The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) (8 page)

Waterstone pulled out and laughed, still pink with embarrassment. “Very bloody funny! You’re fine. Not a nasty thought in you.”

Tarkyn grinned, “Now you know what I think of you, don’t you?”

“What?” asked Rainstorm from the side.

Tarkyn laughed, “He’s easily embarrassed. That’s what.”

This time, Rainstorm knew when to stop pushing. “So. What are we going to do?” he asked instead.

Tarkyn gave a deep sigh. “Now that I know I don’t have any parasites left in me, I can continue to draw power from this uninfected tree. As soon as I’ve recovered, I will have to whip up my rage again and channel it through my power into the infected trees to destroy the infestation. You can help me with images and anger again. As I get used to the concept of the parasites, it is harder to reach and maintain the same level of outrage.”

“What about Rushwind? And Golden Toad and Ibis Wings?” asked Lapping Water.

Stormaway shook his head. “They will have to wait. At least in them, the infection is contained at the moment. In the forest, it is spreading as we speak.”

“And,” added Tarkyn, “Rushwind must be kept unconscious because if she runs amok, no one can touch her to contain her.” He looked around at the sombre faces. “Is everyone in agreement with that plan of action?”

“I don’t see what else we can do,” said Autumn Leaves.

Waterstone frowned “It puts a heavy load on you, Tarkyn, if you have to relive that same hideous experience.”

“One more thing we have to be careful of,” put in Stormaway. “If the parasites should spread to this tree while Tarkyn is still drawing power from it, he will become re-infected. Even if we move him further away from the infected trees, we will still have to keep an eye on the progress of the infection through the forest. I’m not sure that he would survive another roasting like that.”

“I hate to sound pessimistic,” said Thunder Storm, “but how can we expect Tarkyn to battle this infestation that is feeding on the might of the forest? His rage was only just strong enough to cure himself, even with the help of our images.”

Tarkyn shook his head. “No it wasn’t. There was plenty of energy. Once your images ignited my rage, the infection was burnt out almost instantaneously. It was my recovery from the scalding that took all the time and power. Saying that, it’s not going to be easy.”

“How long will you need to recover?”

Tarkyn shrugged. “I don’t know. Not too much longer, I hope. We can’t afford the time. Until I start to turn green. Then we’ll know I have as much energy stored in me as possible.”

Stormaway had a sudden thought. “Running Feet, would you check whether the infected trees are still alive, please? Don’t touch them though.”

Running Feet returned a few minutes later to report that the trees were dead or dying fast, as far as he could see.

“Why don’t we burn them down then?” asked Stormaway. “It will take much less effort to create a fireball and burn down the whole tree. And then we will have destroyed the bulk of the infected trees, and we can concentrate on burning out the parasites around the edge of the infected area.”

“Will fire work in the same way as rage?” asked Summer Rain.

“Combined with my power, the rage does seem to burn the parasites up. So I think it might work.” Tarkyn smiled at Stormaway. “Brilliant idea. You and Danton can get on with that, while I recover. Then I’ll mop up the periphery with the woodfolk when you’ve finished.”

Thunder Storm raised another objection, “I’m sorry for being such a pain, my lord, but what about the encampment? Will they not see the trees burning?”

“Of course! They well might.” Tarkyn looked around. “It has to be done, though. We’ll just have to be ready to move in a hurry, if need be.”

“And what about Rushwind? We can’t carry her.” Thunder Storm sounded apologetic.

“Good point,” said Tarkyn patiently. “Either Danton or Stormaway can carry her using levitation so we don’t come into direct contact with her.”

“And Golden Toad and Ibis Wings?” Thunder Storm was almost flinching now.

Tarkyn smiled at him. “Come and sit down here next to me, Thunder Storm. You and I can iron out all the problems while everyone else gets on with the preparations. How does that sound?”

Thunder Storm nodded in relief and sat down with a sigh.

“In answer to your question, Thunder Storm, I think Golden Toad and Ibis Wings can probably go free. The sickness in them has not been mutated by my power so I think they are safe enough, provided someone keeps an eye on them and they know that they mustn’t go near Rushwind. Do you agree?”

