The Sorcerer's Oath - Books 1-2

Chapter 5-3

Slowly, Stormaway lowered his staff and nodded his head. He did not look pleased as he addressed the people standing around them, “If I am right, the spell’s binding will begin to take effect over the next twenty four hours. At moonrise tomorrow night, I will seal it beyond return unless you give me good reason not to. You have until then. But remember; only I can make the final decision.”

“What is going on? What test, what spell are you talking about? And who are these people?” Tarkyn asked wildly.

With an effort, Stormaway brought his attention back to the prince’s confusion. “I thank you for taking care with your shield, Sire.” He waved his arm in invitation. “Why don’t you come back and sit by the fire so that we can discuss this further?”

“I would know your intentions first. There is some sorcery here that I do not understand. And are you planning to turn me in, despite your assurances? You have me surrounded,” said Tarkyn stiffly, “so is your request an invitation or an order?”

Hand on heart, Stormaway bowed low, “I would not presume to issue an order to you, Your Highness. You are free to leave if you choose. I am hoping your curiosity will get the better of you.”

“Humph.” After careful consideration the prince returned to resume his seat at the fire, while the people surrounding him remained watching him, faces impassive.

“This is very unnerving,” Tarkyn muttered to himself.

“These people are the woodfolk, Sire. Although unknown to the sorcerers of Eskuzor, they inhabit these forests. And they have been here all evening. It’s just that you can see them now.”

“That’s even more unnerving. They could have attacked me at any time. I’ve been completely unshielded.”

The wizard gave a low chuckle. “Now you know how high the stakes were, when you told your story.”

Tarkyn mouth tightened. He took in a deep breath and composed himself, as he thought back over what he had said.

“Don’t worry, Sire. You have acquitted yourself well.” The wizard gestured. At his request, a couple of the woodfolk brought them goblets containing an oaky silver birch wine.

Tarkyn gazed in bemusement at the goblet in his hand. After a moment, he sniffed it surreptitiously before trying it. His brow cleared as he said, “This is an excellent wine. I’m sure I’ve tasted similar before.”

“The woodfolk supply wine to many great houses in the country, including your own.”

Tarkyn looked up from the wine and asked, “And what was this final test of yours? That I accepted responsibility for the deaths?”

“No, although that was one of them. The final test was that you held to the truth of your tale, when you no longer cared for my good opinion.”

The prince frowned as he considered this.

Stormaway leaned forward, “You do understand, don’t you? I had to be sure you weren’t lying to gain my trust.”

Tarkyn scowled, “Oh I understand, all right. I’ve been played like a fish on a line from the start. You couldn’t lie straight in bed.”

“I do apologise, Your Highness. However, I have found that being devious provides a much more accurate estimate of character than straightforward questions and answers.” The wizard sipped his wine and looked at Tarkyn over the rim of the goblet. “And now, at least to my satisfaction, I have established your integrity.”

Tarkyn looked at him long and hard. Then in a sudden movement, he clicked his fingers and the shield winked out of existence. “It seems I am in your debt. I thank you for giving me the chance to explain myself to you. I hope I will not disappoint you in the future.”

He waved his hand to indicate that he was also talking to the woodfolk, only to find he was waving at empty space. They had disappeared. Tarkyn scanned the woods around him then turned back to the wizard.

“Where have they gone?” he demanded in hushed tones. “Or are they still here and I just can’t see them?”

The wizard was chuckling quietly. “I think waving your arm around on such a short acquaintance and with such a dire reputation as yours may have pushed the friendship a bit far at this stage.”

“Oh lord! I’d better not drink any more wine then, if people are going to run for cover every time I gesture.”

Stormaway did not try to reassure him, “I think it would be wise to be careful. They have no reason to love you… And anyone branded a rogue sorcerer is bound to be feared.”

“What!” Tarkyn was stunned. “Is that what they are saying? A rogue sorcerer?”

“I’m afraid so, young man.”

Panic flared in the young prince’s eyes. “But I’m not a madman. I defied the king but the rest… the rest just happened.”

