At this, Ancient Oak raised his head and finally held Tarkyn’s gaze. “I don’t suppose anyone is all bad. And, to be fair, there isn’t much that’s bad about you…volatile, arrogant, excessively powerful, dismissive, thoughtless…” His mouth twitched in the beginnings of a smile.
“Oh come on. Be fair. I’m not usually thoughtless. Actually, if I am, I wouldn’t notice, would I?”
Before Tarkyn had time to wander off down this particular tangent, Ancient Oak added, “…but Waterstone thinks the sun shines out of you and he does not give praise lightly.”
“Does he?” Tarkyn smiled. “Well, I can tell you the feeling is mutual. If I get on with you half as well, that will be good enough…and I hope to do better than that. Waterstone and Autumn Leaves tell me regularly that I am hard work to be around. So, welcome to a challenge.” Seeing Ancient Oak’s frown, he added, “It’s not always because of me. It’s often because of who I am and how other people react…well, admittedly… and how I react.”
“Like today, for instance.”
The prince nodded, “Shall we go back and face the music?”
“If you’re ready. Do you want a hand down?”
Tarkyn laughed. “You have missed a lot, haven’t you? I was going to ask you the same question. Tell you what. I’ll race you to the bottom. First to touch the ground, wins. …Go”
The sorcerer sailed out and down while Ancient Oak swung swiftly down from branch to branch and jumped the last six feet.
“Blast!” laughed Tarkyn. “You were miles quicker. It took me much less effort but I don’t seem to be able to go quickly.”
“You cheated.” Ancient Oak was also laughing while catching his breath.
“No I didn’t. I didn’t say how we had to get down. I just said I’d race you.”
They walked back along the stream. When they had nearly reached the clearing, Tarkyn stopped. “One more thing. This might sound silly but I give you permission to hit me.”
Ancient Oak looked at him in confusion. “Why would I want to hit you?”
“Well,” said Tarkyn airily, “Waterstone is always wanting to hit me and it is bad for the forest if I don’t give my permission. So it’s only fair that I give it to you too. Then if I drive you crazy, you have a more even playing field.”
Ancient Oak shook his head in bemusement. “You’re right. I have missed a lot.”
32
Following Tarkyn’s exit, feelings ran high amongst the woodfolk. One strong camp argued against heeding anything Tarkyn said, wary of anyone usurping the natural authority of the woodfolk. Another more canny camp saw him as a new weapon to humour and use, as they saw fit, without allowing him into any mental discussion about their proposed tactics. When Waterstone and Autumn Leaves attempted to explain that Tarkyn would now insist on being included, they were regarded pityingly by many of the oathfree woodfolk and it was carefully explained to them that it was the welfare of the woodfolk as a whole, not Tarkyn, that was under consideration and that Tarkyn could not force them to include him if they chose not to.
“I don’t know about that,” growled Raging Water. “If he is a woodman, he must be included like everyone else. You can’t have one rule for him and one for the rest of us.”
“We can, if he can’t mind talk,” answered a rather unpleasant woodman from the mountains. “Or are you thinking that we should all change our way of life just to suit him? I am Driving Rain, for those who don’t know me.”
“We must at least keep him informed of the important issues, as they arise,” rumbled Thunder Storm.
Driving Rain sneered, “You have to stand up for him, don’t you? You’re sworn to honour him. Well, I’m not, and he’ll get no special privileges from me.”
In fact, the opinions of those who had taken the oath were generally regarded as being tainted by compulsion, and so were given little credibility. And those who had stayed with Tarkyn were regarded almost as traitors by some woodfolk as they had done more than the bare necessity required to fulfil their oath.
“Someone had to stay with him to uphold the oath on behalf of all who swore it,” protested Autumn Leaves. “Just be glad we took the burden from the backs of the bulk of you.”
“And we are proud,” came Lapping Water’s gentle voice, “to have been the first to realise that a new forest guardian had come among us and to have saved his life so that he can fulfil his role as our protector in the times to come.”
“Bravo,” said Waterstone quietly, as he headed off to seek out Tarkyn.
