The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) (51 page)

“We are fine. Dad’s off doing something with Danton at the moment but he’ll be back soon. Tarkyn has had a very hard time but he is nearly better now.”

Tarkyn frowned, “What do you mean
,
nearl
y
better?”

Sparrow giggled, “You still jump at sudden noises sometimes, you know. Rain on Water and I have been watching you. We threw a rock into the bushes yesterday as you walked past, just to see you jump.”

“This is the sympathy I get,” he said wryly, smiling at Sparrow. Then Tarkyn raised his eyes to meet the wizard’s fleetingly before looking away again.

“I begin to realise that I have been away too long,” said the wizard gently. “I am sorry for that, my lord. The affairs of the realm are moving fast and I became involved in the intrigue at the encampment.” He patted Tarkyn firmly on the back, “Perhaps I need to remember that my first loyalty is to you, not to Eskuzor.”

“Is it? I was not sure of that, Stormaway. I thought perhaps your care for me sprang solely from my value to Eskuzor. All the portents you saw were, after all, why my father and you worked to protect me.”

Stormaway threw a speaking glance in Sparrow’s direction and made no reply. Tarkyn gave the little girl a pat on the head, “Would you mind if we had a chat on our own now, Sparrow?”

Sparrow rolled her eyes, “I know. Adult’s business. I’ll go and see if I can find Midnight,” and skipped off.

“Tarkyn, that is true. I do care about what you may offer Eskuzor in the future and I have worked on your behalf long before I knew you as a grown man. But it is not for me to decide the fate of Eskuzor. Her future is in your hands, not mine. And so, to support Eskuzor, I must support you.” The old wizard took a deep breath and met the prince’s amber eyes, “But my care for you runs deeper than that. Your father was my dearest friend. We may have fallen out over various issues from time to time but despite it all, our friendship ran strong and true over many years. He loved you as a child and so did I. And there is enough of your father in you that I feel a strong connection with you that you probably do not return. I suspect I feel that I know you better than I actually do.” Stormaway shrugged, “So, there it is. I know you find me tiresome and old fashioned at times. And I know I make you angry. But I have pledged my life to you, for your sake and for your father’s sake and, last of all, for the sake of Eskuzor.”

Tarkyn half raised a hand then let it drop, “I don’t know what to say, Stormaway. I’m sorry I doubted your intentions and I am sorry if I have treated you overly harshly in the past.”  He gave a rueful smile, “Perhaps whatever it was that set you at odds with my father, exists also in me. I have noticed that I get up on my high horse more with you than with anyone else. On the other hand, you try to dictate my behaviour more than anyone else.” He shrugged, “But I can tell you this; I value your support and your wisdom and knowledge. And I have never had greater need of them than I do now.”

Chapter
41

While Tarkyn filled in Stormaway on the events that he had missed, Danton and Waterstone were slipping quietly through the undergrowth, searching for two missing sorcerers. When Journeyman and his troop of sorcerers had reached the area covered by the next group of woodfolk, there had still been nine horses but two riders had seemed rather stiff and lifeless. Closer inspection had revealed that these riders were, in fact, stuffed dummies. Somewhere along the way, two sorcerers had detached themselves from the main party and disappeared into the forest.

Waterstone kept in constant contact with all lookouts but it seemed that these sorcerers were skilled at moving unnoticed or had gone to ground. The lookouts could not possibly cover every part of the forest so there were many places where the sorcerers would be able to move undetected. However, they would not know which places these were, so sooner or later they would be spotted. Above Waterstone and Danton, high in the trees, another six woodfolk were fanned out scanning the ground below them for any signs of movement.

Finally, after more than an hour of searching, Ancient Oak sent through a message to say that a sorcerer had been spotted, sitting quietly against a tree, beneath the overhang of a bush, eating some of his provisions. Waterstone and Danton changed their direction of travel to intercept him.

“What do you think?” whispered Waterstone. “Will they be together or will they be trying to come at Tarkyn from different directions?”

Danton considered, “If I were running this operation, I would spread my men out, to give more chance of surprise. I would hope that even if one were found, the other might get through.”