“So it would seem – but the evidence against you is quite damning. You fled, leaving a pile of corpses behind you. The popular belief is that you went berserk in the Great Hall and lashed out at everyone in sight.”

The colour drained from Tarkyn’s face. “No! No. I thought the truth was bad enough… It’s bad enough being branded a traitor. But a rogue sorcerer!” He dropped his eyes to the fire and said in quiet despair, “They will proclaim it across the kingdom, you know. I will be hunted down like a rabid dog.” After a few moments, he frowned, “Why didn’t you kill me as soon as you knew who I was?”

Stormaway picked up a branch and stirred the fire. “Ah. I thought you might ask that.”

“And the answer?”

“Well, to be perfectly honest with you…” began the wizard.

“No, Stormaway. Please,” said Tarkyn wearily. “Don’t lie.”

The wizard scowled at the prince and said sharply, “I don’t think, young man, that you are in a position to take your welcome for granted. A little civility would be appreciated.”

Oh ho. So now the claws are out. “In case you hadn’t notice, Stormaway, I said, ‘Please.’ Frankly, I am too confused and too overloaded to cope with any more of your games tonight.”

“You are too smart by half, my young buck,” snapped the wizard. “I think you should consider your position very carefully. If I send you away from here, what chance will you have of survival?”

The prince lifted his head from his contemplation of the fire and raised supercilious eyebrows. “I would say that depends very much on whether you choose to kill me once my back is turned. Other than that, I am prepared to take my chances. At least I now know what I’m up against. And I can assure you that I have no intention of becoming a slave to your every whim to buy myself safety.”

The wizard grunted. “Stinking Tamadils! So stinking arrogant! You’re no better than the rest of them, that’s obvious.”

“You’re no shrinking violet yourself,” retorted the prince and then added for good measure, “except when you’re prevaricating!”

They locked gazes for so long that it became a battle of the wills.

Finally Tarkyn said quietly, “Stormaway, I find your behaviour towards me offensive. You may have the right to be master of your hearth and forest. But you do not have, nor ever will have, the right to be my master.” The young prince drew his cloak around him and rose to tower over the wizard, sending bizarre shadows dancing up into the trees. “You will treat me with respect, or not at all.”

Then he strode off into the dark, leaving Stormaway to contemplate his words.

The wizard’s eyes narrowed in appreciation, “He’s his father’s son, that one.” As the minutes ticked by and Tarkyn did not return, Stormaway started muttering to himself. “Oh well done! You wait for years to see him and then you antagonise him. Brilliant! Your age is really serving you well. Now you’ve got him up on his high horse –and let’s face it – it’s all because you didn’t like him rumbling your tactics. He’s pretty sharp. You’re going to have to do better than this if you don’t want to lose him.”

A resounding crash made the wizard jump as a branch landed on the fire, thrown from behind him. Stormaway swung around to find Tarkyn standing behind him, casually leaning against a tree, arms and legs crossed and looking as though he had been there all evening. Even more disconcertingly, he was grinning.

“Come on then. Out with it! Why don’t you want to lose me?”

Mindful of the prince’s stricture, the old wizard began to scramble to his feet but was waved to stay where he was. Reassured, Stormaway said grumpily, “Blast you, Your Highness! You shouldn’t eavesdrop on a man’s conversation.”

The grin broadened. “I agree. I apologise. Still, the question remains… given that I did overhear you…Why don’t you want to lose me?”

The wizard looked distinctly flustered. “To be perfectly honest with you…” he began. In response to the prince’s delicately raised eyebrow, he re-iterated firmly, “To be perfectly honest with you, Sire, it’s complicated and will take a bit of telling…and to be perfectly honest,” Stormaway continued with a challenge in his eye, “I would rather tell you when you have a better gauge of my calibre.”

“I see,” said Tarkyn slowly, “At least, I don’t see but I will accept that you don’t want to tell me yet. Frustrating, but at least honest.” He grinned, “And at least someone doesn’t want to lose me. That has to be an improvement.”