to feel tired. With my angry thoughts it took some time, but I eventually felt myself slipping away into sleep. And it was then that the nightmares began.

  I WAS IN A FOREST, the trees and path ahead immersed in blackness. I started running, stumbling through the trees. My heart was racing inside my chest, something. . . someone was chasing me.

  It felt like I ran forever, my lungs burning with the effort. Then abruptly the trees around me began to disappear, the dark woods washing away like rushing river water. It was making me dizzy, the whirling forest, contorting and swiveling in front of my vision. Then suddenly the warping images halted, and were replaced by a very clear picture.

  Solid black eyes. They were so deep in color I became lost in their poiso‐ nous expression. I tried to scream, tried to run, but the eyes were somehow holding me under. My scream resulted in a weak, choking cry and then I awoke.

  I could hear heavy sobs when I resurfaced, and it took me a moment to realize they were coming from me.

  “Wake up, Sabeara. . . wake up.” The soft voice urged me back to reality and I finally was able to open my eyes. It took me several minutes to remember my surroundings. The red tent, my mother's book, the makeshift bed. I was on the hunt and safe back at camp.

  “You're okay. Everything's all right.” I could feel the soft caress of a hand on my tear stained cheeks and looked up to see Mid kneeling beside me.

  “Mid?” I managed to say between shaky breaths.

  “I’m here,” he said gently. He reached for me and pulled me close to him. His arms wrapped around me, and I didn’t protest, fear running thick in my veins. The captain’s eyes were still the only thing in my mind.

  “Obsidian, he was after me,” I said frantically, covering my face in my hands.

  “He’s not going to come near you again, I promise.” H
e gently rocked me, his arms offering me a sense of comfort and safety I had almost forgotten existed.

  The tears eventually ran dry after a couple minutes and I became dazed, emotionless, as I stared off into space. The nightmare was still pulsing against my memory.

  “Talk to me. Tell me something to help get it off my mind,” I said numbly. I needed to be able to sleep again, without those same pair of black eyes resurfacing behind my closed lids.

  “Ghost would have loved to come on a hunt like this,” Mid said suddenly.

  With my head in the crook of his neck, I could hear the deep rumbling of his voice, and it was surprisingly soothing.

  “Why didn’t he come with you?”

  “I had to leave him back in Ethydon. Mother didn’t want me drawing unwanted attention to myself,” he explained.

  “A big polar bear would have been rather shocking here at the castle,” I reasoned.

  “I still remember how scared you were the first time you saw him,” Mid said teasingly, and I gently punched his arm.

  “How did you get such a creature anyway?”

  “My father was out hunting long ago in the Severesi mountains when a baby polar bear wandered into his camp. My father tried looking for the mother, but it seemed he had been abandoned. Not having the heart to do away with him, he brought him home and gave him to me as a gift for my fifteenth birthday.”

  The story was helping me forget my nightmare. I stayed quiet hoping he would go on.

  “We connected almost instantly. He followed me everywhere and despite my mother's discomfort of having a baby bear running around the castle, she eventually fell in love with him as much as I did.”

  “That’s a lovely story,” I whispered.

  “Can I ask you something?” The way he asked the question was timid, maybe even hesitant.

  “Sure.”

  “Why the name Ehren?” The name coming off his lips sent a shiver down my spine. For some reason it felt forbidden, like a secret that shouldn’t be uttered.

  “It was my mother’s name,” I said softly.

  “Do you mind if I ask you what she was like?”

  “My mother was a soft spoken woman but was strong in her beliefs. She loved us very much, and I don’t think there was ever a time she wasn’t trying to spend time with Jasper and me. She was loving, passionate, and a merciful ruler.”

  “She sounds amazing.”

  “She was.”

  “Are you feeling better now?” he asked, still holding me tightly against him.

  I inhaled deeply, reveling in his warm embrace and familiar pine scent. I wanted so badly to go back in time when we didn’t know one another as prince and princess. Then such a night as this wouldn’t have been so forbidden, and we could've relished in each other’s presence, even if just for a moment.

  “Yes, thank you.” I didn’t want him to let me go, but I knew the others would be returning to camp soon. “I should probably get back to sleep,” I said reluctantly.

  “Do you want me to stay? I can help you dream,” he offered.

  “That won’t be necessary. Maybe just stay till I fall asleep?” I asked, telling myself I could allow a couple more minutes where I didn’t have to uphold my distant, dismissive facade.

  “All right, I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

  I closed my eyes then and listened to the quiet beating of his heart. It was steady and strong, and I was quickly lulled into a state of calm.

  “Mid, in the morning. . .” I started to say, but he quickly shushed me.

  “Shhh, I know, Sabeara, I know.”

  It didn’t need to be said. He knew this was a brief pause in our back and forth feud. Apparently he could see that I needed this moment even if things couldn’t be the same tomorrow. Grateful for his understanding, I allowed myself to relax against him and fall into a dreamless sleep.

  TWENTY-TWO

  When the hunt finally ended, it resulted in a feast back at the castle. The others arrived, boar in tow. King Knadian had been the one to defeat the beast and his victory was quickly congratulated. There was cheering and excited hurrahs upon meeting at the castle gates. It was later that evening that the feast was scheduled to take place.

