Bronze Magic

by Jennifer Ealey

  Seeing the shutters go down on Running Feet’s face, Tarkyn continued quickly. “Oh, I don’t blame you. I don’t know what Tree Wind’s particular problem is, but you have every justification for undermining me.” He sighed, “The question is, what are we going to do about it?” Tarkyn waved his hand impatiently. “Stop looking so worried. I’m not going to do anything to you. I want your help to reduce the resentment.”

  “Why should I help you?” Surprisingly, this was not said belligerently.

  The prince stared at him. Finally he said, “Not for my benefit particularly, if that’s what you’re wondering – although I can’t say I enjoy being the focal point for all that antagonism.” Tarkyn frowned. “I suppose there are three main reasons. Firstly, if I request your cooperation as your forest guardian, I don’t want resentment to undermine the safety of woodfolk or the forest - which is what I saw happening yesterday. Secondly, I don’t want the people with me to become unfairly isolated from other woodfolk because I am with them.” He paused and the side of his mouth lifted into a self-deprecatory smile. “And thirdly, I really don’t want you living in dread of how I might treat you all under the terms of the oath.”

  Running Feet raised his eyebrows. “I’m impressed. Those are very persuasive reasons.”

  Tarkyn looked at him quizzically, “What did you think I’d say? That you owe it to me because of the oath?”

  “Something like that. Well, you could just order me to help you.”

  “What? And risk the forest’s welfare while you try to find ways to undermine me?” The prince shook his head. “You can’t just order resentment to go away. If you could, I would have done it long ago.”

  “So, do none of the woodfolk with you feel at all resentful at having to serve you? I find that hard to believe.”

  Tarkyn put his head on one side as he considered. He gave a Sparrow a little push in the ribs and asked, “What do you think, young madam? Do people still resent me?”

  Sparrow looked up and frowned, “What do you mean? Do they get mad at you? Only sometimes.”

  Tarkyn smiled. “That wasn’t quite what I meant, but it will do.” He looked up at the woodman. “Sometimes the resentment wells up. Waterstone and I came to blows over it the other day.” Tarkyn ignored the shocked incomprehension on the woodman’s face. “Mostly, we’re all right. It’s not easy, but it can be better than what I see amongst the harvesters and gatherers. And, if you ask them, I think you’ll find that my little group would rather have me than not, now.”

  Sparrow nodded her confirmation of this.

  “In fact, I think they’re even quite proud of me now that we’ve worked out I’m a guardian of the forest.”

  Sparrow nodded even more vigorously. “Although he didn’t look too good when he was green.”

  Running Feet frowned in consternation as Sparrow sent him an image of the green Tarkyn.

  Tarkyn laughed at his expression. “Not a good look, was it? That was the healing force of an old oak tree. I think I might have overdone it a bit. Still, as you can see, it faded over time.”

  Running Feet blinked as he took all this in. He was silent for a couple of minutes, then finally said, “Very well. I am prepared to help, now that I understand why it is important. What do I need to do?”

  The prince thought carefully. “Update your people on what has been happening since I arrived in the forest. Talk to the forestals and the home guard and give them a fair hearing. I promise you I haven’t ordered them to say anything in particular.”

  Running Feet looked puzzled. “Who are the home guard?”

  Tarkyn glanced at him. “Now, this is not for public consumption, but that is what I privately call the people who have stuck by me.”

  “Do they know this?”

  “Yes. I let it slip out yesterday by mistake. They all went into deep shock but they are gradually recovering.” Tarkyn laughed at the look of consternation on Running Feet’s face. “No, they didn’t. They don’t mind. In fact, Ancient Oak and Rainstorm have aspirations of joining.”

  Running Feet shook his head a little as he dealt with one impression after another from the prince. He gave a slight smile and said ruefully, “Even if I do update everyone, I suspect there will always be some resentment, my lord.”

  Tarkyn gave a bitter laugh, “I’m sure there will be. Woodfolk such as Sun Shower know all that has happened, aren’t even under oath and still resent my subtle leadership style. So it’s not going to cure anything. It just might make it a little more manageable.”