“So you think that this one will be alone?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but I think so.”

“We’ll need to keep looking for the other one then.” When Danton nodded, Waterstone continued, “And how do they know where to find Tarkyn?”

Danton shook his head, “I don’t think they do. I think they are searching systematically. I suspect they have taken a quarter each and are working their way outward from the clearing where they last saw us in the two most likely directions.”

“So, this is probably the only one who is anywhere near Tarkyn. The other is probably more towards the southeast. Do you agree?”

“Yes, I think so. Perhaps the mountainfolk could join the search for that one.” Danton crept closer through the trees, all the while keeping his eye on Waterstone for any signals from the woodfolk stationed above. “What are we going to do with them when we find them?”

“What did Tarkyn say to Journeyman?”

“He said he would show less mercy next time.” Danton stopped dead and pushed himself flat against the tree. “He’s on the move,” he hissed.

Waterstone went out of focus to talk to the woodfolk in the trees. When he refocused, he asked quietly, “No shield. Why?”

“Attracts attention. So while he is trying to be discreet, he is vulnerable.”

“Hmm, we don’t really know what Tarkyn would want, do we?”

Danton shook his head, “No. I think you had better knock this sorcerer out while we consult him. I don’t think we can assume that Tarkyn would want them killed. What do you think?”

Waterstone gave a short nod and went out of focus. A moment later, there was a crash nearby followed by a dull thud, as the hapless sorcerer collapsed into a bush and then fell senseless to the ground. The woodman grinned, “One down. One to go.”

Ancient Oak swung nimbly down the tree and tied the man’s hands behind his back. He brushed his hands off, “There we are, big brother. All tied up neat and tidy. I’ll send a message through to fetch Tarkyn then, shall I?”

Not long afterwards, they received notice that the other sorcerer had met with a similar fate.

“Good,” said Waterstone with some satisfaction. “Now I’ll ask the mountainfolk to secure their sorcerer and bring him over here before he wakes. Then we’ll clear off and leave you and Tarkyn to decide their fate.”

However, when Tarkyn arrived, it was clear that he was not pleased to discover that all this activity had occurred without his knowledge.

“Your Highness,” protested Danton, reverting to formality in the face of the prince’s displeasure, “Our job is to guard you and that is what we have done. You cannot be involved in every aspect of everyone’s lives.”

“I don’t wish to be, but I do wish to be kept informed of any danger that threatens either the woodfolk or myself. I don’t think that is unreasonable. I have no intention of rushing off and dealing with every incident but I would like to know and to have an oversight of events.”

“But Sire, I am informing you now.”

“Not good enough, Danton,” said Tarkyn shortly, firmly closing the discussion. He turned to consider the two sorcerers lying trussed up on the ground. “So, Wizard Journeyman didn’t take his defeat lying down. I can’t say I’m surprised. It was a long way to come, to turn back so easily.” He frowned down at the unconscious men. “So, I must keep my word that I will show less mercy but at the same time, I do not wish to add to my already dire reputation.”

“Waterstone and I thought that you might not want them killed outright, Sire.”

“Good of you to consider my wishes,” replied the prince acerbically. “Hmm, I think we need do no more than send them on their way with a note in their pocket to the effect that our intelligence network is everywhere and that next time, a surreptitious attempt to approach me will mean their deaths.”

Danton looked confused, “And how is that showing less mercy, my lord?”

Tarkyn gave an unsettling smile, “Just wait. You will see.”

As he spoke, the sorcerers showed the first signs of regaining consciousness. When they were sufficiently recovered, Tarkyn asked Danton to sit them up and give them both a drink of water.

Tarkyn sat himself on a nearby log and waited until he had their attention, “Good afternoon, gentlemen. As I recall, your names are Rorlan and Mandron. I believe you have come seeking an audience with me?”

The two sorcerers looked at each other, obviously wondering at the prince’s credulity.

Tarkyn leaned forward, “No, obviously that was not your intention. If not for my extensive intelligence system, your ploy to catch me unawares might possibly have succeeded.” He shrugged, “But unfortunately for you, your chances of catching me unaware are almost non-existent. More water?” he asked urbanely.

