The Locket (25 page)

“I’m glad you’re both here, I have something for you,” Bertha said, as Savannah and Christian came in at the same time. Quickly, she vanished into the kitchen and back out again a minute later. “I filled your bag with some more food. I hope that it will last until you reach the edge of the forest.”

Christian peered inside. “I believe it will. Thank you, Bertha.”

“Yes, thanks again for your hospitality,” Savannah said as they were hustled outside. “I don’t feel like helping you clean the house was enough. At least compared to what you did for us. It doesn’t seem fair that—”

“Oh, don’t you worry so much. It was fine. You did more than your share!” Savannah threw her arms around Bertha and gave her a long hug, and then one to Mr. Whitmore when he joined them outside. Christian was engulfed by Bertha but settled for a handshake with Mr. Whitmore. “Now hurry along before time runs out. The general is waiting for your arrival.”

With a slight shove, the two crossed over the bridge and headed back into the trees. “Be careful, my ducklings! Keep each other safe!” After another wave and a few more minutes, Savannah and Christian were back into the wilderness and away from their safe haven.

Evening had come much faster than was expected. Once again, the two of them experienced the scratchiness of the tall grass, the irritation of having to pull back tree branches every second of every hour, and the dullness of having nothing to do but walk.

Except now, due to the rain, the grass was much wetter and the mud much soggier. “Ew,” Savannah mumbled, as she accidentally stepped into an exceptionally muddy puddle. “I can’t wait to clean these shoes off when I get home.”

“How much farther do you think we have?” Christian asked, as he shoved a branch out of his way and then held it for her.

“Thank you. I don’t know, but we have to be getting close.”

An insect was buzzing around, landing here and there on his arms. When it landed again, he smacked it, flicking its lifeless body onto the ground. “Why do you say that?”

Savannah winced at his way to ward off bugs. “Because we’ve been traveling for over two days now, and there has got to be more out here than just trees and dirt!” She let out a sigh. “My legs are soar, I have at least fifteen knots in my back, we’ve already gone through enough obstacles to last us a week, and …”

He stopped. “What?”

“I think I’m getting a little homesick.” She hated to admit it. Even saying it sounded so childlike. But the fact remained that that was how she felt.

“It’s all right, Savannah, everyone feels that way now and again. And I am positive that by the time we get to the general, your locket will be powerful enough to send you back home.” Although it appeared to be working, reassuring her did not make him feel any better. He knew that she would have to go home eventually, and he knew that it would probably be as soon as they reached the edge of the forest. But it took him until now to realize that that might be very, very soon.

Truth be told, until now, that was all in the back of his mind because he was too busy thinking of more immediate things, such as figuring out ways to “accidentally” touch her or “unintentionally” brush his hand against hers. Though being rejected last night might have disheartened him, he was not going to give up. If he was going to ever prove to her how he felt, he was going to have to get used to
being turned down until he knew for sure she either returned his feel
ings or didn’t.

“You don’t get it. It’s not my aunt and uncle’s house that makes me so sick to be away from, it’s my first home. Wow, that’s sounds so weird, doesn’t it? My first home. Well it’s the home I grew up in and the one that I want to be in again. I want my mom there and my dad. I want to have sleepovers with my best friend Marie and talk about boys, and school, and the latest gossip. Jeez, what I wouldn’t give to have all of that back. I miss it.”

It was impossible for him to try to console her when he himself felt that tug of nostalgia. He did not mourn for the structure of the home he had lost, not like Savannah. He mourned for the childhood he barely had. Though it did consist of training, practice, and education, his childhood also contained laughter and games and family bonding. He had the time to play with anyone he wanted, the ability to talk to anyone of any stature, and so on. But now … now he had to be someone that followed the rules, whether he liked them or not. And he had to marry a woman he did not love.

“I’m sorry. You asked for map directions, and here I am giving you a girly speech about the things I miss. Okay,” she let out a breath and took the drawing out of her sac. “We’ve already passed the fork in the path, and the ogre’s part of the forest. Now all we should have left is the Enchanted Pond and finally the other end of the woods. How does that sound?”

“Good.” There was silence again before he added, “You know, I do not think at all that it is ridiculous for you to miss your old home and the things that came with it. If my parents died and I was forced to live somewhere else, I might not be able to be as strong as you.” When she did not respond, he said. “So, did you enjoy meeting the royal family?”