  “So, from your point of view, what has happened since we left you?”

  Tarkyn acknowledged the woodman’s subtly expressed scepticism with a slight smile before sketching out events since he had regained consciousness; repairing the forest, his discussions about etiquette with Waterstone and Autumn Leaves, the run-ins with the wolves and horsemen, their efforts to disguise the wolves’ fates, the discovery that he was the forest guardian, his fight with Waterstone and the subsequent healing.

  When he came to more recent events, Tarkyn leaned over his niece and frowned at her. “Sparrow, block your ears and hum loudly.” When he was sure she couldn’t hear him, he continued, “And I gather from Ancient Oak that you have all been talking about my initial meeting with the forestals?”

  “Yes, Sire. I believe they came close to killing you.”

  “I gave them that choice,” said Tarkyn matter-of-factly. His mouth twitched in a half smile. “They thought hard about it and there were a few arrows flying around for a while there. But it was a risk I had to take. I could not allow the possibility of oathbound woodfolk having to fight other woodfolk to protect me.” He shrugged. “And in the end, woodfolk honour prevented them from killing me to free you from the oath.”

  Running Feet considered him. “Offering your life was an enormous gesture for a people you hardly knew.”

  “Noblesse oblige, Running Feet,” said the prince lightly, although he clearly meant it. “I’m glad it remained only a gesture, though. The outcome was by no means certain, I can tell you.” He looked levelly at Running Feet. “What’s more, I did it in all good faith and it would be nice if it made a difference. Now we seem to have swapped one rift for another.”

  At this point, the sound of humming increased significantly in volume.

  “Whoops. Sorry, Sparrow,” Tarkyn pulled her hands way from her ears. “I said, ‘Sorry Sparrow’. You can stop now.” He looked up at Running Feet with a smile. “End of discussion for the moment, I think.”

  By mid morning the rain had still not relented. Damp patches were beginning to show on the ceiling of Tarkyn’s shelter but it had so far held. It was so dark outside that it was hard to believe it was nearly midday. Running Feet and Sparrow had explored all the possible routes on their dusty map, with Tarkyn taking an intermittent interest. Suddenly, Sparrow raised her head and looked intently at Tarkyn.

  “Daddy needs to talk to you.” she said. She went out of focus for a couple of minutes then reported, “Stormaway is with him. He is saying that this storm is not natural.”

  The prince frowned. “Oh no. I hope it’s not from the oath. Ask your dad to talk straight to Running Feet, could you?” He flicked a glance at the woodman to check that this arrangement was all right and received a brief nod.

  “Why not me?” asked Sparrow, much put out.

  “Because it’s grown up’s business. They may need to use big words you won’t know. Don’t worry. I’ll tell you everything you need to know. Okay?”

  Sparrow narrowed her eyes at him but complied with his request.

  Shortly afterwards, Running Feet also went out of focus. After a while, the prince said, “Stop gossiping about me and keep to the point.”

  Running Feet flicked back into focus. “If you can’t mind talk, how did you know we were?”

  Tarkyn smiled, “Stands to reason. Waterstone wanted to know what you’re doing in my shelter and what you thought of being stuck with me after our last litt
le encounter. Once he has that all sorted out, he’ll know how far to trust you with relaying messages to me….Correct?”

  Running Feet smiled in return. “Correct.”

  “So. What is Stormaway saying about this storm? Is it a backlash from someone undermining me?”

  The woodman shook his head. “He doesn’t think it has anything to do with the oath. He thinks someone might be trying to flood us out. The stream is rising. It’s nearly up to the top of its banks already.”

  “Who can create a storm like this? And how on earth do they know we are here?” Tarkyn nodded at him impatiently. “Go on. Ask them.”

  Running Feet returned to focus very quickly this time.

  “Well?”

  A slight frown of annoyance appeared on Running Feet’s face as he answered shortly. “Waterstone will get back to me when he has talked about it with Stormaway.”

