The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) (57 page)

“Danton, remove your shield!” ordered Tarkyn.

As the aqua shield winked out, the flow of deep blue power spiralled above the mountainfolk, slowly spreading out until it covered all of them. Then it whirled gradually down into their midst, almost obscuring them from view.

Pipeless looked at Tarkyn, “I can only remove the curse from here forwards. My son must repair the damage it has already caused.”

“I know. I have explained to Midnight what he must do. Since he is with you, you must support him. It will not be easy for him.”

Then Tarkyn instructed Midnight to let his father go and to turn around, so that he was facing the mountainfolk. Reluctantly, the little woodman sorcerer let go of his newly found father and, drawing in a deep breath, turned around. He glanced at Tarkyn and put his hand over his heart. Tarkyn returned the gesture and for a moment they just looked at each other.

Then Midnight exhaled and, with his father’s arm around his waist holding him from behind, he flung his arms wide and sent forth, through Tarkyn, all his memories of his time with his mother and the mountainfolk. As each memory hit the people involved, the blue haze around them sizzled and crackled as their own warped memory of the event was challenged and destroyed. The blue around Hail was constantly fizzing and popping as memory after memory of Midnight’s hit her. By the time the fizzing and crackling had slowed down and stopped, Midnight was quivering all over and only his father’s arm kept his knees from buckling under him.

Then slowly, the soft, deep blue swirls lifted lazily from amongst the mountainfolk and curled up and over them to stream back towards Midnight. Gradually he was bathed in a strong, deep blue light and as it warmed him, he began to really understand what the curse had done, both to him and to the mountainfolk. And once he understood, with his heart and his head, some of the tension left his body, his eyes lost their haunted look and he could see the mountainfolk more as he saw the home guard. But despite understanding, he could not fully forgive them for what they had done to him. And then, as he realised that the true source of his suffering was the strange misty wizard holding him, Midnight twisted out of his grip and ran to Tarkyn who swung him up into his arms and hugged him tight.

Pipeless straightened up and towered once more above them. “I see he has worked it out,” he said sadly. “I thank you for looking after him, and you too, String and Bean. I am glad that woodfolk and sorcerers are beginning to live together. It was too soon for Hail and me.” He glanced speakingly at Lapping Water, the nearest woodwoman. “Perhaps you will do better in the future, Your Highness?”

Tarkyn promptly turned brick red. 

The huge, misty wizard gave a grunt of amusement and turned to Hail who was standing far from him on the other side of the gathering, “And to you, Hail, nothing will repair what I have done but I am truly sorry.”

Hail glared back at him, saying nothing.

He shrugged, “She is wise not to trust me. I would no longer trust myself. But as I am not staying….” He turned to Tarkyn, “How much longer do I have?”

“It is straining me to keep you here now. Midnight, say goodbye.” Tarkyn matched images to words but with a hint of compulsion. He did not want Midnight to regret missing his last chance.

Midnight looked up at his huge looming father and waved half-heartedly. As the wizard waved back, he began to melt into the ground starting at the feet and moving upwards. Before their eyes, he sank and dissipated, flowing outward into the earth around him until he was lost from sight.

For a long time, no one spoke. The mountainfolk were coming to terms with their past treatment of Midnight and everyone was still stunned by the apparition they had all witnessed and survived.

For a while there was silence but gradually, far in the distance could be heard the sound of the wind brushing through the trees. As they listened, it drew closer until it rushed up through the pines on the mountainside and blasted across the clearing through the people gathered there. It was so strong that it nearly blew out the great fire in the middle of the gathering. Then it was gone as suddenly as it came and a silent detonation shook the ground beneath their feet. Everyone exchanged glances.

“Was that the aftermath of Pipeless returning to the forest?” asked Rainstorm quietly.

Stormaway shook his head. “No. I’m afraid not.” He grimaced and unconsciously drew his cloak around him, “That was the sound of the oath binding the honour of you people gathered here, to the welfare of the forest.”

“Oh no, not again. Not more resentment,” murmured Rainstorm, glancing at the prince. “Don’t worry Tarkyn, we are here to support you.”

Tarkyn met his eyes briefly but his face, already white with fatigue, was stiff with tension. He stood holding Midnight, rigidly awaiting the reactions of the mountainfolk and the independently minded trappers.