But as soon as he had rounded the first bend in the stream, a voice behind them said, “Not so fast, Waterstone. No doubt you’re off to let your new brother know what is being said. You remember me, don’t you? I’m Mudslide.”
Waterstone sent Ancient Oak a brief mind message to go in his stead, and turned to face her.
Mudslide was stringy but tough, and she was not alone. Driving Rain stood solidly beside her, arms folded. He was a strongly built, muscly woodman, his nose a tribute to past fights.
“Out of all of them, Waterstone, you are the greatest disgrace to our nation.” Driving Rain unfolded his arms and closed the gap between them, balancing on the balls of his feet. “You have no excuse for the inordinate amount of time you have spent with that sorcerer. You spent days with him when he was injured. We know. And for someone who is supposed to be such a strong advocate of woodfolk ways, how can you betray your values by seeking power and privilege at the side of that interloper?”
“He is an interloper no more. He is a woodman and my brother,” said Waterstone, keeping his temper on a very tight rein.
“Well done,” sneered Mudslide. “You were quicker than the rest of us to realise an opportunity. Now you have a powerful sorcerer in your back pocket…and a forest guardian, as it turns out. That was a real coup. You must be loving the reflected glory.”
Waterstone’s eyes narrowed, “And I can now include generations of kings and queens in my family’s archive. Don’t forget that.”
Driving Rain pushed Waterstone hard in the chest with one beefy hand, forcing him to take a step backwards. Waterstone flicked back several yards but the two woodfolk just flicked to land the same distance in front of him. But this had given Waterstone the slight respite he needed.
“Oh what? No Tarkyn to protect you?” Mudslide closed in to Waterstone’s left and jabbed him in the bicep. “Where is he when you need him?”
Alarm flashed in Waterstone’s eyes. “Leave him alone.”
Driving Rain smiled unpleasantly, “Oh, we have no intention of risking our forests. It is you we object to. We don’t like toadeaters.”
He followed his words with a crushing blow at Waterstone’s midriff. Waterstone wrenched himself out of the way, not to his right as they had expected where Driving Rain’s left fist was waiting for him but to his left, straight into the woodwoman. As Driving Rain’s fist grazed past his stomach Waterstone, copying one of Tarkyn’s manoeuvres, grabbed Driving Rain’s fist and used the impetus of the woodman’s own attack to drive him past.
Unfortunately, Driving Rain was heavier and better balanced and after a couple of recovery steps, the heavy woodman swung his whole shoulder into Waterstone just as Mudslide recovered and shoved him hard from behind. Caught between them, the air exploded from his chest and he doubled up, winded. Mudslide bent over and swung her full weight behind her shoulder to send the stricken woodman flying.
Just as Driving Rain strode over and grabbed him by his shirt front to pull him to his feet, a deep voice rumbled, “That’s our friend you have there… I suggest you leave him alone.”
Driving Rain hauled Waterstone upright by his shirtfront. “What? This conniving weasel? You admit friendship with him? You’re all as bad as each other. You can have him back when I’ve finished with him.”
Almost before he finished speaking, Driving Rain’s eyes rolled up in his head and he sank to the ground. As Mudslide made a move towards him, Thunder Storm said calmly, “I will have no compunc
tion about knocking you out too, if you make any further move to hurt Waterstone.” She looked around to see a deadly little slingshot aimed at her head.
As Waterstone disentangled his shirt from Driving Rain’s slack hand, Autumn Leaves walked over to him and put his arm around him to help him up.
“Mudslide,” said Autumn Leaves over his shoulder, “I don’t think much of your taste in men.” He turned back to Waterstone, “Come on me old mate, let’s get you away from this unwholesome company you’ve been keeping.” He frowned as Waterstone wrapped his arm around his chest, still trying to catch his breath. “No permanent damage, I hope?”
Waterstone shook his head, and managed to get out between breaths, “No. A bit of bruising maybe. Mostly just winded.”
Behind them, Driving Rain groaned and raised himself groggily on one elbow. He was shaking his head trying to clear it, just as Falling Branch rounded the bend with Raging Water hobbling behind in hot pursuit.
“What’s going on here?” demanded the old man.
