Granted (Granted Series Book 1)

by Kendra Thomas

  “We needed his help at the border.”

  I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to remain calm.

  “Shar too?” I asked, and King Knadian nodded sullenly.

  “We hope they will be back soon. It shouldn’t be something to worry about. It’s not far from here and they are only helping facilitate transportation.”

  “They’re not in battle then?”

  Both of them shook their heads. I let out a sigh of relief and exited the room, closing the big wooden doors behind me. I was eager to tell someone about the amulet and it left me on edge not being able to talk with someone about my discovery.

  When I returned upstairs, I spotted Jasper in one of the sitting rooms, playing a board game with Embrosine. My heart leaped at the sight of her and then I remembered she didn't know, and I couldn’t tell her yet.

  “Bear, there you are. I haven’t seen you since breakfast.”

  I took a seat beside them and watched them fiddle with the game pieces; they were playing a game of Sentry. One side was blue and the other was black. It was a strategy game, one I wasn’t very good at.

  “Sorry, I got carried away exploring the castle,” I said.

  Embrosine smiled as if she understood.

  “We were just taking a break from wedding preparations. Would you like to play?” Embrosine gestured toward the game.

  I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m not very good.”

  Embrosine nodded in understanding and continued to concentrate on her next move.

  “How is wedding planning going?” I reluctantly asked, and I couldn't ignore Jasper’s blush.

  “It’s going to be beautiful. Yet, I still can’t believe in two days I’ll be married.”

  Embrosine gave her a sad smile. “I understand your conflict.”

  Jasper shook her head slightly, “I'm not really upset about it, just surprised it’s coming so soon. Being married to Mid I’ve come to realize isn’t going to be a burden.”

  I saw the look of surprise flash across Embrosine's face. “Is that so?”

  “I think I might even have feelings for him,” Jasper admitted.

  This was not something I had expected, but then again with the way they’d been treating each other the last several days, maybe she was beginning to fall for him.

  “I’m very glad you two are getting along,” Embrosine said, and Jasper let out a nervous laugh.

  “He’s sort of impossible not to get along with.”

  I started to feel the jealousy sting me and I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I stood from my chair rather abruptly. “I’m feeling very tired. I think I’m going to retire for the night.”

  “Goodnight, Little Bear,” Jasper said, and I wished them both a goodnight before heading to my room.

  I lay in my bed for a while unable to shut off my mind. I couldn’t help but fidget and twitch. I was thinking about Jasper and Mid and also couldn’t stop wishing I could tell someone about the amulet. Oli probably wouldn’t be back till the wedding, and I felt I might go mad with the information.

  I sighed in frustration and decided to get out of bed. I paced the floors for a moment and then walked out onto the balcony letting the cold winter air cover me. I basked in its coolness and looked down at the city below. Lights lit the city and the camps surrounding it. The air was still smoky, and the sky still had a thin veil of gray covering it. The moon was a shade of vermillion as if it had been painted with the flames. I stood there for many minutes until something caught my eye.

  I could see the south wing of the castle from up on my balcony and down below I spotted a window with the light on. I had to squint my eyes to see, but someone was indeed sitting by the window. My eyes widened when I realized it was Mid. I felt the familiar warmth flood me at the sight of him. My heart rate quickened, and I could feel my insides twist and turn. The reaction I had to him was immediate and it frustrated me that I couldn’t seem to stop it.

  The things Jasper said in the sitting room continued to haunt me and standing there on the balcony, I suddenly realized that he was hers. Soon they would be wed, and he would be so far out of reach. I felt panic seize me and I suddenly wished I could stop the whole thing. Change the rules and allow us to be together instead. I knew it was a hopeless fantasy, but it didn’t stop my rash way of thinking.

  I looked down at the amulet around my neck and suddenly remembered Mid knew. I could tell him about the amulet and he would believe me. I felt excitement at the thought of being able to share the news and also at the thought of being able to see him. Suddenly, I needed to tell him, and I didn’t care about the consequences.

  I left my bedchambers and made my way down the candle-lit corridors to the south wing. Seeing the hallways were mostly deserted, I didn’t feel the need to hide. I found the hallway that housed his room, and when I came upon the door that I was certain had to be his, I reached out and knocked. When the door opened, a million different emotions passed across his features.

  “Sabeara?” He was dressed in soft brown trousers and a long-sleeved sleep shirt. I noticed that his hair was tousled and falling into his face, the way I liked it.

  “What are you doing here?” His gaze hardened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. He was on guard and I hated that I’d caused it.

  I could have said a variety of different things at that moment. I was about to use the excuse that I wanted to tell him about the amulet, but that quickly washed away, and I couldn't stop the words that came out next.

  “Can we go somewhere?”

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  He didn’t say anything for a moment and continued to look at me with a guarded expression in his eyes. After several long seconds of this nearly unbearable silent gazing, he seemed to finally find the words he was looking for.

  “I thought you wanted me to forget about you, Sabeara.”

  I winced, not expecting him to be so blunt. Couldn’t he see I was defying everything by standing here in front of him? Didn’t he know I wanted him but that I had a loyalty to my sister and to my kingdom I couldn’t betray? I glared at him, hating that he made things so difficult.

