The Wizard's Curse (Book 2)

by Jenny Ealey

  “I think we’re all a bit too shaken to go back to bed yet, Tarkyn,” said Waterstone dryly, shaking his head. “If you were about to say we need to sort a few things out first, I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Oh. Good.” Tarkyn raised his eyebrows. “So it’s not just me who’s a bit wound up at the moment.”

  A ripple of laughter greeted this remark.

  Waterstone smiled grimly at him. “Tarkyn, the forest has been badly damaged again by the oath’s vengeance. We have an unconscious, infectious woodwoman lying over there, under guard. Golden Toad and Ibis Wings are also being held under guard in their shelter until this is sorted out. And the forest is slowly dying around us as we speak. I don’t think any of us has any plans for sleep.”

  “Your Highness, you must explain to us what happened so we know what we’re dealing with,” said Stormaway.

  Tarkyn rubbed his hand over his brow. “I don’t know for sure. I think perhaps my power mutated the parasites. They certainly became stronger and larger when they fed on my power. When I cleared them out of Rushwind, I checked all through her body for damage and found none. But she wouldn’t let me into her brain. I accepted that because of her privacy but now I think a small colony of parasites must have escaped into her brain and warped her thinking, maybe even taken over completely. Just before you people helped me get rid of the parasites in me, they were heading towardsmy brain.”

  Tree Wind frowned, “How do we know they didn’t get there or that there weren’t already some in your brain and that you’re not acting under their influence?”

  Tarkyn didn’t take Tree Wind’s question amiss even though in the past she had been one of his severest critics. His eyes narrowed as he thought about it. “That is a scary question. When I realised what was happening, I did put up a shield, which Rushwind couldn’t have done. But what if some were already in there?” He shook his head. “How can we tell?”

  “How would we have been able to tell with Rushwind?” asked Summer Rain.

  “If you had stayed tuned into her thoughts, you would have been able to tell,” answered Tarkyn. “When you think about it, she acted unexpectedly, straight after my attempt at healing her. When she attacked me, I couldn’t tell her thoughts of course, but the images coming through from her were hideous.” He looked at Waterstone. “I think it’s time to even up the score. Waterstone, I give you permission to have free access to my memories and any images and feelings you can access.”

  A babble of consternation broke out at this announcement, some of it surmising Waterstone’s past actions and some of it in reaction to Tarkyn’s offer.

  “Sire, that is asking too much of yourself,” objected Falling Branch, “Can we not just trust you if you reassure us?”

  Tarkyn shook his head. “Not if I am not acting under my own volition. I won’t know. I will think I am being honest and so will you, when I may not be. Someone outside me has to scan my thoughts and feelings.”

  “But isn’t the very fact you’re offering, proof enough?” he persisted.

  “I don’t know, maybe, but we can’t afford to take the risk.” He looked back at Waterstone and gave a wry smile. “Sorry Waterstone, I dumped you in it, didn’t I? I’m not thinking too straight at the moment. Are you willing to do this?”

  “I am willing but could it be dangerous?”

  Tarkyn shook his head. “I wouldn’t think so, as long as someone is nearby to pull you out of my thoughts. But again, don’t rely on what I say until we know whether I am to be trusted. Ask Stormaway.”

  Stormaway frowned down at him. “Tarkyn, this is very uncomfortable. And can I just point out that if you are indeed still infected, then the tree’s power will be feeding the parasites and strengthening them?”

  Tarkyn whipped his hand away from the tree trunk. “Oh my stars, Stormaway. You’re right. How could I have been so stupid?”

  “I think it is encouraging that you do not yet appear to have been overrun when we all sent you that life force earlier on, to heal the burning,” pointed out Summer Rain.

  Tarkyn breathed a sigh of relief. “True. That is encouraging.” He gave a little shiver. “Come on Waterstone. I feel as though I’m going mad here, not knowing whether I am truly myself or not.”

  Waterstone frowned, “Are you sure?”

  Tarkyn smiled, “Yes, my friend. I am sure. I trust you with my memories and images. Go ahead.”

  “I can’t see that I need to go very far back.” Waterstone looked around for confirmation and saw several people shaking their heads. “Show me your memory of earlier this evening after you thought you’d healed Rushwind.”

  Tarkyn’s memories did not have words attached to them, only images and feelings.Rainstorm embarrassed. Rushwind looking askance at me. Outrage and hurt at her behaviour. Autumn Leaves angry with me. Golden Toad nervous but kind. Feeling raw, shaken, frightened by intensity of feelings, tired.

  Waterstone pulled out. “Hmm. I think we could have looked after you a bit better after that first run-in with Rushwind. You seemed to have scored a lot of criticism when you were least able to deal with it. Still, so far so good,” he reported, with a reassuring smile at Tarkyn. He took a breath. “Right. I suppose I’d better see what happened when Rushwind came to see you tonight.

  Rushwind bending over me. I feel mildly friendly. Rushwind’s face fills with hatred. Eyes burning red. I’m watchful not frightened. Rushwind puts her hand on my shoulder. Searing pain. Raging wind above me. Everyone, come! Waterstone could feel an echo of the pain from the image but he persevered. Parasites pouring into me through my shoulder. Flooding everywhere. Flowing out through my hand up into the tree. Now, grey globules change direction. Moving towards my head. Shield goes up. Fear. Outrage. Power now destroying parasites. Anger and terrible images of forest dying flood in. Unleashed rage. Fiery blast through my all my blood vessels. Blinding, burning pain.

  Waterstone pulled out, sweat beading on his forehead. “Stars above, Tarkyn! You poor bastard! You’ve been through the wringer.”

  “But what do you think? Did my shield stop them getting to my brain?”

  Waterstone nodded, “I think so. There were parasites in you for some time before you put up the shield but they seemed intent on flowing into the poor old oak tree at the start. Even if your shield didn’t work, your outrage at their intention to enter your mind was what triggered your successful attack on them. So I think you are not infected.” The woodman regarded Tarkyn thoughtfully for a moment. “Do you think you can manage one more? I’ll scan your images now. Agreed?”

  Tarkyn took a deep breath, let it out and nodded. “Fine. Away you go.”

  Waterstone looking intently at me. Kind, strong, dependable, clever. I feel strung out and battered but safe and cared for by all around me. Affection. Warmth. Worry. Waterstone going pink. Amusement.

  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, “R
ushwind 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, howare 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 fir
e 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.”