“That bastard shot me,” mumbled Driving Rain, pointing an accusing finger at Thunder Storm.
“Yes, and I will again if you’re not careful.”
“Good shooting, Thunder Storm. You knocked him out for less than a minute. That takes some finesse.” Autumn Leaves transferred his attention to Waterstone, “You all right to stand on your own now?” When Waterstone nodded, he let go and addressed Raging Water, “Those two miscreants attacked Waterstone. We’re not totally clear why. We just came when he called.”
“They object to my friendship with Tarkyn, and think I deliberately developed it so that I can use his power.” Waterstone kept his eyes trained on his shirt as he brushed dirt off it. “Of course, they’re not the first to think that. Tarkyn thought exactly the same when he first knew me.” He raised his head to look at Raging Water. “One of the joys of being around a power wielder.”
“Stars above, Waterstone,” rumbled Thunder Storm, “That was very poor thanks for all those hours and days you put in at his bedside. Fancy mistrusting you after all that time.”
Waterstone gave a wry smile. “Don’t think badly of him, Thunder Storm. All his life, he has been used for his influence, and cast aside when there is no more profit in associating with him. You think about it. His own brothers and two of his friends were willing to see him hanged. Why would he suddenly turn around and trust a complete stranger?”
“Why did he trust you then?” asked Thunder Storm.
“I’ll tell you later,” said Waterstone shortly, glancing at Autumn Leaves.
“You wheedled your way into his confidence. That’s why,” sneered Driving Rain.
Waterstone shrugged, “Think what you like. Whatever you say or however you threaten me, I won’t leave Tarkyn’s side.” He didn’t tell them that Tarkyn had forbidden him to leave, because he would have said the same thing anyway. He smiled. “Just as I won’t leave Thunder Storm or Autumn Leaves.”
“And what does your daughter think about this?” asked Mudslide casually.
“She is pleased to have Tarkyn as her uncle,” replied Waterstone, his whole body tightening at the underlying threat in her question as he wondered how to keep his daughter safe.
But Raging Water had no such qualms. He stomped up to the woodwoman and put his hands on his hips, “Mudslide, if anything ever happened to Sparrow, or to Waterstone or Ancient Oak, we would hunt you down… and Driving Rain. And we would bring the full force of woodfolk law to bear on you. You would never see your home forest again.” He thrust his face up close to hers and hissed, “I will make known your words to all woodfolk gathered here. Don’t you ever threaten a child again.”
When Driving Rain and Mudslide had slunk off, Falling Branch turned to Waterstone, “You know, when you offered to become Tarkyn’s blood brother, I thought you were brave because it would be so strange to have a sorcerer – and especially that sorcerer – in your family. But now I realise that by doing that, you have also undertaken to shoulder some of the resentment directed at Tarkyn and to endure the suspicion some people will have of your motives.” He clapped Waterstone on the back. “So, I just want to say that you have my support.”
“And mine,” growled Raging Water.
Waterstone smiled. “Thanks. You haven’t been around Tarkyn as long as we have. I walked into this with my eyes wide open. All three of us know that being around Tarkyn is hard work.” His smile broadened, “But luckily, he is worth it.”
33
When Tarkyn and Ancient Oak returned to the firesite, lunch was underway. Consumption of food and drink had mellowed the mood a little but many people patently ignored Tarkyn or threw measured glances in his direction.
Autumn Leaves looked up with a slight smile, “Over your huff now, are you?”
“Yes, thanks,” said Tarkyn, as he sat down, refusing to be baited.
Sun Shower handed him a freshly baked flat bread rolled around dried berries, soft cheese and thin strips of some sort of meat without speaking to him.
“Thank you,” he said, but without looking at her.
The woodfolk ate in silence, many obviously mind talking. Handy being able to mind talk, thought Tarkyn. It doesn’t interfere with eating in the way normal talking does.
Looking around the group, Tarkyn felt that all-in-all he had lost ground. All his careful negotiations with his home guard were in tatters. No one was including him in any conversations and in the present climate, he couldn’t insist on it. He wasn’t about to start a conversation and be accused of trying to dominate the group again. If people had been talking aloud he might have been able to chat to Autumn Leaves or Ancient Oak, but not when that would be the only audible conversation. How the pendulum swang. He now felt isolated again but for different reasons.