Thunder Storm nodded and then went briefly out of focus to relay this, “Good. I think that covers most things. Although I don’t see how we can stay and destroy the infestation on the periphery if soldiers come from the encampment.”

Tarkyn raised his eyebrows, “If I didn’t know you better, Thunder Storm, I would say you were deliberately teasing me. Every answer I come up with, you come up with a new question.”

Thunder Storm looked apprehensive. “No my lord. I wouldn’t dream of teasing you.”

“Thunder Storm, I’m sorry I bit your head off the other day when I returned from rescuing Autumn Leaves. You were just the unlucky one who said what everyone else was thinking. I know you were only trying to look after me. Please stop looking like a frightened mouse every time you talk to me. You’re only asking sensible questions. It’s only when you start trying to order me around that we strike problems.”

Thunder Storm relaxed slightly.

“I don’t mind you teasing me or making suggestions, Thunder Storm; just don’t tell me what to do and then we’ll be fine. So, ho
w
ar
e
we going to attack the residual parasites if the soldiers come out to investigate the fire? Come on, Thunder Storm. My turn to ask. Your turn to answer.”

Thunder Storm gave a faint smile of acknowledgement. “Well, I suggest that if the soldiers arrive quickly, we hide ourselves up in trees before we attempt to destroy the rest of the infestation.”

“Can we get close enough together?” asked Tarkyn.

“I think so. We can share thoughts across reasonable distances.”

“No one will fall out of a tree while they’re concentrating, will they?”

“No. We are, after all, quite adept in trees.”

“And should we take up snacks, do you think?”

Thunder Storms eyes narrowed in sudden suspicion. He turned to find Tarkyn grinning at him.

Tarkyn shrugged, “Well, if you won’t tease me, I’ll just have to tease you, won’t I?”

“Your Highness, we are in the middle of a crisis, and you’re playing games.”

“Yep. That about sums it up.” Tarkyn smiled ruefully. “I need a bit of light entertainment after that hideous experience. Think of it as helping me to carry out a public duty.”

“Oh. Well, as long as there is a reasonable justification for your hilarity, I expect I can bring myself to accept it,” replied Thunder Storm in a serious tone of voice.

Tarkyn was half way through a small sigh of disappointment when he realised he was being wound up in return. He looked at the woodman and laughed, “Very droll. Sometimes you are quite unexpected, Thunder Storm.”

Thunder Storm smiled, “We’re not all Summer Rain, you know. Hmm. You’ll be happy to know you’re starting to turn green.”

Tarkyn gave a wry smile, “It’s a mixed blessing, this green business.” He had a sudden thought which he voiced before he had time to stop himself. “Where’s Lapping Water?”

Thunder Storm gave what could only be described a smirk, “She is taking Ibis Wings over to be with Sparrow and my two kids.” After a tiny pause, he asked casually, “Would you like me to call her over?”

Tarkyn frowned ferociously. “No. I would not. No. Just wondering.”

“I see,” said Thunder Storm with a slight, infinitely irritating smile.

Tarkyn looked sideways at him and gave a wry smile, “I’m sick of her seeing me looking like some monster from the deep. I probably look bad enough as it is, in her eyes.”

Thunder Storm put his head on one side, a twinkle in his eye, as he studied the prince. “Well, I don’t know. You are excessively large and your black hair and amber eyes are strange but quite striking. On balance, I don’t think you look bad. I think you are quite good-looking in your way, especially when you’re being funny.” He shrugged, “To be honest, it’s a bit hard to get past the fact that you look like you, which is very different from us. Probably a bit of green is neither here nor there.”

Tarkyn frowned and smiled all at once. “I wasn’t actually asking for a critique. And I don’t think I’m all that reassured if a delicate tinge of green doesn’t make me appear noticeably worse.”

“Not so delicate, actually. You’re becoming greener by the second.”

