The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) (31 page)

Tarkyn glanced at him out of his blackened eye. “I don’t think it’s that simple. Every time I try to channel my strength into an injured part of me, I re-live the damage actually being done to me. Then the shock jolts me out of my concentration.” He ran his hand through his hair, “I wish Stormaway were here. He would know what to do.”

“Yes. I don’t know that Summer Rain will know much about this focusing business you use in your magic.”

Tarkyn shook his head despondently, “That’s what I’m worried about. But who would know?”

Thunder Storm scratched his head, “Well, the only other person around here who knows about your kind of magic is Danton.”

“But he knows nothing about my healing power.”

“I don’t know about that. He saw you fighting against that hideous infection and healing Rushwind. And he must use the focusing  techniques himself.”

Tarkyn let out a long sigh. “All right. I’ll try with him.” He lowered his voice, “I’ll need someone else to watch our backs if we’re both trying to concentrate.”

Thunder Storm raised his eyebrows and rumbled quietly, “Don’t worry. We won’t leave you alone again.” And in a louder voice, said, “I think you’ll find Danton down near the stream competing with Rainstorm in a little slingshot competition they’ve devised. I’ll walk down with you and we’ll see what they’re up to, shall we?”

Just as they were leaving the clearing, Dry Berry bustled up, “There you are, Tarkyn. You’ve missed breakfast altogether. It won’t be long until lunchtime now. Look. I’ve brought you a cup of tea and some seed cakes to keep you going until then.” She thrust them into his hands and then stepped back, obviously feeling awkward but wanting to be friendly.

Tarkyn looked down at the offerings in his hands and said, “Thank you Dry Berry. These look very good. I’m just going down to the stream to watch the spectacle of Danton trying to beat a woodman at slingshot. So I’ll take them with me, if you don’t mind.” He waited as she clearly had something more to say.

After a moment, she came out with it, “Just so you know; I was not aware yesterday evening, that some of our men had taken Danton and your two woodfolk captive. I was not leading you on again in our conversation over dinner.”

“I see,” said Tarkyn. “Thank you for telling me that. I hadn’t really thought about it, but now you mention it, perhaps it was niggling at the back of my mind.”

She cocked her head to one side, “Young man, you do not seem to be doing much about healing yourself. Are you leaving your injuries as a deliberate reminder to us of our shameful behaviour?”

Tarkyn shook his head, “No, Dry Berry. All that was needed to be said, was said yesterday.” He paused, summing her up before deciding to continue, “No. The memories of the attack are stopping me from healing myself. I can’t focus my will properly.”

“Take your own advice, young man. Don’t let your past control  your future.”

When Tarkyn looked a little puzzled, Dry Berry said impatiently, “You said it last night when you came back from your swim. You said, ‘We cannot change what has happened. All we can change is the effect that it has on our future relationship.’”

Tarkyn’s brow cleared, “Oh yes. So I did.”

“So don’t let the actions of those bullies control you. Fight them. You couldn’t fight them yesterday because you were bound and helpless. But you can fight them today.”

Comprehension dawned. “Thank you, Dry Berry. I think I know what to do now.” Tarkyn glanced at Thunder Storm, “I still might need that tree first, though. Thanks Dry Berry. I will tell you how I go.”

“You won’t need to,” she said in her abrupt way, “One look at your face will give me an update.” Seeing Tarkyn immediately close up, she added kindly, “I will be interested to hear how you achieve it though.”

Appreciating her good intentions but not convinced of her genuine interest, Tarkyn gave a slight smile and replied noncommittally, “Hmm, we’ll see. There mightn’t be anything worth telling.”

Tarkyn was deep in thought as they walked the short distance to the stream. Suddenly he stopped Thunder Storm and said, “Don’t say anything to Danton about it yet. I think it is Waterstone I need. So let’s leave it for now. It will just have to wait until he wakes up. Let’s go and watch these two battling it out with their slingshots.”