  The prince took one look at the woodman’s taut face and sighed. “Sorry. Please tell me if I annoy you. It’s much better to sort it out than having you going off to tell everyone what a tyrant I am. I’m just worried. And when I get tense, I have a tendency to cut corners and become peremptory.”

  Running Feet’s face relaxed. “It must be frustrating needing a translator for the mind talking.”

  “It is.”

  This conversation was curtailed as Running Feet was pressed to reply to Waterstone. After a short mind-discussion, the woodman reported back to the prince, “A wizard can drum up this sort of weather, according to Stormaway, though he would need time to create enough power.”

  “Hmph, when you think about Stormaway’s name, it’s pretty obvious really,” said Tarkyn. “So, can Stormaway counter this other wizard’s spell?”

  “He says he may be able to but he will need more power if he is to do it quickly enough to stop the flooding. He wants you to help him.”

  “Of course I will. But before we organise that, what about the second question? That’s even more important. How do they know we’re here?”

  Running Feet shook his head. “Stormaway doesn’t think anyone does know we’re here. He thinks the storm is more general than that and that someone is possibly trying to herd us up onto higher ground…”

  “….where presumably sorcerers and wolves will be waiting.” The prince said nothing for a few minutes while he collected his thoughts. Then he turned to Running Feet.

  “Speak to Stormaway and Waterstone. Ask for their opinions on what we should do”

  After Running Feet had reported back, Tarkyn said, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to make sure a few things are put in place before I help Stormaway.” He gave a wry smile. “That is a euphemism for issuing orders, in case you hadn’t worked it out. I remember something a captain of the guards once said to me; the more critical the situation, the more directive you must be.”

  “See,” said a shaky little voice. “More bossy than me.”

  “Oh Sparrow, come here.” Immediately she climbed up onto Tarkyn’s lap and he wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t be frightened. We will sort it out. Stormaway and I will do lots of interesting magic and make the storm go away. Now, you just snuggle up quietly while I boss everyone around. How’s that?”

  Sparrow just nodded and pressed herself against his chest.

  Tarkyn stroked her hair and made sure she was settled before looking at Running Feet. “You’re in the unlucky position of being the messenger. Ready?” When the woodman nodded, Tarkyn said, “Right. Tell everyone I am speaking as the guardian of the forest and I need their full cooperation. Tell them what Waterstone and Stormaway have worked out about the storm.”

  Tarkyn waited until Running Feet indicated he had done this, and then continued, “We must make sure we have an escape route from the rising water that does not take us where they expect us. In other words, we’ll need to evacuate downhill somewhere, perhaps up into trees. I don’t know. I’ll leave that to local knowledge to sort out. If it means we have to leave sooner, then we will.”

  Tarkyn waited with raised eyebrows until Running Feet nodded. “I have only just realised that you don’t all keep in contact with each other using mind talk as a matter of course. So we need an inventory of all woodfolk everywhere. Do we know where everyone is? It is my fear that these hunters may have captured some woodfolk somehow. It is the only explanation that fits the facts. Who is missing? Are there some people too far away to contact? We need to make sure everyone is accounted for and contactable, not just those who have come here.” The prince paused again. He waved a hand. “Don’t transmit this bit. How are we going? Do we have a mass rebellion yet?”

  Running Feet gave a reluctant smile and shook his head. “They haven’t had time to organise it yet because they can’t get a word in edgeways.”

  “Good. I’ll keep going before they do. Ready?” At the woodman’s nod, he began again. “We will need to mount a rescue mission. If they have captured some woodfolk, they are probably being held at that encampment. So start talking to the people who have seen the encampment and start thinking about how a rescue can be undertaken. That’s it from your friendly neighbourhood tyrant for today.” Running Feet looked queryingly at this, but Tarkyn smiled and nodded to send it. “I will be working with Stormaway for the next little while if anyone wants me.”

  The prince grinned, “Well, that should give everyone something to think about and complain about, to while away a few damp hours stuck inside.”

