The Sorcerer's Oath - Books 3-4

Chapter 10-2

Tarkyn frowned, “I can’t help feeling that Danton was very hard on you, insisting that you make such an enormous decision with so little information.”

“He was tough,” said Harkell, “but he was right. If I chose to follow you for the money or the lifestyle, what would happen when they changed, or a better offer came up?” His eyes wandered over to watch Danton chatting to Waterstone near the fire. “Saying that, Lord Danton did make it clear that he didn’t like me much. He has tarred me with the brush of Prince Jarand’s misdeeds.” He sighed, “I suppose only time will change his mind.”

“Harkell,” said Tarkyn quietly, “Since I have given you leave to call me by my first name, you may not use Danton’s title. It would be unseemly to show him more respect than I am requiring for myself.”

The soldier’s cheeks darkened, “I beg your pardon, Your Highness.” When Tarkyn raised his eyebrows, Harkell added, “I am not quite ready to address you informally, if you don’t mind. I will practise on Danton first.”

Tarkyn smiled, “Good start. You’ll get there.” He stood up, shedding Sparrow as he rose, “Now, we have a bit of work to do, you and I.” He called Falling Rain over, “Before we get too far away, do you think your egret might be able to fly an errand for us?”

Falling Rain shrugged, “I have no idea. I can’t speak to her. But if you are asking me whether I’m willing to allow her to, the answer is yes.”

“Thank you.” Tarkyn stood with his hands on his hips, frowning. “Hmm. Now how are we going to do this? I’ll need Harkell to explain to Running Feet where his family lives and then Running Feet will have to connect to me so that I can transfer to Elsie the images of where to go.”

“You don’t need Running Feet. I can do it,” protested Falling Rain.

“Oh. Are you good at directions then?”

“Good enough. Better than you, by the sound of it. And I would like the chance to connect with Elsie.”

Tarkyn smiled, “Of course you would. I should have thought of that. Very well. Harkell, ask Stormaway for a small piece of parchment and write your message to your family. When you’ve done that, meet us outside.”

Twenty minutes later, Harkell emerged with a small roll of parchment that he handed to Tarkyn. Harkell noted that Tarkyn did not even think of looking at it to check what information it might contain.

“Now Harkell, give Falling Rain clear directions on how to reach your family. Use as much visual information as possible, landmarks, buildings, roads…whatever will guide an egret to find her way.”

While Harkell talked to Falling Rain, Tarkyn requested the egret to come down out of the trees and checked with her that she could carry the message comfortably in her beak. When all parties were ready, Tarkyn held out the parchment to Elsie, who grabbed it firmly in her beak and, with a few strong beats of her wings, rose slowly into the air. “Ready, Falling Rain. As you connect to me, you will see the world through Elsie’s eyes. Don’t forget. Elsie can’t receive words and I am very bad at interpreting directions. So if you can, use pictures or feelings.”

Moments later, Falling Rain was seeing the mountainside from twenty feet above. As Elsie scanned the mountains and plain below her, he saw Montraya and by sending encouragement, guided her towards it. For nearly an hour, Tarkyn and he joined her in her flight across the plains. As she neared the first buildings of the city, Falling Rain looked down through her eyes, sending her an image of a small winding dirt road leading off to the left out into the fields beneath the southern end of the castle. Falling Rain’s imagined street was not too dissimilar from the original and Elsie soon homed in and directed her flight towards Harkell’s home. The egret scanned the area until Falling Rain spotted a stone cottage that fitted Harkell’s description, set back from the road in a little garden used mostly for growing vegetables, with a pear tree in the corner against the wall

Without losing contact with the egret and Tarkyn, Falling Rain asked carefully, “Do you have an orange and white striped cat?”

“Yes, we do!” exclaimed Harkell. “Well, actually it belongs next door but it’s always in our yard.”

“Okay. Elsie has landed in your pear tree,” reported Falling Rain. “How is she going to deliver the message from here?”

Harkell’s eyes were shining with excitement, “Tell her to go around the back. The back door is always open. Do you think she would actually go inside the house and leave it on the kitchen table?”

“I don’t know. I’ll suggest it when she gets there,” said Falling Rain.

As it turned out, Harkell’s wife came out of her back door with a load of washing under her arm just as the egret swooped down. Kayana backed off in fright, dropping her washing and waving her arms at Elsie to frighten her away. Elsie screeched and nearly dropped the parchment. Flapping her wings hard, she gained enough height to take her far from the frightening woman. Tarkyn sent her a wave of reassurance and praise and when she was calm enough, directed her back to circle the back yard of the house well out of Kayana’s reach. Eventually patience was rewarded and Harkell’s wife noticed that Elsie was carrying something in her beak. Tarkyn could see her focusing in on the egret. Sending another calming wave, he asked Elsie to fly lower and drop the parchment into the basket of washing. Elsie retreated to perch on the back wall of the garden and watch.

Kayana reached down and picked up the parchment. Then, after directing an appraising look at the egret, unrolled it and began to read. As she read, she put her hand over her mouth and an expression of joyful astonishment crossed her face. Tears sprang to her eyes and she smiled and cried all at once. As soon as she had finished, she held her hand up to ask Elsie to wait and rushed inside. Tarkyn interpreted her gesture for the egret. A few minutes later, she emerged with a new piece of parchment, rolled up and ready to go. She held it out and walked slowly, tears still shining in her eyes, towards Elsie. The egret shuffled along the wall uncertainly but Tarkyn’s calming presence kept her from flying off. As Kayana neared the wall, Elsie turned her head to one side and eyed her carefully. When Kayana made no sudden moves, the egret opened her beak and accepted the new message. Kayana backed off and pointed to herself, the egret and then her heart. As the egret rose ponderously into the air, Kayana, tears flowing down her cheeks, blew a parting kiss.

“Elsie will know…” Tarkyn found he had a sudden frog in his throat. “Harumm, Elsie will know how to get back here, won’t she?” he asked, blinking away some moisture that had gathered in his eyes.

“Yes. She’ll be fine,” answered Falling Rain.

Tarkyn sent the egret a final query and thanks before cutting the connection. He heaved a deep sigh, “Well, that was long.” He looked quizzically at Harkell, “Did you say anything in your note about us seeing through Elsie’s eyes?”

“Yes, but I also told her not to tell anyone.”

Tarkyn waved his hand, “Oh, I’m not worried about that, although perhaps I should be. No, it’s just that I think I have received a message that was directed at you, not at Elsie. Would you agree, Falling Rain?”

Falling Rain grinned, “Yes. I would say so. Clever woman, your wife. She blew you a kiss and said she loved you.” He repeated the gestures that Kayana had made.

Harkell smiled broadly, “Thank you so much for doing that. It means a great deal to me. I wish I could have seen her but now, at least, you have. So you will know what she looks like when I talk about her. And she will know I’m alive and safe.”