The Bear: Redemption

By Anushka Haakonson

The Prince in 'East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon' has never talked much about his enchantment--the why or the who. He never talked much about his life before being a bear. Now he's told his story to Anushka and she's sharing it with you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Learning To Surf Publishing
• Release date: Aug 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310491849

Anushka Haakonson

Anushka is a collector of fairytales, especially Scottish and Scandinavian ones. They are her inspiration.

Book preview

The Bear -- Redemption

by Anushka Haakonson

Copyright 2012/2015 Anushka Haakonson

Published by

Smashwords Edition 2015

Smashwords Edition, Licence Notes

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Contents

The Bear--Redemption

Acknowledgements and Thanks

Coming Soon

I had been lying in the snow ready to give up; ready to die; and then I saw her. She was leading her little sister through the snow, both their arms fill of wood, still a meagre haul for all that; their rags dragging through the snow scrawling strange designs behind them in that bitterly cold winter. They didn't see me, of course, with my coat so white. She couldn't have been more than twenty-one or less than seventeen. I tried not to shift, straining instead to hear what was making the little one laugh.

Again, Tara! she demanded in delight.

Her older sister complied, singing the rhyme again. A curious one, but a fine one; and hugely funny unlike the singing and tellings of the courtiers. It was hard not to chuckle myself. It was then I chose not to die. If these two desperately poor girls could still find joy on a bitter winter's day then maybe my plight was not as fatal as I'd thought. It was easier getting up than lying down had been. I followed the two girls.

***

My father, it is true, was the king of a vast kingdom stretching over snow-covered mountains, long rivers, woodlands and plains. The mountains circled it to the west and the desert to the east. This was our blessing for it kept those who coveted our peaceful, prosperous kingdom at bay. Save one. He was my uncle, brother to my mother, and a great sorcerer from the mountains. Such gifts were common in Mother's family--my mother being gifted enough for a jealous few to whisper that she had used her crafts to ensnare my father, the King. But there are always such rumours, are there not? And my own gifts, growing