Island in the Forest (Shrouded Thrones Book 1)

by Jeanne Hardt

  “So, am I not to have friends?”

  “Find a suitable husband, and he can be your friend. I thought Donovan would suffice. To my disappointment, he proved me wrong.” He rubbed his hands across his knuckles. “At least I wore heavy boots. My foot bore no harm, but he will not be sitting for a great while.”

  “You kicked him?”

  “All the way home.” He arose and peered down at her. Smiling, he cupped her cheek with his hand. “Worry no more about this. All will be well. Tonight at supper, look about the room. Find a man and make a friend.”

  Olivia wanted to run. Now more than ever. The king strode away; suddenly a stranger. Never had she felt more alone.

  The wall beckoned her.

  * * *

  Needing solitude, Olivia walked through the woods to the farthest corner of the great wall. Here the river changed its course.

  Flowing water encircled Padrida. At one point she could see where the water entered the canyon and also where it left. There should be land here, connecting their island to the mainland, but somehow the earth had eroded and left an enormous gap. Time had scraped away at the land, leaving her trapped.

  Leaves rustled behind her. She spun around.

  Donovan?

  If she screamed, they were too far from the courtyard for anyone to hear. No matter. The man seemed defeated, not someone who would lash out in anger.

  He spoke not, so she found her voice. “Good day, Donovan.”

  “Your Highness,” he whispered.

  He moved toward her, but stopped, leaving several feet between them.

  “Donovan, I—I know not what to say.” She turned away, unable to bear the sight of his bruised nose and swollen face.

  “I place no blame on you. Olivia.” Her name barely passed his lips. “I was a stupid fool.”

  “Justine is beautiful. I cannot fault you for finding her desirable.”

  He took another step toward her, and her insides flipped. Would he be foolish enough to make another advance?

  “My actions caused me to lose my heart’s true desire. I still love you. I am tormented knowing I shall never have you.”

  She stepped closer to the wall, taking heed of Rosalie’s warning. Donovan had become an accomplished actor who could play any role that suited him. She would not be swayed by the tenderness in his eyes or his proclamation of love.

  She lifted her chin in the same manner her mother had only hours before. “I saw you with Justine.”

  His eyes widened, and his head drew back. “You did?”

  “Yes. Last night. You appeared quite enamored and acted nothing like a man whose heart belonged to another. You could not see me because you were blinded by her bosom.”

  He cocked his head, stroked his chin, then let out a sigh. “She seduced me. She knew my needs and that you could not by law fulfill them until our marriage. She took advantage of that knowledge and led me to her bed. How could I resist her? You women do not fully comprehend the force which drives a man’s desires.”

  If he had not already been battered, she would have slapped him right then. “If it is as you say, Justine understood perfectly. We women also know men should behave as men, not animals. You acted no better than a rutting buck. If you truly love me, you would have saved yourself for me alone.”

  His features contorted, and he erupted into a sob. His entire body shook. He whipped around and put his back to her, then covered his face with his hands. The horrible sound of male tears filled the air around them; deep and resonating.

  If this was acting, he had become a master.

  Obviously not fully in her right mind, she stepped toward him and rested her hand on his shoulder. “Please, stop. It troubles me to hear you so.”

  Her words did not help. He kept crying and placed his hand atop hers as if begging to be held.

  Her heart wrenched. Without giving it another thought, she pulled him into her arms.

  He clung to her like a frightened child and dampened her dress with his tears. “Forgive me,” he whispered. “Forgive my weakness and allow me to prove my love.” He grasped her tighter and sobbed even harder.

  She had no idea what to do. Her gentle heart felt his pain. Donovan had taken a beating by the king because he had hurt her. Maybe if she had accepted him sooner, he would not have gone to Justine, and all of this would have been prevented.

  With trembling fingers, she raked his hair. “Shh . . .”

  He took several gasping breaths, then calmed and went still in her arms. Finally, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes.

  Somehow, she managed to look beyond his marks and returned his gaze. Her heart beat out of her chest and pounded against him.

  “I shall prove my love,” he breathed into her ear, then released her.

  “Donovan. Please . . . let it go.”

  “I cannot.” He bowed low.

  Before she could say another word, he sprinted away.

  She leaned against the wall, then slowly dropped down and sat on the hard ground. Her temples throbbed.

  A robin hopped onto the wall beside her. He studied her; head twisting in both directions. For a moment she thought he might speak. Since everything else in the kingdom had turned upside-down, it seemed feasible. However, he merely chirped, blinked his eyes, and flew away.

  “Take me with you,” she whispered and let her heavy eyes shut. Since she could not fly, perhaps she would dream.

  If fortunate, her dreams might take her far away, where happiness remained a possibility.

  Chapter 10

  Sebastian decided to make camp in the same clearing as before. Though some distance from the gorge, he believed it to be safer to camp deeper within the forest. It would not be wise to build a campfire that might be seen by the inhabitants of the kingdom.

  The trees offered shelter from the rain that had started to fall just before they entered Black Wood. Even in the thick trees, tiny droplets made it through and wet their skin. Jonah quickly raised the shelter and they sat beneath it, ready for a restful night of sleep.