Dry Berry stomped up and stood, arms on hips, in front of Tarkyn. “Young man, stop looking so worried. I don’t think there is a man, woman or child among us who doesn’t owe their future to you. You have looked a dead man in the face and bent him to your will to save us all. Most of us have already sworn an oath to you on our honour. We will keep our word. Despite having to fight against the curse we, as a group of mountainfolk, have managed to hold true, even if some amongst us struggled. The forest’s welfare is safe with us and so are you.” Suddenly she smiled, “In fact it is an honour that the sorcery in the oath now includes us. We must now be a reasonably safe bet.”

Tarkyn managed a tired smile.

Dry Berry cackled, “Come one. Come and sit down, and have something to drink before you drop. Your little wood sorcerer has gone to sleep so I won’t offer him anything but I think we all have a lot to make up to him, if he’ll let us.”

Part 9: The Rest Day

Chapter
46

Early the next morning, at that time when children wake up full of energy and adults yearn to sleep on, Midnight landed with a thump on top of a sleeping, weary Tarkyn. Tarkyn opened one eye and raised enough energy to suggest that Midnight head off to find Thunder Storm, Lapping Water or Rainstorm. By the time Midnight looked hesitant, Tarkyn was already asleep again. Midnight eyed him for a few minutes, deciding whether to jump up and down on him again. Then he thought about it and realised that Tarkyn didn’t usually fob him off onto other people. He peered closer and realised that the prince was very soundly asleep. On balance, he decided to leave Tarkyn and venture outside on his own.

When he pulled back the brush screening and crawled outside, the little wood sorcerer found himself surrounded by an array of dishes full of carefully chosen berries, dried fruits, cheeses, bite-size pieces of venison, soft, freshly baked bread rolls and a variety of fruit juices. His eyes widened and he looked longingly at them all, but he was not about to start a new day by being accused of stealing a special feast prepared for Tarkyn. So he repressed his hunger and threaded his way past the dishes out into the clearing.

Despite the early hour, the mountainfolk, young and old, were waiting for him. Finding himself surrounded, Midnight panicked and tried to flick into hiding, but a firm grip on each of his shoulders prevented him. He thrashed wildly from side to side only to find Lapping Water and Rainstorm smiling reassuringly at him. When he pulled himself together and turned back to the mountainfolk, he realised that everyone was smiling and welcoming him.

The diminutive figure of Dry Berry came forward and led Midnight back to the plates of food, pointing at him and then at the food. In response, Midnight pointed at the food and then at Tarkyn’s shelter with a look of query. Dry Berry shook her head and reiterated that the special foods were all for him.

In a daze, he sat down within the ring of platters and looked around at everyone, frowning uncertainly. Rainstorm and Lapping Water sat on either side of him to keep him feeling safe. After a minute, he tentatively reached for a soft doughy roll, expecting at any moment to have his hand slapped away. When he was sure that he really could help himself to whatever he liked, he reached for more rolls and offered them with a hesitant smile to Rainstorm and Lapping Water. Then he gestured for all the watching mountainfolk to help themselves, before burying his face self-consciously in Lapping Waters’ shoulder.

Dry Berry smiled down at him, “He really is such a kind little boy.” She shook her head, “That curse was so cruel.”

Lapping Water gently pulled Midnight’s head away from her shoulder and handed him a strawberry to give him something to look at, other than the ring of faces around him. During the next half hour, as he sat eating with Rainstorm and Lapping Water, every member of the mountainfolk walked up to him and tousled his hair, patted him on the arm or simply caught his eye to signal their friendship. No sorcerers were in sight. It was purely a woodfolk gesture to welcome Midnight back into the fold and to thank him for his part in dismantling the curse. Only Hail was conspicuous by her absence but if Midnight noticed, he gave no indication.

Chapter
47

The dawn gave way to a bright, clear morning; a morning deserved by the celebration of the mountainfolk’s release from the curse. The atmosphere around the firesite was relaxed and cheerful. No longer was there any sense of distance between the mountainfolk and the home guard. The woodfolk were once more a united people.

Only now were they enjoying each other’s company as they would normally expect to, and because of this, the home guard had decided to postpone their departure until early the following day.

At eight o’clock, Rainstorm popped his head into Tarkyn’s shelter to let him know who the next lookouts would be and where they would be stationed. Tarkyn barely registered the information, and merely grunted, before rolling over and going back to sleep.