  “If you don’t want to come with me, I understand.” I started to walk away, feeling pathetic for even coming, but his hand reached out to stop me. He turned me around and I hoped he could see it in my eyes, the need to have one more night with him. Even if it was only for a moment.

  His beautiful eyes searched my face and finally he sighed in defeat. “Fine. Let me grab my cloak.”

  GHOST WAS SLEEPING in the stables when we arrived, and Mid had to nudge him to get him to rouse. The big bear growled grumpily but eventually got to his feet.

  “Do you have a place in mind?” Mid asked, as he began to saddle the beast.

  I shook my head, not really sure. “No, I just wanted to escape the castle for a moment,” I explained.

  He finished tightening the saddle and gestured for me to come to him. He gently hefted me onto the saddle and then mounted behind me.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked, his arms wrapping around me.

  I couldn’t help the shaky laugh that left my lips. “You really have to stop asking me that,” I said, only partly joking. I heard him chuckle a little as he nudged Ghost forward and together we disappeared into the night.

  The forest was eerily quiet as we traveled, and at any moment I feared something might jump out from the thick underbrush and eat us. I didn’t know where we were going. The red moon was the only light illuminating our way. For a long while all I could make out were trees.

  Soon we emerged from the ghostly forest, and in the distance, I could see lights. It looked to be the city of Ethydon. But it was much different now due to all the tents and Aveladon refugees.

  “They all lost their homes,” I said, heartbroken at the scene before me. There were hundreds of tents set up and campfires burning brightly, trying to chase away the cold. What seemed like thousands of civilians ambled about, helping the injured, and feeding the hungr
y. Wagons full of people were still entering the sanctuary city, adding to the already vast numbers. And I worried that there might be too many of them to hold.

  We continued on deeper into the city now, walking through masses of brown and red cloaks. I could hear children crying, many afflicted wailing, and had to avert my eyes when I saw a man being carried with a shocking burn wound across his body. Once past the makeshift tent camps, we stepped onto the cobblestone streets and the beautiful festivities that had been wrought there weeks earlier were vanquished, replaced by a sullen, ominous feeling.

  We made our way through the crowded streets, and the sight of the large polar bear was definitely not something people were used too. We received curious glances as we passed, some fearful, others simply curious. The attention was short lived though, due to what looked to be a bakery giving out free bread. Many people were huddled outside the window giving out the hot loaves. Mid climbed off Ghost and helped me down beside him. My feet had just met the ground when a girl in a brown cloak came walking out of the dainty store front door. She held baskets of freshly baked bread and could barely keep them all steady.

  Mid rushed to her aid and carefully took several baskets out of her hands, lightening her load. It was then that I noticed her stark black hair and silvery gray eyes. I gasped.

  “Liony!” I cried, and when she noticed us, a beaming smile grew on her face.

  “Well, what a lovely surprise.” She set down the bread and came over to hug me. She squeezed me tightly and I lost my breath for a moment. When she pulled away she looked me up and down.

  “Ehren, I missed you.” Hearing the name leave her lips didn’t faze me. It almost felt normal for her to call me by that name.

  “I missed you too,” I said, and reached down to pick up one of her baskets.

  “Can we help you?” Mid asked.

  Liony’s eyes immediately brightened. “That would be wonderful. I’ve just been passing out bread to some of the newcomers. Would you like to come along?

  We both nodded, following after her. We ventured out into the tent city and began passing out the bread to hungry Aveladon citizens coming in wagons. All that received the bread thanked us graciously and it didn’t take long for us to run out. We refilled our baskets several times at the bakery owned by Geo, the man that had sold us the lemming cake the day of the festival.

  “That’s all I’ve got for tonight Liony,” Geo said as we came back to refill our baskets for the fifth time. He was closing down his shop, locking the shutters to his store window.

  “Thank you, Geo,” Liony said. She handed him our empty baskets and gently pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek.

  “If you want to come inside, I’m out of bread, but I’ve got a hot fire, and a couple bottles of Lush Fire.” None of us protested as we made our way into Geo's shop. It was instantly warmer when we walked in, and slowly the feeling came back into my numb hands and feet.

  It was a cute little bakery. Tables and chairs were squished here and there in front of a big stone fireplace. A warm flame was crackling in the hearth, making it feel very intimate and secluded. The red and green color scheme of the curtains and tablecloths gave the room a rather romantic glow that I quite liked.

  We all took a seat by the table closest to the fire. I tugged my shawl a little tighter around my arms. Geo brought over two bottles of the orange liquid to us and poured each of us a drink. I drank the bubbling beverage with delight, loving the way it burned my throat. Geo left the room then, telling us to take as long as we needed, and soon an easy conversation began to build between the three of us.

  “So, I hear you're the princess of Aveladon.” Liony didn't waste any time getting into the gossip. I smiled at her sheepishly, hoping she wasn’t too upset I’d lied.

  “I wish I could’ve told you,” I said guiltily.

  She just shook her head. “You were protecting yourself, just like Midennen.”