When they arrived, Tarkyn and Thunder Storm sat themselves off to one side and watched Rainstorm and Danton taking it in turns to hit a series of differently weighted rocks that were balanced on top of a large stump. It soon became clear that it was more of a training session than a competition. Even more intriguing, it was the young woodman who was teaching the experienced guardsman. As they watched, a medium sized rock was hit by Danton and rolled off the back of the stump. Far from being pleased, Danton scowled in frustration. After a few minutes they broke off their activities and came over to join Tarkyn.

“Hi prince,” said Rainstorm cheerily. “You look awful. Just thought I’d mention that. Looking at your face, I can tell you if they weren’t dead yesterday, they’d be dead today. Bloody bastards!”

Tarkyn smiled, “Hello Rainstorm. What are you two up to?”

Rainstorm beamed, “We’re trying to take the lethal out of Danton’s slingshot style. We’re practising hitting rocks without dislodging them. The lighter the rock, the lighter the touch needed to leave it in place.”

Tarkyn raised his eyebrows at Danton, “So I presume that last rock you knocked off is another hapless woodman that you’ve killed instead of knocking out?”

Danton grimaced, “Something like that. I’m getting better though. Actually, I hadn’t dislodged one for quite a while. Perhaps I was distracted by you arriving.”

“Maybe. If that’s the case, I’ll have to turn up regularly so that you can learn to deal with being distracted,” said Tarkyn lightly.

A slight noise off to their left made Tarkyn’s head whip around in sudden alarm.

Rainstorm frowned at him in concern, “Just me throwing a couple of pebbles, Tarkyn. Take it easy.”

Tarkyn nodded, let out a held breath, and returned his attention to their conversation. “Sorry. What were we saying?”

“Nothing important,” said Danton. “Just about me being distracted. You seem to be a lot more easily distracted than I am at the moment.”

Tarkyn grimaced, “Maybe I just need something to keep me busy.” He gave a slight smile, “Let me have a go at your stones.”

They walked back over to the target range and Rainstorm offered Tarkyn a slingshot. The sorcerer shook his head with a smile and sent a bronze shaft of light spearing towards the rocks. He then neatly hit each rock one after the other, without dislodging any one of them.

The two woodmen and Danton were wide eyed in admiration.

Tarkyn laughed, “Marvellous, isn’t it?” He waited for a moment, then confessed, “In fact, none of my shafts touched the rocks. I made them all stop just before impact. I don’t know if I can actually hit them with the right degree of force or not. Have you tried using your power, Danton?”

Danton shook his head, “I didn’t think it would be polite when Rainstorm is specifically teaching me about slingshots.”

“Ooh, I’m in trouble now, Rainstorm,” smiled Tarkyn. “I think I’ve been impolite.”

Danton frowned, “Your Highness,…. ” he began.

“Definitely in trouble, Rainstorm. He’s come over all formal on me again.”

Rainstorm was grinning hugely but Danton looked flustered.

“Your Highness, I beg your pardon.  I didn’t mean to imply you were rude,” he said in a rush before either of them could interrupt him.

Tarkyn clapped him on the shoulder. “I know Danton. I’m just teasing. Relax.” He waited until he felt Danton relax under his hand, “Come on, my friend. I bet Rainstorm and Thunder Storm would love to see some of your magic. Besides, the instructions are probably much the same. Just a different weapon.”

“Yes. Come on, Danton. That would really be something if I could instruct a sorcerer in the use of his magic.” Rainstorm chortled, “I could be a famous sorcerer trainer. The only one in the woodfolk world.”

Thunder Storm shook his head, “You’re all mad.”

Tarkyn looked at him, “What about you, Thunder Storm? Strut your stuff. Show us how it’s done.”

Thunder Storm shook his head, “I wouldn’t like to show you all up,” he said with one of his sudden flashes of humour.

Rainstorm was smiling privately. “Go on, Thunder Storm. Make them rock.”

Thunder Storm shrugged, drew his slingshot and, after casually sending forth a barrage of small stones towards the targets, replaced it in his belt. When Tarkyn and Danton looked at the target, every rock on the stump was rocking gently back and forth but remaining in place.

