The Wizard's Curse

Chapter 2-1

2

Tarkyn wandered down through the golden leaved trees until he reached the stream. Here, he found a comfortable rock to lean against and sat staring out across the sparkling, rippling water. He let his mind roam out through the surrounding trees and bushes, tuning into the birds and animals around him. He reflected with a small, inward smile that there was nowhere he could go where he was really alone. He tuned into a little field mouse that was snuffling around under a nearby bush and asked her to come over to him. The little mouse scurried over the few feet of open ground and scuttled up his leg to sit, quivering slightly, on his knee. Tarkyn sent her waves of reassurance and friendship until she became still and calm. Very slowly, Tarkyn reached into a nearby bush and pulled off a small bunch of dark red berries. He had no idea what they were but hoped that the mouse might like them. He offered one to the mouse who grasped the berry between her front paws and, after giving it a careful sniff, began to nibble it. Tarkyn received a little wave of thanks.

Suddenly, Rainstorm and Ancient Oak were standing in front of him. The mouse jerked with fright, but a calming message from Tarkyn kept her from scurrying off. Tarkyn looked up at the two of them and smiled. “Hello, you two. Have a seat.”

They both dropped into cross-legged sitting positions.

“Hi, Prince,” said Rainstorm. “Just thought we’d come down and see what you’re up to.”

Tarkyn smiled broadly at them, “Thanks. I’m fine,” he said, correctly interpreting what Rainstorm meant.

Ancient Oak frowned a little. “You’re not angry at them all for talking about you, are you?”

Tarkyn spread his hands slowly, careful not to frighten the mouse. “Do I look angry? No. I just got a bit tired of it all and needed a break…and a bit of time to think. I’m sure I’ll pick up the thread of the discussion when I go back.” He shrugged and said cheerily, “I’ve already decided what I’m going to do. So, I’ll let them know when they’ve had time to talk over all the angles.”

“So, what happened to consultation? Aren’t you going to consider anyone’s views?” asked Ancient Oak with a slight frown. “You’re not coming over all autocratic again, are you?”

“Big brother, I never stopped being autocratic. I just try to act as though I’m not, most of the time. By the way, thanks for supporting me against the others over my rescue of Autumn Leaves. I suspect I did not appear particularly grateful to you at the time.”

Ancient Oak’s cheek tinged with pink. “No, not really. But like you, I didn’t stick up for you for your gratitude. I did it because it was just.”

Tarkyn glanced at him before offering the mouse another berry. When it was happily nibbling again, he looked up and smiled in satisfaction. “I’m developing quite a fondness for mice after my brave little friend in the encampment helped me in my rescue of Autumn Leaves.” He gave a slight smile. “Did you have to endure a tongue-lashing, Rainstorm, for helping me to translocate and put myself at risk?”

Rainstorm grinned. “Ooh, just a bit. Nothing I’m not used to, though. Poor old Thunder Storm was beside himself. He felt he’d let everybody down, letting you get away into danger.”

“Oh dear. And then I snapped his head off when I got back. I’d better have a chat with him at some stage. He rubs me up the wrong way sometimes, but he really cares about doing the right thing, doesn’t he?”

“And he cares about you,” added Rainstorm.

Tarkyn smiled. “Yes, I know he does. And I have come to care about him too. So, I’ll make sure I sort it out with him.” Tarkyn fed the mouse another berry and gave it a gentle stroke with one finger.

“Right, then,” said Rainstorm impatiently. “So don’t keep us in suspense. What have you decided? And why aren’t you consulting anyone?”

Tarkyn looked from one to the other of them in an effort to build the suspense then grinned. “I’m going down into the southwest to find Falling Rain and bring him back into the fold, for his sake and for ours. For some reason, I think he’s going to be important to our plans. The home guard, and whoever else wants to, can come with me. We’ll leave some people near here, keeping an eye on the encampment, and some people should watch the main road through the forest and gather information on these bandits that keep attacking the travellers. When we get back with Falling Rain, we’ll decide what to do next, based on the information gathered. How does that sound?”

Ancient Oak raised his eyebrows sceptically. “You’re asking us?”

Laughter lit Tarkyn’s eyes. “Oh yes. I’m asking. I just may not listen.”

“Very funny,” scowled Ancient Oak.

“Oh, come on, Ancient Oak. Of course I’ll listen. Anyway, there is nothing new in these plans. They are still the same plans we all decided on, the day before the storm. Remember?”

Ancient Oak nodded reluctantly.

“So? Are you happy with them or do you have other suggestions?”

The woodman thought for a moment. “What about this business about being Eskuzor’s hope for the future? Doesn’t that change things?”

A shadow passed over Tarkyn’s face. “I don’t know. Stormaway is right. As a prince of Eskuzor, my life is not just my own to do with as I please. The same is true of being your forest guardian and liege lord. But Waterstone and Autumn Leaves are also right. We can’t achieve the impossible overnight. So, let’s take it one step at a time. First, we’ll gather information and work out how to deal with the crisis facing the woodfolk. Only when that is sorted out and we are clearer about what else is happening can we begin to consider wider issues outside the forest and whether I should have any involvement in them.”

“And what about the oath and the forestals?” asked Rainstorm.

Ancient Oak frowned. “What about it?”

Tarkyn raised his eyebrows at Rainstorm.