  I nodded, glancing over at Mid beside me. He looked very handsome in the dim light, his dark skin even more swarthy. He caught my gaze and his smoldering expression caused me to blush.

  “Have you been here helping in the city then?”

  “After I heard about the attack, I knew that they would need all the hands they could get. I couldn’t just sit at home, so I offered to help Geo.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” I said admirably.

  “Aren’t you two supposed to be preparing for a wedding in two days?” An uncomfortable awkwardness filled the little room.

  “Something like that,” I mumbled, and I heard Liony giggle.

  “The tension between the two of you is so thick I could cut it with a knife.”

  I glared at her and heard Mid grumble something under his breath about women and subtleness. Liony seemed amused by our unease.

  “Well don’t worry. I’m not going to push.” She raised her hands in mock surrender.

  “It seems sort of wrong that we are still hosting a wedding despite all the events going on,” I stated. The heartbreaking images of the people outside caused another wave of sadness to come over me.

  “I think despite everything the royal councils are still going to want their royal wedding. You know, to make sure the alliance is solidified. It may seem ill-fitting at a time like this but honestly what better way to try and have some normalcy after what happened?” Liony pointed out. I shrugged my shoulders, not so convinced.

  “I think it’s completely useless to have a wedding. We should be out here, helping the people, not at the castle celebrating,” Mid said gruffly.

  “Your duty as prince is to make sure our kingdom's political welfare is in order. This alliance may have flowers and fancy dresses attached to it, but that doesn’t make it any less essential to this war.” Liony’s words were filled with a logical reasoning that sort of shocked me. It never crossed my mind she’d be so political. But then again she was related to Shar, the captain of Ethydon. “On another note, have either of you figured out anything more about the curse?”

  I looked up shocked that she’d brought it up. “You believe?” I asked, sort of in awe, and she chuckled.

  “Of course I do. Shar and Mid are two very convincing individuals.” She looked over at Mid with wide expectant eyes.

  “We’ve been so caught up in the attack and the wedding. I haven’t had much time,” Mid said with exasperation.

  Their mention of the curse made me remember the amulet and that I’d been waiting to tell someone. Excitedly, I pulled the amulet from my neck and placed it on the table.

  “Well actually, I’ve figured out what the amulet does,” I said. The ruby shone in the candlelight and Liony gazed at it with a puzzled expression.

  “What’s this?” she asked.

  I began telling her about my mother and how I speculated that it might be one of the tokens. Her gray eyes were wide with excitement as I told her my story.

  “One of the king’s artifacts? That's amazing. What does it do?”

  “It allows me to use other people’s Stone-Hearted powers,” I said. Mid was watching me carefully from across the table as I explained my experience.

  “When I touched Oli, I must’ve done something to allow the amulet to harness his power. The amulet began to glow violet and then I was able to use his ability.” I told them about Sunn falling from the windowsill into my arms, and how I’d had no trouble holding her up.

  “I wonder how you were able to harness it,” Mid questioned, his brow furrowed as he stared at the amulet.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. I was very focused while in training and I wonder if with enough concentration I can harness power from another Stone-Hearted.”

  “Let’s try it,” Liony immediately volunteered and reached out to grab my hand. I clutched her delicate fingers in mine and looked over at Mid. He nodded his head indicating we should try. I slipped the amulet over my head and gripped it tightly in my other hand.

  “Here goes nothing.” I closed my eyes and began to
focus on Liony. I clutched the amulet tightly, in hopes it would glow. When I opened my eyes after several long seconds, nothing had happened.

  “Keep trying,” Mid said, his eyes fixed on the amulet.

  I nodded and closed my eyes once more. I began trying to imagine her power entering into the stone. This seemed to do something, and I heard Mid gasp. My eyes popped open, and to my surprise, the amulet had turned a soft blue, like the color in Liony’s chest.

  “It worked!” I exclaimed.

  “Well, I’d say it is indeed a magic amulet,” Liony replied, excitement evident on her face.

  Mid ran a hand through his tangled hair and continued to look at the amulet as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

  “I knew you were special when I met you, Sabeara,” Liony giggled, and I shook my head.

  “It’s the amulet, not me.”

  She squeezed my hand. “You have discovered something that will help stop the curse. I’d call that special.”

  I guess I didn’t see it like that. I never imagined I’d be someone who aided in helping defeat a deadly curse that would befall Aveladon. But it seemed that the book was indeed true with all the things happening. It was only a matter of time before the curse would occur and the realm would need saving. A sort of fear threaded through me. Finding the other tokens hadn’t crossed my mind. But staring at the amulet now, I felt sort of obligated, like it was my destiny to find the others and finish what my mother had started.

  We chatted for another hour before we began saying our good‐ byes. It was very late into the night and I would need to return to the castle soon, before anyone found I was missing. Liony walked us to the bakery door and pulled me into a fierce hug just before I stepped outside.

  “Don’t be a stranger.”

  “It was so good to see you, Liony,” I replied sincerely.

  She released me and then gave Mid a quick hug too. We mounted Ghost, who had been waiting patiently for us outside.

  “Say hello to Shar for me,” she called, as we turned to head back the way we’d come.