Tarkyn’s courtly courtesy was unnerving the sorcerers. Despite the cool weather, a faint sweat had broken out on each of them. They nodded for more water but clearly more to humour Tarkyn than because they needed it. The prince waited until they had finished and then said pleasantly, “And does either of you have anything you would like to say to me before I reveal your fates?”

Danton watched in fascination as Tarkyn’s urbane manner slowly destroyed the two men’s defences.

“No, Your Highness,” muttered Rorlan, “I can think of nothing to say. You know why we are here. You have already said you would show no mercy if we were caught. So… ”

Tarkyn shook his head regretfully and said with a gentleness that froze their blood, “No, Rorlan. I can see that your memory is deficient. I didn’t say that I would show no mercy. I said I would sho
w
les
s
mercy.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” growled Mandron, almost quivering with trepidation. “That you will torture us or maim us but not kill us? I think I would rather die.”

Tarkyn smiled sweetly, “And yet I don’t recall asking you your opinion.” He paused, the silence even more intimidating as his words. “So, to give me some idea of how to proceed, what fate did you envisage for me, had you succeeded in capturing me?”

The sorcerers stared wild-eyed at each other, the sweat standing out in beads on their foreheads now.

“Imprisonment, my lord,” said Mandron tightly.

“Really? And yet I am sure I have been told that it is now the death sentence that I’m facing.” Tarkyn crossed his legs and made himself comfortable, “Do you know, Mandron, there is one quality above all that will raise my ire.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Deceit, Mandron. Deceit.”Tarkyn’s voice hardened, “Never, whatever you do, lie to me or humour me, or your fate will be considerably worse than the one I have mapped out for you.” His voice softened again. “Now, are we clear on that, Mandron?”

“Yes, my lord. I beg your pardon, my lord.”

“Now, to whose service are you two sworn?” asked Tarkyn in a slightly more business-like manner.

“No one’s, Your Highness. We are mercenaries, Sire,” replied Rorlan.

“And how did that come about? When I left, everyone was sworn to a lord’s house.”

Rorlan shook his head, “Not everyone, Sire. Not merchants and townspeople. Only the people on the land. Now merchants and tradesmen go in fear of their lives and their livelihoods because of the rampant gangs. So, many of us have turned to soldiering to keep safe and to make some money.”

“So, with all of that to contend with, why do you waste your energy on coming after me?” asked Tarkyn, for the moment forgetting to maintain his fearsomely smooth courtesy.

“For the reward, of course. You are worth more than I would make in ten years of soldiering.”

Tarkyn stood up abruptly, causing Rorlan to flinch away. The prince glanced at his reaction but other than that, ignored it. He paced up and down a few times before turning to confront the two bound men.

“So, have you no care for the future of Eskazor? Is money your only motivation?”

There was an uneasy silence as the men glanced at each other then dropped their eyes. After a few moments, Rorlan looked up and said, “There is no one worth following. There is no future for Eskuzor. The king plays games with his brother, using people as pawns. Soon they will be encamped on opposite sides of the kingdom, preparing their forces to fight each other in futile battles that will leave hundreds maimed or dead, and farmlands destroyed. While Jarand is alive, Kosar cannot rule.” He gave a bitter laugh. “I doubt whether Kosar knows how to rule anyway. His mind has no concept or care for the needs of the people.”

Tarkyn began to pace back and forth again, sweeping his hand distractedly through his long black hair. He stopped again before the two men and sat down as abruptly as he had stood, “I am more sorry than I can say to hear of the state of Eskuzor and to know that my brothers are bringing such despair and ruin to her. I am also sorry to find people like you with nothing left to believe in. I do not take that as a fault in you but more as a failure in my brother to protect the nation as he should.” He shook his head despondently, “Danton, I don’t think I will be able to stand by and let this continue. I don’t yet know what I can do to stop it but I cannot allow them to destroy Eskuzor.” He heaved a sigh and focused once more on the two men before him, “And as for you two…”