“Oops. Sorry.” Rainstorm did not actually appear to be very contrite. “Well, now I’ve gone this far, you’ll have to tell him. He is your brother after all. You shouldn’t be keeping things from him, anyway.”

“Rainstorm, considering who my other brothers are, that is probably one of your less well considered remarks.” There was an edge to Tarkyn’s voice as he said, “And I think it is my business, not yours, how I behave with my brothers.”

Rainstorm was not so easily intimidated. “Oh, get that supercilious tone out of your voice. For heaven’s sake, can’t a person have a simple conversation without you getting on your high horse? If I can’t express my opinion, there’s no point in talking to you. You can disagree with it if you like. That’s up to you. But lay off with the superior tone.”

Tarkyn stared at him, white faced with anger. A wave of outrage rolled out from him and rocked the two woodmen. The mouse on his knee froze. After what seemed like an eternity, Tarkyn turned his gaze to Ancient Oak and, pointedly ignoring Rainstorm, said in coolly polite voice, “Ancient Oak, I did not intend to exclude you. It appears that Rainstorm and, presumably, the rest of the forestals, in fact possibly all woodfolk, have become subject to the oath and its sorcery, not just those who swore it originally. Rainstorm and North Wind were there when we made the discovery, and I have only told Waterstone about it subsequently. I didn’t want the controversy it would cause to distract us from the rescue of Golden Toad and his family.”

Ancient Oak’s eyes narrowed. He went to speak but then said nothing. The mouse, seizing its opportunity, scuttled off, having decided that the atmosphere was not worth the berries.

Still in the same unnerving voice, Tarkyn said, “No. I didn’t do it. And yes, I know you’re upset about having more of your kindred subject to the oath, and I’m sorry. I promise you I did not engineer it.”

“I didn’t think you would have. I would have liked to be included, though.”

Tarkyn unbent enough to give a small rueful smile. “You’re much more contained than Waterstone, aren’t you? He acted as though the world had fallen in when I told him.”

Ancient Oak smiled back. “No wonder you weren’t anxious to tell anyone else.”

Tarkyn shook his head. “That’s no excuse. I should have told you too. But, to tell you the truth, it’s a long time since I trusted my sorcerer brothers. So, for me, it does not naturally follow that because you’re my brother, I include you in everything.”

Ancient Oak looked down at his hands for a moment then glanced back up at Tarkyn. “Well, just remember that a family is there for you to call on in times of need. That is our code. You don’t have to, but I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Ancient Oak.” Tarkyn smiled warmly at him. “I will remember.”

Rainstorm swallowed nervously and said in a small, strained voice, “I’m here too, you know.”

Tarkyn’s face hardened as he swept his eyes around to look at the younger woodman. Before he could speak, Rainstorm spoke more formally than either of them had ever heard him speak before, “I am sorry, Your Highness. I can see I’ve overstepped another of your boundaries. I beg your pardon. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

Tarkyn’s tone was equally formal. “Rainstorm, not only were you unacceptably rude to me, you also broke my trust.” He was still clearly angry. “I would suggest that you do not try to force my hand again if you wish to retain my friendship. I will think twice before including you in my confidence in future.”

So saying, he stood up and walked back up the track, leaving two shaken woodmen behind him. He had only gone a little way when he heard hurried footsteps coming up behind him. Tarkyn stopped and waited, arms folded, knowing that whoever was approaching was carefully warning him of his arrival since normally a woodman’s footsteps made no sound. Ancient Oak appeared beside him.

“Well?” asked Tarkyn with raised eyebrows.

“Tarkyn, remember when we were talking up in that old oak on the day the crowd was arguing about how you should behave?”

Tarkyn nodded.

Ancient Oak took a breath. “Well, you said to feel free to pull you up if you became too arrogant or dismissive.”

Tarkyn waited.

“So, I’ve come to say that I think you were too harsh with Rainstorm.”

“Do you? And is he a particular friend of yours that you stand up for him like this?”

Ancient Oak shook his head and smiled. “No. But he’s a particular friend of yours, and he just gave you the most handsome apology I’ve ever heard him give anyone and you rejected it.”

Tarkyn frowned. “He made me very angry. I have never had anyone speak to me like that in my entire life…and I have no intention of allowing it to continue.” His mouth twitched in a half smile. “There is only so much familiarity I can handle. No matter how close people come to me, they must still treat me with respect.” Seeing Ancient Oak’s face tense, he added, “I expect myself to treat people around me with respect too. It is not a one-way expectation.”

“You could argue that he’s treating you with respect because he treated you as he would one of his other friends.”

The prince shrugged. “Yes. You could argue that and you might be right. And yet, I’m afraid I cannot tolerate that level of familiarity. But I am also angry that he told you about the oath when we had agreed to tell no one.”

“Apparently, you told him it would be time to tell everyone soon. So, he didn’t think it mattered as much, now the rescue was over.”

“And do you think he should have told you as he did?”

Ancient Oak shook his head reluctantly. “No. He was definitely being cheeky to tell me like that. It should have been left up to you.”

Tarkyn gave a slow smile. “But he’s young, impetuous, passionate, and it is second nature to him to push the boundaries. And I guess that’s why I like him. After all, he defied all his elders to untie me when I first met the forestals.” Tarkyn turned on his heel. “Very well. I’ll go back down and put him out of his misery.”