  Sebastian removed his boots. “Tomorrow morning, we will make our way around the canyon. I want to be certain there is no narrower opening. I followed only a small portion of the gorge the last time we were here.”

  “How far does it go?”

  “It will likely take us all day to travel around it. Their kingdom lies on a plot of land large enough to sustain them. Truly miraculous.”

  Jonah spread a blanket on the ground, then tugged at his own boots. His demeanor had changed since their last visit. He acted calm and almost eager.

  He lay back and rested his hands on his stomach. “What about Olivia?”

  He goaded Sebastian simply by saying her name. Of course, the way he said it did not help. “I hope tomorrow evening she will be at the wall. I plan to go there at the same hour as before. Luck may be on my side.” Sebastian got comfortable and stretched out beside Jonah, then shut his eyes and listened to the rain patter against the canvas.

  “Not so close,” Jonah fussed and nudged his shoulder.

  Sebastian chuckled, but inched away from him. “This is not Toad’s Tavern.”

  “No matter. These woods affect my mind. I do not want to mistake you for your sister.”

  “Stop thinking about my sister.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” Jonah rolled onto his side and put his back to Sebastian.

  Grinning, Sebastian fell asleep.

  * * *

  After only two bites of food, Olivia excused herself from the table. She had no appetite.

  As she left the dining hall, she glanced back at her parents and found them smiling and conversing with each other. Their faces were so close, they nearly touched. They seemed utterly in love, but was it real?

  It felt as if her entire life had been a lie.

  She needed time to think, and no one would follow her to her special place at the wall. Not even Donovan, since the sentries kept him far from the castle. He was no longer al
lowed in the courtyard.

  The eyes of the guards remained on her until she reached the field that led to the wall, then their attention turned.

  At least she had retained the freedom to roam.

  Thankfully, the rain had let up, but another storm loomed in the distance. Everything around her smelled fresh and renewed, cleansed by the rain. If only it had washed away her pain.

  She withdrew the spyglass from her cloak and lifted it to her eye. On the far side of the gorge, she spotted a bird’s nest embedded in the rock. The mother bird was feeding a worm to her nestlings, who eagerly took the food.

  “Hungry little things,” she muttered.

  Unlike me.

  With the instrument still pressed to her eye, she moved her head to the left, then lifted it upward, and then . . .

  “Oh!”

  She slapped a hand to her mouth and ducked behind the security of the wall.

  Sebastian had returned. His handsome features had filled her spyglass and quickened the rate of her heart.

  Honestly, she questioned her assumption. She thought it was him. Perhaps she needed to take another peek.

  Excitement coursed through her body. Her legs shook as she stood and looked.

  Like before, he had his spyglass directed at her.

  Instead of cowering down, she stood firm. She kept him in her sight and got an eyeful. He wore the same tunic and boots, but she noticed something different about his face. He had grown a beard.

  “Good day, m’lady!” he hollered.

  Same greeting. She credited him for being consistent.

  “Good day, sir!” She waved her hand, then felt foolish doing so. Interacting with him would only bring more trouble to her life, yet she could not help herself.

  “Take cover!”

  “What an odd request,” she mumbled and kept the spyglass on him.

  He set his aside and positioned an arrow into a bow.

  “Oh, my . . .” She dropped to the ground and pressed her body against the cold stone wall.

  The unmistakable thwing of an arrow made her tremble. Who or what was he shooting at?

  The arrow drove into the wet grass a few feet away, with a heavy thump. It stuck firm.

  She popped her head up to see if he intended to shoot another.

  His bow rested at his side. “Get the arrow!”

  Fine. She would retrieve it, but what did he want her to do with it? Throw it back?

  She jerked it free, then noticed something tied to it. She gasped and grinned. It appeared to be a letter. Something far more exciting than her dreams.

  “Can you read?” The way he had bellowed the question tickled her.

  All royalty could read. Yet she had no intention of revealing that bit of information regarding her title.

  Her trembling fingers made it difficult to untie the heavy string binding the parchment to the shaft of the arrow, but she managed to loosen it.

  “Yes!” she hollered back at him.

  “Good! Read it and come again tomorrow. I will be waiting!”

  He disappeared into the woods.

  Heart thumping, she tucked the arrow under her cloak along with the parchment, then sped as fast as she could to the safety of her room.

  * * *

  Success.

  Sebastian pushed aside the brush and returned to Jonah, who had been instructed to wait in the trees and not be seen. He feared Olivia might be frightened at the sight of more than one outsider.

  “She took the letter.” Sebastian clenched his fists and shook them in the air. “My arrow landed perfectly. I have never felt such exhilaration.”

  “You never met Isabelle,” Jonah groaned.

  Sebastian slapped him upside the head. “If you have any hope of marrying my sister, you must stop making references to your past dalliances. Allana deserves a decent man. Not one who gloats of his conquests.”

  Jonah hung his head. “You speak the truth. She deserves better. I’m three and twenty years old and still behave like a boy of sixteen. From this point forward, I shall not speak disrespectfully of women. I will earn my honor and pray that after four years have passed, I might find myself worthy of her.”