In the middle of the morning, Tarkyn finally emerged, feeling drained. As soon as he appeared, Midnight dropped what he was doing and rushed over, full of excited images of his special breakfast and of him playing with the other kids. He launched himself up into Tarkyn’s arms, flung his arms around his neck and gave him a big hug. Tarkyn hugged him in return but moments later Midnight pulled away, jumped down and rushed off again. Tarkyn smiled after him for a few moments before ambling down to splash his face at the small stream that ran through the coarse grass of the hillside. The water did little to revive him and he was soon snoozing again, this time on a grassy spot next to the stream. He dozed away, occasionally stirring himself enough to prop himself up on one elbow to watch the kids playing with Midnight before drifting off again. Interestingly no one, not even Midnight, came near him for the rest of the morning.

Midnight and the other children were having a marvellous time playing with the little wood sorcerer’s new shield. He would raise the glowing dark green haze around himself and they would run and throw themselves against it. Then he placed the shield around all of them and they would try to crawl out from underneath. The children were fascinated by it and spent a long time, inside and out, running their hands along its surface and peering through it to see how everything looked with a dark green tinge to it.

Further away, a group of young woodfolk including Rainstorm, Lapping Water and North Wind were gathered, chatting and laughing. Tarkyn would have liked to join them but couldn’t raise the energy. So he lay back and just watched them from where he was.

The attack, when it came, was two-pronged and carefully orchestrated by Ancient Oak and Rainstorm.

At noon, Ancient Oak wandered past Tarkyn, told him the names of the new set of lookouts who were taking over the watch and mentioned that two of them would be changing position so that they wouldn’t be looking directly into the sun. A faint frown flickered across Tarkyn’s face but he was too tired to concentrate properly. He nodded and closed his eyes again.

A short time later, Ancient Oak returned bearing one of Summer Rain’s hideous tasting tonics, two steaming cups of tea and some soft rolls filled with meat and cheese. He sat down next to Tarkyn and having placed their lunch carefully on the lumpy grassy bank, prodded his adoptive brother firmly in the ribs.

“Come on, Sleepy Head. We’ve left you alone for long enough. If you’re still tired now, I’m afraid I’m going to have to force this tonic down you.”

Tarkyn groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes and pushing his hair back off his face. “Oh no! How to ruin a perfect morning.” He yawned, “Oh stars! I can’t believe how tired I am.” He gave a wry smile, “Go on then. Give it to me.” He took the proffered drink and slugged it down. “Aagh, that’s awful!” he said with a grimace and a shudder, “How does she do it?”

Ancient Oak grinned. “Years of practice.” He frowned as he studied Tarkyn, “Are you all right? You don’t look too good.”

For an answer, Tarkyn flopped back down and then propped himself up on one elbow. “I’m fine, I think. I’m just bone weary.”

“It’s been a taxing few days, one way and another.” Ancient Oak handed Tarkyn his cup of tea and a roll. He considered him for a few moments before saying, “I’m proud of you, little brother. Do you know that? What you did last night took enormous courage. I’m not surprised you’re tired.”

Tarkyn looked at him curiously and frowned in thought as he sipped his tea. Eventually he smiled.

“What?” asked Ancient Oak.

“It’s such a proprietal emotion; to be proud of someone.” His smile broadened, “It feels nice, to belong to someone enough that they feel proud of me. Thanks.”

Ancient Oak gave his head a little shake, “Waterstone was right about you. You are a strange mixture.”

“Of what?”

“Vulnerability and strength.”

Tarkyn looked at him quizzically, “Isn’t everyone?”

Ancient Oak laughed, “I suppose so.” After a moment, he added, “I’m not sure about Waterstone though. He seems as solid as a rock, through and through.”

Tarkyn raised his eyebrows, leaned in closer and said in a conspiratorial undertone, “Afraid of horses, you know.” Then he rocked back and laughed at Ancient Oak’s look of amazement.

“I never knew that! How did you find that out?”

“He objected too much to my proposal that we use horses for the rescue at the encampment. I dragged it out of him then.”

“Oh,” said Ancient Oak innocently, “I thought you must have found out from his memories.” Then he sat back and watched with great enjoyment as outrage, anger, realization and then amusement flitted in quick succession across Tarkyn’s face.

“You thought no such thing.”