Tarkyn quickly pulled his hand away from the tree. “Fine. Enough is enough. Now if we can get into position as soon as the trees are alight, we can get this whole thing sorted before any soldiers have time to react to seeing a fire on the horizon. Now I won’t have to concentrate up in a tree and that will suit me better because, unlike you, I am not so used to hanging around in trees.” Another thought struck him. “How are we going to stop the fire spreading right through the forest?”

Thunder Storm smiled without persuasion this time. “You could use your shields.”

“Good idea. Actually, I think Stormaway and Danton can use their shields and I’ll save my energy for fighting the infection.”

“How are we going to know when we have destroyed all the parasites?” asked Thunder Storm.

Tarkyn frowned, “How did it suddenly become your turn to ask questions again?”

Thunder Storm smiled and shrugged.

“Fine. I don’t know is the simple answer to that. I guess we’ll just have to inspect the surrounding trees for shrivelled leaves. Might have to have Stormaway floating around so he can take a closer look without touching the trees that might be infected.”

Chapter
5

A loud whumph made them whirl around. The fine old oak was ablaze and the fire was spreading through its branches into neighbouring trees.

“Aargh!” cried out Tarkyn, his face tightening with shock as he ducked his head down and wrapped his arms protectively around his head.

“What’s wrong?” asked Thunder Storm, horrified by the prince’s reaction.

“Oh, for pity’s sake! The birds, the animals are burning. I can feel their anguish, feel their agony. Oh no! ” Tarkyn was rocking back and forth, trying in vain to escape the overwhelming reactions of the burning animals. “I should have thought. I should have warned them. Oh, save me. How could I have been so thoughtless?”

Thunder Storm shook his head. “No one else thought of it either. You are not the only one to blame.”

“Aargh. Oh, the pain they’re in. I can’t stand it. How could I have let this happen? I am their forest guardian and I stood by and let them all die.”

Thunder Storm put his arm around the prince’s shoulder, “Your Highness, I think they had to die. If they had travelled from the infected trees they may have spread the sickness.”

Tarkyn raised anguished eyes and gasped, “Thunder Storm, the shields. Make sure they put the shields up.” For a few moments, Tarkyn was swamped by the suffering of the living creatures being burnt in the fire. Their agony was short lived and soon, grim-faced, he was able to straighten up, as though pushing against a heavy weight. He shuddered, “I have to block them out. There’s nothing I can do to save them but at least I can make sure the rest of the forest is kept safe.

Tarkyn shed his blanket and shivered right up and down his body as the night air touched his bare skin. “Quick, where’s my shirt?” he demanded, keeping his mind firmly on the upcoming task.

“It’s wet, prince,” said Rainstorm, arriving with a cloak. “Here. Put this on until the fire dries your shirt.”

“Thanks.” Tarkyn drew himself up and unconsciously squared his shoulders as he prepared himself to face once more the horror of the grey parasites. Ripples of trepidation, quickly swamped by a wave of determination, flowed out across the clearing. The woodfolk all stopped what they were doing to look across at their Forest Guardian. They called out words of encouragement and several came to pat him on the shoulder and reassure him. Tarkyn frowned a little at this flurry of reactions. Then he looked sideways at Rainstorm and raised his eyebrows in query.

Rainstorm laughed, “Yep, prince. You’ve done it again.”

Tarkyn rolled his eyes and shook his head, even though his face was still drawn. “Oh my stars! I’d have been laughed out of court if this had happened in Tormadell. I am a constant embarrassment to myself.”

“I don’t think so, my lord,” said Thunder Storm kindly. “Only a fool would face this threat without fear.”

“Thank you, Thunder Storm,” the prince responded gravely even though a faint smile lurked at the back of his eyes. He took a deep breath. “So. Now that the core of the infected trees is burning, we’d better get started. Perhaps I can send my attack in a circle around the burning trees from one position. I’ll try that. It will be quicker.”

Tarkyn walked over to an elm whose branches were withering on the side nearest the fire. He looked around. “Right. Everyone who is helping with this, stand around close to me but don’t touch me in case something goes wrong and I become re-infected. Do the same as before. Think about the destruction and your anger about it.” He waited for everyone to prepare themselves. “Ready? Here goes.”