  “You have a heart of gold, Jonah. Let it lead your mind and speak from it. Do this, and I will be glad to call you brother.”

  Jonah lifted his head and smiled. “Thank you.”

  A brief awkward silence hung between them.

  Jonah gestured toward the wall. “So, Olivia was there?”

  “Yes. And she claims she can read. Now all we have to do is wait and come here tomorrow at the same hour.”

  “Then what?”

  Sebastian pondered his question and headed deeper into the woods.

  Jonah followed at his heels. “Sebastian?” Jonah quickened his pace. “Highness? What shall we do after?”

  Sebastian stopped and stared straight ahead. “I know not.” He shrugged and made his way to their camp.

  * * *

  Olivia locked her door. Though no one entered without knocking, she would not risk that possibility. Not with something so important.

  It would be dark soon, so she lit a candle next to her bed, then made herself comfortable on the soft down-filled blankets. Thankfully, the rain had not caused the ink on the parchment to run.

  His penmanship resembled that of a scholar. Every stroke perfected. He could not be a common man. Or perhaps someone else had written this letter, and he had simply been a courier.

  She calmed her heart and read, hoping to find the answers to all her questions.

  I am Sebastian, son of King Roland of Basilia.

  She stopped and swallowed hard. Not a commoner at all. Sebastian was a prince.

  “Oh, my . . .” she whispered and continued reading.

  I come here peacefully.

  You cannot imagine my utter disbelief when I came upon your kingdom while on a quest in Black Wood. The stories I heard as a child never included a castle atop an island in the midst of a forest. Every tale was horrific and frightening, filled with evil creatures and nightmarish images.

  My curiosity about your land forced me to return. I must know how you came to be here and why your bridge is no longer crossed. How are you able to survive without the ability to move about the land?

  I pray you do not find me too bold and forward, but I am also on a quest to find a princess. Aside from my five sisters, few princesses remain in the realm. I am two and twenty years of age and under pressure from my parents, who wish to see me wed. If there are princesses in your kingdom, who are of age and unspoken for, I request an introduction. I offer devotion, as well as the loyalty and protection of Basilia.

  I swear my words are true. We mean you no harm. Please deliver my letter to your king. If he deems me acceptable, then I shall find a way to cross into your kingdom.

  With great sincerity,

  Sebastian, Prince of Basilia

  Olivia read the letter three times. He knew of the danger in the forest from stories of old. If he had not found Padrida, he would have returned home and possibly never come back. When he discovered it and saw her, he returned. She gave him hope for a princess.

  She would write a response and send him on his way. And if he became angry when she did not take his letter to the king, she would do whatever she could to make him understand it was for the best. He could never enter their kingdom, regardless of a princess within.

  The sooner he left the forest, the safer he would be.

  Black Wood. Black as the evil within it. She had never heard it named, but nothing could be more fitting.

  If things were different, she would give all she had for a chance to see him face to face. His words flowed across the parchment like a song, and her heart danced to the silent beat.

  If only she had more proficient archery skills. She believed she could cover the distance and hoped she would not shoot the poor prince by mistake. Unfortunately, he had no wall to hide behind.

  Chapter 11

>   So many questions . . .

  Olivia’s hands flew over the parchment, pausing only long enough to dip her quill. She considered writing two letters in the event one fell short and ended up in the canyon.

  However, she left it at one. The length of the letter she finished would be difficult to duplicate. Her wrist had tired.

  When she woke the next morning, she realized for once she had not been troubled about Donovan. Not a single thought of him had drifted into her mind during the night. All thoughts centered around the handsome prince of Basilia.

  Basilia.

  The name seemed familiar. Something from lessons she had heard as a child. The word prompted unpleasant feelings, but she dared not ask her parents. They would want to know why she questioned it, then she would have to lie.

  Secrets had once again become a necessary part of her life.

  Perhaps the library held her answer. It contained scrolls of Padridan history that bore the names of every royal family ancestor as well as those of commoners. Scribes still maintained records of everyone currently living.

  Some of the oldest documents had been rewritten to retain their words, which had faded over time. The life of a scribe was undoubtedly dull and boring, but everyone in the kingdom honored them.

  Since Olivia had all day before seeing Sebastian again, she made her way to the library after eating a good breakfast. Somehow, her appetite had returned.

  “Your Highness.” Scribe Bartholomew bowed low. “How may I assist you?”

  “I would like to see the historical records. Ones that tell of our history before we came to Padrida.” She smiled warmly, but received a frown.

  “Those were evil days. Such reading is unpleasant. Why not revisit our realm from the date of our crossing?”

  “I appreciate your concern. I assure you, I am well aware of our history and its ugliness, yet I have forgotten some details and wish to remember. One day I will need to tell my children.”

  He shuffled across the stone floor, his long brown robe dragging the ground. Already short in stature, his hunched back made him even more so. It pained her watching him pull the large canvas-covered book from a shelf. After blowing off dust, he extended it to her, then yanked it back to himself. “You do not plan to take it from here, do you?”