Chapter 7
1633 Words
Tarkyn stood just within the woods watching their return. He waited until their eyes had adjusted to the gloom and they were standing before him in the small clearing.
“And so, Captain Harkell, now that darkness has fallen, we must leave. What is your decision?”
The captain dropped to one knee and placed his hand over his heart. “Sire, would you do me the honour of accepting me into your service?”
“What of your loyalty to my brother?”
Without raising his head, he replied, “Sire, I have been back to the place of my punishment. It is clear that Prince Jarand has completely forsaken me and so, with a clear conscience I can forsake him. He did not expect me to live to serve him further. And so my life is my own to do with as I wish.”
“And would you throw away your newly found freedom so easily? You do not have to exchange one life of service for another.”
Despite himself, the captain rocked upright in surprise. “Yes I do, Your Highness. One cannot live completely unbonded.”
Knowing he was surrounded by incredulous woodfolk, Tarkyn smiled and said, “I think you will find that some people think you can. Although perhaps they are bound to each other.”
A note of uncertainty entered the captain’s voice, “Your Highness, I understood that you would be willing to accept me.”
“Captain Harkell, look at me. If you are sure, I will feel truly honoured to accept you into my service.”
The captain met Tarkyn’s eyes unwaveringly. “I am sure, Your Highness. You have my pledge that I will honour and serve you, body and soul, to the end of my days.”
“Captain Harkell, I give you my vow that I will protect and support you, as your liege lord.” Tarkyn took a breath, “And if I ever treat you as you have been treated today, your oath to me will no longer bind you. You may stand.”
Once the captain was standing face to face with him, Tarkyn smiled, “And now, we must soon be on our way. We do not have ranks among us here, except of course, for mine. So, are you happy that we address you simply as Harkell?”
“Your will is my command, sire.”
“Harkell, I am giving you a choice,” said Tarkyn dryly, thinking he was going to have to train up another guardsman not to use too much protocol. “Are you happy with being called Harkell?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Good. Now, before you meet everyone else, I’m afraid I must ask you to swear another oath.”
Harkell immediately dropped to one knee in preparation.
“Harkell, you must swear, on pain of death, never to reveal the presence of the people you are about to meet.”
“Your Highness, you have only to ask and it would carry as much weight. But I give you my oath as you require.”
“Thank you. You may rise.”
In the next instant, the woodfolk appeared around them and Stormaway, String and Bean walked out from between the trees. Lapping Water came forward carrying a light brown shirt and jerkin.
“Harkell, you must be freezing by now. I’m afraid we only have the one colour but it will keep you warm. I am Lapping Water.”
Harkell’s eyes darted around him, taking in his first view of the woodfolk. However he brought his soft brown eyes to bear on Lapping Water and thanked her.
She smiled at him, “You have lovely coloured eyes. Very good for camouflage.” She sent a mischievous grin at the prince, “Not like Tarkyn’s. His are like beacons.”
Harkell noted with interest that she had called the prince by his first name. He was even more interested to see that the prince had coloured slightly.
“You may struggle to remember everyone’s names at the beginning,” said Danton, “And even if you do remember them, you probably won’t be able to tell one person from the other for a while. But in the interests of your safety, you had better meet and remember Waterstone, Ancient Oak and Sparrow.” He indicated them as he talked and they came forward. “Waterstone and Tarkyn are blood brothers. So these three are, to all intents and purposes, members of the royal family.”
Harkell immediately bowed deeply.
Waterstone waved an irritable hand, “No. Cut that out. I won’t have people bowing to me. It is outrageous. Now stand up straight and let me talk to you properly.”
As Harkell straightened, he said, “I beg your pardon, Your Highness. I did not mean to offend you.”
Surrounded by the grins of woodfolk, Waterstone rolled his eyes and continued, “And before we go any further, you have my permission to attack me if you need to. And Ancient Oak’s.” He smiled, “I’m not so sure about Sparrow. I don’t think I could let you attack her.”
As Harkell was looking totally bewildered at this point, Tarkyn intervened, “Harkell, let me introduce the woodfolk to you. They do not believe in hierarchies and only accept my rank because I insist upon it. So my woodfolk brothers will not accept any sign of respect commonly due to a member of the royal family. You will only make them feel uncomfortable if you bow to them or address them by title.”
“Absolutely correct,” confirmed Ancient Oak.
“And you are only bound to serve me, not them.”
Waterstone looked revolted, “Yes. Don’t even think about it. You treat us on equal terms or not at all.”
Tarkyn smiled sunnily, “But despite our differences, we all get on remarkably well, don’t we, young Sparrow?” He looked around, “And where’s Midnight? He’s been a bit left out of all this.”
Hail, who was standing at the back of the throng well away from the new sorcerer, pushed Midnight forward as Tarkyn sent him a request to come. Midnight’s face lit up and he took a running jump into Tarkyn’s arms.
Tarkyn gave him a squeeze and then swung around so that Midnight was facing Harkell. “And this is Midnight, who is my ward. He’s deaf but very clever.” Tarkyn beamed at the little boy, “Aren’t you, mischief?”
Midnight grinned back and waved at the soldier.
Summer Rain came forward and said, “Since it is so late, I think we should have something to eat before we go. Would you like something, Harkell? I am Summer Rain.”
Harkell nodded, “I am nearly faint with hunger.”
“Of course you are, after what you have been through this afternoon,” said Summer Rain kindly. “Just a minute, I’ll fetch you a tonic while some of the others prepare the food.”
“Oh no. Now that’s not a kind way to welcome Harkell. Your tonics taste terrible,” said Tarkyn lightly.
Summer Rain threw him a minatory look, “Tarkyn, I’m sure Harkell will have the fortitude to endure the taste, to gain the benefits.”
Harkell watched and learned that Tarkyn accepted what he would consider to be an impertinence. Tarkyn caught his glance and said quietly, with a twinkle in his eyes, “And not only will I endure a scolding from her, I never learn that she has no sense of humour whatsoever.” He became serious, “But Summer Rain is a very skilled healer. She spread salves on your back when you first arrived in the woods and advised us on how to manage your shock.”
“But I thought you healed me, my lord.”
“Oh, I did, once Danton overcame your resistance. But Summer Rain has the knowledge …and Stormaway, now I come to think of it. I only have the power.” He turned to the three sorcerers waiting quietly to one side, “This is Stormaway Treemaster, my personal wizard, as he was my father’s before me.
Stormaway smiled warmly, clearly pleased by this form of introduction. He inclined his head, “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“And these are trappers, String and Bean, who are living with us for a while.”
Harkell frowned at them, “Didn’t I see you two down in Montraya about six or eight months ago?”
String and Bean looked at each other and back at Harkell, “Might have done.”
“Pub brawl, wasn’t it?” asked Harkell.
“Might have been,” said String.
“Bad luck. Can’t do anything about it now,” added Bean, with a wicked grin.
“What would you have done, Harkell, as a matter of interest? I am Autumn Leaves.”
Harkell suddenly felt himself to be on trial but he answered honestly, nevertheless. “Had I caught them at the time, I would have thrown them in the lock up for the night until they sobered up, and sent them off with a stiff warning the next day.” He gave a short laugh, “If you imprisoned every pub brawler for more than a few days, there wouldn’t be many people left walking the streets.” He paused. “And now, eight months later, I would have given them a mild warning.” He looked around, “Do I pass muster?”
Waterstone smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, “You’ll do. Come and have something to eat.”
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