  A little voice issued from the region of Tarkyn’s chest. “I think you’re getting bossier.”

  Tarkyn laughed. “I think you’re right. All my good intentions in tatters again, hey, little one?” He looked across at Running Feet. “Thank you for doing that. If you get any backlash at all from it, I want to know about it.”

  “Is that another order?”

  The prince grimaced, “Yes, I’m afraid so. If I make it an order, you don’t have to debate whether to tell me or not. You just do it. Then no-one can blame you for informing on them.” Tarkyn regarded him quizzically. “So, I suppose I’m back in your bad books now? You may find this hard to believe but I have generally avoided giving anyone direct orders until this crisis.”

  Running Feet raised his eyebrows. “It doesn’t really matter what I think, does it, my lord?”

  Tarkyn frowned, “Do you say that because you think little of yourself, or little of me?”

  “I’m saying it because I assume you think little of me.”

  “Because of what I did to you before?” Tarkyn’s mouth twisted in a rueful smile. “I know I treated you with great disdain at our first encounter, but I didn’t know you or anyone else then…And I felt trapped and angry. Now I’ve had a chance to get to know you, I do care about your opinion. In fact, I would have sought you out to make reparation but you chose, quite understandably, to stay away from me. To tell you the truth, I am quite anxious to have your good opinion because I feel guilty about what I did to you.”

  Running Feet have his head a little shake, a queer smile playing around his lips. “Then, for what it is worth, I still think you throw your weight around but you do it in support of woodfolk, not for yourself. And although I will probably still keep having nightmares about being dropped from great heights, I could not have spent these hours with you without changing my opinion of you. You are not the haughty tyrant I was anticipating. Despite my expectations, I find I like you but I’m not surprised everyone talks about you all the time. You are quite an amazing person. You take responsibility for everyone and see everything so clearly.”

  Tarkyn blinked in surprise at the accolades. “I have to. I’m your forest guardian and I swore an oath to protect you. Everyone is expecting me to pull them through even while some of them hate me. But I would have to say that I don’t see everything clearly. I definitely get things wrong sometimes.”

  Running Feet smiled, “I think I can attest to that. Perhaps I exaggerated slightly but you do see the overall picture very well.”

  “Thank yo
u.” Tarkyn hesitated, “Maybe when this particular crisis is over, I could help you get rid of the nightmares.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Oh, why wait? Let’s do it quickly now. It’ll only take a couple of minutes. Hang on. Am I going there or is Stormaway coming here? Could you find out please – and when?”

  “They will come here because your shelter is bigger. They’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

  Tarkyn smiled reassuringly at the woodman. “Are you willing to let me try to get rid of your nightmares? I think I can do it with my forest guardian powers.”

  “Have you done it before?”

  “No,” said Tarkyn, shaking his head, “but I have healed myself and others. Of course if you do stop having nightmares, we’ll never know if it was because you met up with me and put your demons to rest or whether it was the healing. Other than that, you have nothing to lose. It doesn’t hurt and it’s not unpleasant.”

  “And you won’t turn green,” piped up a little voice.

  Running Feet addressed Sparrow. “How do you know? Have you had it done to you?”

  Sparrow nodded. “Tarkyn gave us all more energy when we had travelled through trees all day. It was quite nice, really.”

  “Okay. Go on then,” agreed Running Feet. “What do I have to do?”

  “Close your eyes. I’m going to put my hand on your shoulder. Now, think about your dream and the fear in it. As you do, I will send my healing force into you. You will have to direct the force yourself to soothe the fear in the memory and gradually dissipate the nightmare. Ready?”

  When the woodman nodded, the forest guardian drew forth his esse and sent it into Running Feet. As Tarkyn watched, he could see Running Feet’s face and shoulders relaxing. When the changes stopped, Tarkyn asked, “Enough?”

  Running Feet nodded and opened his eyes. He smiled and the tension in his face that no one had particularly noticed was no longer there. “It’s gone. I know it has. Thank you. Even if you were the cause, you have also been the cure. So you have made reparation, as you wanted to.”