“Of course,” she twitched her lips upward at the thought of them. “They are such wonderful people. The queen is so patient and understanding. The only time that I saw her at all upset, honestly, was when Lance told us that her son was missing.” Christian turned away, hiding the uneasy expression that was on his face. “Anyway, the king was, just like his wife, gentle and sweet. It didn’t take long for him to start treating me like his own daughter when I arrived here. He listened to every word I said and was willing to answer as many questions as he could about my problems. And Rupert, well … Rupert is Rupert.”

Christian let out a chuckle. “Yes, it is true that the very moment a young maiden steps foot into the castle, Rupert will certainly be there to introduce himself. He is known all around the kingdom for acting that way.”

She snorted in response. “I wish that I had known about that before I went through that hideous dinner with him.” After letting out a sound of disgust, her expression gradually grew compassionate again. “But, oh, the castle! I’ve never seen anything so amazing before. The table settings alone were just incredible! I loved the way that everything was set completely in its place and how, just like Bertha’s cottage, every room was warm and welcoming. It was so remarkable to me that even as wealthy and powerful as the royal family is, they were still a family and they lived their lives as everyone else, with a few exceptions of course. Everything was just … perfect.”

Looking at her, it was hard not to see the longing in her eyes. Unlike most girls, Savannah did not wish for the glamour of the recognition of being the future queen nor did she hope for the numerous fortunes that came with it. Instead, and he knew right away, that she longed for the tenderness and unity of a family. Christian took a deep breath. “Savannah?” She glanced over at him as she came out of her lustful trance. “What do you know about the younger prince? The one who ran away?”

Throughout their conversation, the two of them had not been paying much attention to where they were walking. Consequently, they did not see the rope buried beneath the leaves. Even as she was opening her mouth to answer his question, she felt the difference in the ground underneath her feet. The soft mud and grass where changed to a firm, tight pattern, and the second she felt it, she knew it was too late to retake their steps. With a whoosh, the two of them were lifted above the ground, squished against each other harshly as the net packed them forcefully inside.

Savannah let out a yelp as they were brought to a branch only about ten feet above the ground, swaying from the rush of movement against a few trees. When the net at last stilled, she found her face buried against Christian’s chest for fear of hitting her head against another tree trunk.

He ran a hand through her hair, quietly murmuring to her that it was all right and that they had stopped moving. Lifting her head, she surveyed the area to look for their hunter. When her eyes didn’t find anything of interest or out of place, she turned her attention to Christian, wondering if he might know why someone would want to trap them.

A light blush rose into her cheeks when she looked at the two of their bodies and realized their position. While Christian was lying on the net like one would a hammock, she was laying on top of him, facing him. Despite their situation, her heart pounded with excitement at being so close to him. Enjoying their proximity more than she would have liked, she quickly tried to turn herself away and give each other more space. But every time she attempted to move herself, the net would shake and quiver until she kept finding herself back in the same position.

Giving up with only a very slight feeling of aggravation, she let out a huff and moved herself back over to him. It felt oddly calming to simply lay her head on his chest; draw in the scent of him. She was cool and relaxed considering the circumstance. And to hear his heart pound with hers gave her a jolt.

“What do you suppose has us up here?”

Taking a last examination of the ground, Savannah groaned in defeat. “I don’t know, but something tells me it wasn’t a bunny rabbit.” Rolling her head so she could see his face, she said, “I thought maybe you would have some idea.”

“I am afraid not,” he began, pulling an arm that was falling asleep out from underneath her. “I know very little about the Mysterious Forest, and what I do is knowledge from soldiers who have only once crossed it.” Grimacing at the fact very few people survived the very forest they were in, he placed the same arm he moved over Savannah. Holding her was the only protection he could give her at this time. “No one would dare hunt game in here, not if it is enchanted game. The only creature I could imagine it may be is an ogre, but ogres are generally too dimwitted to come up with even a simple contraption such as this.”

Nodding, Savannah watched as life continued below them. Snakes slithered across the ground, deer came and went to eat a bit of grass, and squirrels ran from tree to tree. Time is a funny thing. One minute you’re walking, enjoying the company of someone, and the next minute you’re trapped in a net above the ground, waiting for your death.