He toyed with his food, finding he couldn’t bring himself to eat the meat that might be one of the creatures he had linked with over the past few days. He picked at the food for long enough to be polite then stood up and walked back down to the stream. This time, Autumn Leaves, Waterstone, Falling Branch, Ancient Oak and Rainstorm followed him. Ancient Oak and Rainstorm had not been party to the attack on Waterstone but they could tell something had happened from the straight-backed defiance of the other three as they left the clearing.
By mutual unspoken consent, they found a comfortable grassy place to sit, away from prying eyes. Waterstone suppressed a grunt of pain as he sat down.
Ancient Oak directed a worried frown at him but when he received no response, spoke to Tarkyn, “You mightn’t be consulting them, but you are certainly allowing them to dictate your behaviour.”
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
“Good heavens, Ancient Oak. That was remarkably profound,” said his older brother, keeping the tone determinedly light. “Do I understand from that, that Tarkyn said he wouldn’t consult with anyone? What about? About how he should act?”
Ancient Oak nodded.
“Oh well done, Tarkyn,” said Waterstone scathingly. He spoke again to Ancient Oak, “So I suppose you now think he is totally autocratic, do you?”
Ancient Oak put his head on one side. “Actually, I did when he first said it. But that doesn’t fit with everything you’ve said and the way he acts the rest of the time when he’s not on his high horse.” He smiled, “No, he’s just a bit spiky, that’s all.”
The prince glared at them. “What is it about me that makes people feel free to discuss me as though I’m not here? I haven’t seen you doing it to each other.”
Waterstone grinned. “Sorry. It’s just that you’re so much more interesting to talk about than the rest of us.” He gingerly changed position, only to find Rainstorm’s eyes on him.
“Something’s wrong, isn’t it, Waterstone?” asked the young woodman. “Something has happened that you and Autumn Leaves and Falling Branch are not telling us about.”
Waterstone rolled his eyes. “Save us from nosey little teenagers.”
Rainstorm drew himse
lf up, “That wasn’t kind. I am only concerned for you.”
“Sorry, Rainstorm. It’s just that I don’t want anyone feeling that they have to do something about it.”
“You mean me, don’t you, Waterstone?” said Tarkyn slowly. He gave a wry smile, “I would not interfere unless you agreed, you know.”
Waterstone’s strained face relaxed. “Not to mention that we have an agreement to share information with you that we can once more honour. Very well.” He took a breath. “While you were off with Ancient Oak, two thugs accused me of currying favour with you and underlined their remarks with physical force.”
“Autumn Leaves and Thunder Storm came to his rescue and Raging Water sent the thugs about their business, in no uncertain terms.” Falling Branch smiled proudly, “He’s a feisty old man.”
Tarkyn frowned, realising that this was a sanitised version of events. “Would you have told me if Rainstorm hadn’t forced the issue?”
Waterstone cleared his throat. “Yes, eventually. But I didn’t want you to feel bad about the reactions our family may have to face, especially so soon after your inauguration.”
Tarkyn gave a shy smile, “You asked me into your family to share with you the joys and trials of kinship, so that we can call upon each other’s strength in times of need. Remember?” He glanced at Ancient Oak. “I know people around me become subjected to those sorts of pressures. It has happened around me all my life. I promise I won’t rush in and champion your cause if you don’t want me to. I can see that defending you could well reinforce people’s suspicion that you have me at your beck and call. But at the very least, I can be here to talk to about it. After all, I have vastly more experience of it than you do. And if you request more than that, you may have that too.”
“Thanks.” Waterstone smiled at Tarkyn and then glanced at his brother. Ancient Oak returned his smile, including Tarkyn in it. In that moment, the two woodmen and the sorcerer truly became brothers.
After a rather soppy silence, Autumn Leaves could stand it no longer and cleared his throat, “Harrumph. Anyway, I think Ancient Oak made a good point. You can’t let them cow you into silence.”
Bronze Magic Page 39