Ancient Oak grinned, “No. But I loved watching you think I had besmirched your honour. I was actually hoping for one of those disdainful looks but never mind! I’ll keep working on it.”

Tarkyn’s eyes twinkled at him over the rim of the teacup. “You have a wicked side to you that I am only just coming to appreciate. You take a long time to come out of your shell, don’t you?” He thought back, “Hmm, but now I think about it, you were winding me up about being able to trust people even before the sickness episode, weren’t you?” He grinned, “I can see I’m going to have to keep my eyes wide open when I’m around you.”

For a while they sat in companionable silence eating their rolls in the soft autumn sunlight, listening to the chattering stream and the distant laughter and voices of the woodfolk.

Tarkyn stretched and let out a long, contented breath. “You know, I’ve just realised. I don’t feel on edge any more. At last I feel safe again. Today is the first time I have really been able to relax since we arrived in the mountains.”

“No wonder you’re tired then.” The woodman looked around at the various groups of mixed home guard and mountainfolk that were dotted across the clearing. “I think everyone has been feeling the strain. That’s why it’s so good to have this day to spend truly relaxing with the mountainfolk before we move on.” He sipped his tea and smiled, “Young Midnight is having a great time playing with his magic shield, isn’t he? He seems to have talents from both sides of his heritage.” He thought for a moment, “I wonder whether he’ll keep flicking into hiding if an outsider approaches or whether he’ll gradually identify with sorcerers, especially if you’re looking after him?”

“Hmm, interesting one, isn’t it?” Tarkyn lay back down with his hands behind his head and swivelled his eyes to look at Ancient Oak. “Now we are moving into the realms of a woodfolk consensus decision. Is our little wood sorcerer over there bound by the woodfolk code or by the code of sorcerers? Should he be treating Waterstone and you as princes because he’s a sorcerer or as an equal because he’s a woodman? Should he stay hidden as a woodman or walk the world as a sorcerer, if he so chooses?”

“We do not seem to have had the opportunity to make that decision in relation to the other wood sorcerer in our midst,” replied Ancient Oak dryly. “What makes you think we will be given the choice with Midnight?”

Tarkyn looked puzzled for a moment. Then he smiled, “Oh. You mean me. Yes. Good point.” His smile faded. “Oh, I see. Yes, I haven’t revealed to outsiders the presence of any woodfolk but myself. But I forgot to count myself as woodfolk in that equation, didn’t I? Blast! That means I’ve broken my oath to you, doesn’t it?” Tarkyn was seriously upset with himself. “No wonder Waterstone was angry with me when we were at the roadside and I betrayed my presence to that family. By the time we reached Lord Tolward’s, he must have resigned himself to my own convenient interpretation of my bond of secrecy because he didn’t oppose me in that at all.”

Tarkyn rolled onto his front and propped himself on his elbows next to the woodman. He cupped his chin in his hands and looked up at the clear blue sky while he thought about it. “You know, I have never broken my word before, over anything. I can’t believe I so casually interpreted it to suit myself.” He sighed, “And yet, when I look back over all the situations where I revealed myself to sorcerers, I don’t know that I could have endured not to. I couldn’t have let that family on the Great Western Road be killed, or Lord Tolward’s children; and I had to deflect that hunting party away from Midnight. I suppose I could possibly have avoided confronting the two solo sorcerers who returned later. I could have left Danton to deal with that.” He slid his eyes sideways to meet Ancient Oak’s. “So, do you all think I’m completely fickle?”

Ancient Oak shook his head, smiling, “No. Don’t be silly. It’s just that you’re not only a woodman. Neither is Midnight. So maybe the rules need to apply differently. Rules always apply differently around you, anyway.”

Tarkyn frowned, “What do you mean?”

“Well, since your word is law, you can pretty much make rules up as you go along, can’t you? And you do. You pick and choose which rules you feel like following.”

“I don’t.”

Ancient Oak threw back his head and laughed, “Oh yes you do. What about lookout duty, cooking, making shelters, hunting, gathering wood, herbs and fruits? You never do any of those things unless you’re bored and feel like it for something to do.”

The prince raised his eyebrows and with a suppressed grin, said sanctimoniously, “Waterstone told Sparrow that I have special jobs to do that others can’t. So it’s fair that I don’t have to do cooking and other tasks that I might find distasteful.”