Okay well maybe not our death, but unless it’s a friendly human hunter, I doubt this will end well, Savannah considered dismally. Well, death or not, I refuse to let myself get bored in the process.

“What was your question?”

“Pardon?” Christian came out of his own thoughts and peeked down at her.

Shifting so she was looking at him, she asked again. “What were you asking me before we got caught up here? I forgot what you wanted to know.”

“Oh.” His heart sank a little at the reminder. He was about to let his identity slip again, feeling the need at the time to be honest with her. That courage now fled him and he was left with no words for a few moments. “It was nothing,” he said simply.

“No, go on, tell me,” she encouraged. “I won’t laugh, I promise … unless it is supposed to be funny.”

He smiled at her eagerness before his face went solemn once more. “No, it is not meant to be funny. Quite the opposite, in fact.” She kept her gaze upon him and waited. He thought those eyes could pierce through any man’s heart, making him want to promise her the world. Though he knew she would settle for just a few slices of honesty. “I was merely wondering if you knew anything about the younger prince, that is all.”

She stared at him, an inquisitive look on that face that was now cocked to the side in wonder. “Why?”

He shrugged. “I want to know.”

When he didn’t explain any further, she decided that was her signal to not dig much further. “Uh, well, not much actually.”

“’Not much’ meaning …”

“Why does this matter to you?” She would admit that she was a bit irritated, even if she was not completely sure why. Most of all, she was confused. First, he would close up anytime she tried asking him anything about why he was here or where he came from. Then, he tried hiding a newspaper clipping from her that seemingly meant nothing. And now he was scrapping up any knowledge she had on the lost prince, whom he probably knew more about than she did anyway, and he was not telling her why.

“It doesn’t, I am just curious.”

After sending him a doubtful glance, she decided to enlighten him, not understanding any better why he would care to know. “As I said, I don’t know much. All I do know is that he is next in line for the throne and he is engaged. That, and he was last seen going into his room by his brother before he ran away. The queen seems to think that he ran through a bunch of the neighboring kingdoms since that’s where they caught him last time. Somehow though, I don’t think that that’s where he is.”

A nervous chill ran through Christian’s body. “Why is that?”

“Because no one is that stupid to be caught in the same place twice,” she said wryly. “The soldiers have already proven themselves to be brainless, considering that he was able to escape them a second time. You would think that he would be a bit more heavily guarded after that situation, especially if he’s such an asset to the kingdom by being the next in line. Plus, he used his bed sheets as a rope down his window. In my world you see that happen all the time in movies, books, and even real life. It’s a bit of a no-brainer.”

He contemplated this, thinking that she was much smarter than he let on. If she came to this conclusion, who knows who else would as well? Not wanting to say a word, in fear of letting something out that he couldn’t take back, Christian sat back and continued stroking her hair. If they weren’t in the middle of the Mysterious Forest and in danger of being harmed, he would consider this a romantic setting. The light in the sky was once again dimming, turning to dusk. The night was breezy, soothing against the warmth of the air and wonderful to breath in due to its pureness. He had a beautiful young woman comfortably lying against him, his arms wrapped around her and his chin resting atop her head.

Both fortunately and unfortunately, life never stayed still. It was misfortune that trumped fortune when Christian and Savannah heard something make its way through the bushes. Tightening his grip, in spite of her lack of fear, Christian prepared for whatever was to come and retrieve its captured prize.

The shadows of the trees blocked the initial view of the being when they came into the clearing. The outline of the figure was tall and dark, even with the cover of the night blocking its appearance. It was carrying firewood from the looks of it, and strolling without hurry. When it put down the wood, the figure stopped suddenly, and as if sensing their presence, looked up.

The eyes glowed orange and its teeth were yellow and very, very sharp. The mouth widened into a wicked grin at the sight of its prey. “Well, hello again,” the deep voice bellowed. Stepping into one of the few lights that found its way through the trees, the two of them gasped when they recognized him as the ogre Savannah had knocked out yesterday. “I’m glad to see that you have found your way into my net.” He came close enough so that his face was a foot apart from theirs. “I guess I should decide whether to let you suffer and leave you here for all of eternity or to let you out and cook you for dinner.” He put a hand to his chin and stroked it in thought.