  I had just tossed my campfire and dirt scented clothes onto the floor when Jasper walked into the room. As much as I loved the smell, I knew Oli wouldn’t approve of me wearing nature’s outdoor perfume to dinner.

  “The feast is about to start, Little Bear,” Jasper reminded me. She was already freshly washed and changed for the party.

  “I’m coming,” I grumbled, throwing on a fresh day dress and roughly running a comb through my tangled hair.

  “You okay?” she asked me, coming to sit on the cerulean sofa beside the window. I turned toward her and forced a smile.

  “I’m fine, just tired from the hunt is all. How was staying in the Knadian family camp?” I asked, changing the route of conversation before I could tell her that I was actually crumbling inside. The memory of Mid’s arms wrapped around me last night was torturing me. Every time I closed my eyes I would remember the way he smelled and hear the deep rumble of his voice. Then the flooding heat he always ignited within me would come crashing over me again. And when I realized it was just a memory, a stab of some unexplainable, nearly insufferable pain, it would pluck my heart strings and leave me breathless all over again.

  “Oh, Bear, it was so wonderful. Embrosine and I shared a tent and it was great to bond together, and the Queen was so welcoming. I think she might actually be taking a liking towards me. We talked about Ethydon and they told me about their family.” Jasper sighed, twirling her coin between her fingers. She was gazing out the window, her eyes obviously glazed with some sort of spell the Knadian family had put her under. It seemed to be a hereditary trait the Knadians possessed—undeniable likeability and charismatic charm.

  “I’m happy for you, Jasper,” I said, barely getting the sentence from my lips.

  “Yeah, I just wish I could’ve had some time with Midennen.” She frowned and the jealousy I felt was immediately replaced with a wave of guilt. Oh how badly I wished I could tell her. Admit everything to her. . . But I knew that I couldn’t.

  “Maybe you will get to see him tonight,” I encouraged, hoping to somehow redeem my conscience.

  “I hope so,” she said, a distracted look in her eyes.

  Not wanting to talk about Mid anymore, and unable to keep watching Jasper daydreaming about him, I quickly finished up with my mangled appearance.

  Jasper and I joined the others in the great hall for the feast not much later. A grand table had been set out with the roasted boar in the very center. It was a little disturbing, the giant russet skinned creature. It still had its long black tusks and a large rounded snout curled into a sneer. I could just imagine the squeal it must have made when succumbing to its death and shivered at the very thought. Other delicious dishes and desserts surrounded the eerie creature, and what should have been an appetizing display, caused my already twisted stomach to only feel queasier.

  There was an empty seat beside Oli and I quickly took it, avoiding unwanted confrontation with any of the other individuals in the room.

  “There you are. I was worried you might now show,” Oli said, passing me a glass of Lush Fire. Quickly I consumed the contents of the glass, not even stopping for breath. Oli's eyes widened as he watched my reckless consumption of the bubbling drink.

  “Everything all right?” he asked.

  I nodded, squinting my eyes closed for a second until the burn from the Lush Fire faded. “Yeah, just fine,” I said curtly. But his worried expression didn’t fade. Oli looked about to press me more, but then my father stood from his chair at the table and lifted his glass.

  “Can I have everyone’s attention please?” my father called above the noise, his voice echoing off the great hall ceiling. The contents of our two families were settled at the table, and the buzz of friendly conversation was quickly quieted. “I would like
to say a few words, if I may.” He cleared his throat quickly before speaking again. “Now that we have caught the Twal boar, may this serve as a bond for our two families as a reminder that we can accomplish more together than apart.” My father stretched his cup to the middle of the table, urging the others to reach out and touch glasses. There were a couple of cheers and then everyone started eating.

  I wasn’t at all hungry, and after picking at my food for longer than necessary, I found a moment where Oli was caught up in conversation to carefully slip away.

  A roaring fire was blazing on the far wall near a panel of windows. I settled on one of the loveseats and watched the flames, trying to find my composure amongst my muddled thoughts.

  “Not interested in the celebration I see?” I was startled by the sudden voice and turned to see Embrosine approach me. She wore a simple black dress beneath her cloak, and I could see an azure light glowing softly through the ebony satin.

  “I think I’m just a little tired,” I lied, trying to force a smile on my face. She took a seat beside me, her red hair appearing nearly black in the dim firelight.

  “I wanted to thank you again for saving my daughter the other day,” she said graciously.

  “It was nothing really.” I didn’t know exactly how I should act around Mid’s sister, so I pressed my hands into my lap and nervously fiddled with the skirt of my dress.

  “I spent some time with Jasper on the hunt. She’s quite lovely,” Embrosine remarked.

  I looked over to see Jasper speaking with Queen Ruby at the table, looking as beautiful and elegant as ever.

  “Yeah, that is sort of her nature,” I joked.

  Embrosine chuckled softly. “The only problem is that I haven’t had the chance to get to know you, Sabeara.”

  “Oh, well there's not much to know actually. I’m Jasper’s younger sister, the reckless one, the less elegant one,” I said sarcastically.

  “I’ve not viewed you as less than your sister in any way. Also reckless is something I can relate to,” she winked, and I was a little shocked to see her playing along. She was so pulled together, so stunning and polite every time I caught sight of her. The thought of Embrosine having any wild qualities seemed doubtful.