“Oh. Is that what you meant when you said ‘Make them rock’?” said Danton, blinking in astonishment. “On my oath, Thunder Storm, you are good! That is amazing.”

Thunder Storm gave a slow smile, “Thanks. So now let’s see some of your magic.”

“Okay, here goes.”

A streak of aqua ripped through the air and blasted every rock on the stump to pieces.

Danton blushed, “Oops.”

“Not much subtlety there then,” said Thunder Storm phlegmatically.

Rainstorm and Tarkyn caught each other’s eye and grinned broadly at each other. Then, despite their best efforts not to, they laughed and then kept laughing until the tears rolled down their faces.

When they had recovered the power of speech, Rainstorm commented, “Nice coloured magic, Danton,” which promptly set them off again.

Danton stood there with his arms crossed, a reluctant smile playing around his lips until they had recovered themselves.

“Thanks Danton,” said Tarkyn, grinning and gingerly wiping his eyes. “I needed that.”

“Always glad to be of service, Sire,” said Danton dryly, giving an ironic little bow.

“I think, since we are now lacking a target, it might be good time to break and go back for lunch,” suggested Thunder Storm.

The others nodded and headed up the path.

Chapter
25

As they neared the Mountainfolk’s firesite, Tarkyn gradually became more distant and withdrawn so that by the time they arrived, he had become carefully courteous with everyone. There was nothing he wanted to do less than sit around with his blatantly battered face, sharing lunch and conversation with the people who had jeered at him yesterday. All the oaths in the world would not wipe their previous behaviour from his mind.

Today they were all apparently friendly towards him and at some pains to make amends. Only the importance of repairing the rift within the woodfolk nation kept him seated at the firesite. When he judged he had spent the minimum time possible there to be polite, he stayed another half an hour to make sure. Then, with his duty done, he smiled, thanked them for the lunch and escaped, pleading a headache which he did in fact have.

He sent a message to Sparrow, asking her to meet him. In less than a minute, she came bounding up, “Hi Tarkyn. Did you want me?”

“Yes. I was just wondering if you think Waterstone would have had enough sleep yet. What do you think?”

Sparrow looked at him, “Did you want to see him?”

Tarkyn nodded, “But I don’t want to wake him up. He was up all night, you know.”

Before he could stop her, Sparrow went out of focus. Then she smiled, “He’s coming.”

Tarkyn frowned, “No Sparrow. I didn’t want you to wake him.”

“Yes, but h
e
di
d
want me to wake him. He said if you needed him, to wake him up. So I did.”

“I’m not sure that he meant like this. He probably just meant if
I
reall
y
needed him.”

Sparrow put her head on one side and looked up at him, “I think yo
u
reall
y
need him or you wouldn’t have asked if he’s awake yet. You would just have waited.”

Tarkyn was still looking at her trying to work out whether or not that was true, when Waterstone walked up, ruffling his hands back and forth through his hair and yawning.

“Sorry Waterstone.  I only asked Sparrow when she thought you’d wake up. I didn’t ask her to wake you.

Waterstone smiled at Sparrow, “Good girl.” He looked at Tarkyn, “What about a cup of tea then?” Seeing the hesitation on Tarkyn’s face, he turned back to Sparrow, “Do you think you could get us cups of tea and bring them down to the stream?”

She smiled and nodded before heading off to the firesite.

As they turned and walked from the clearing, Waterstone asked, “Are you okay?”

Tarkyn glanced around at the surrounding trees and sent Waterstone a query.

After a brief pause, Waterstone reported, “No one in earshot. One of theirs over to the left. One of ours more towards the stream.”

“Who?”

“Ancient Oak, actually.”

Tarkyn breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I can relax then.” He sent a wave of greeting up to Ancient Oak in passing.

Waterstone repeated the question, “So, are you all right?”

“Yes and no. Mostly no, I suppose. Thanks for getting up. I should have just waited. I didn’t realise Sparrow would get you up on the spot.”