The Wizard's Curse (Book 2)

by Jenny Ealey

  After they had exchanged minimal greetings, a strained silence fell.

  After a long minute, the prince said coldly, “Now that you have done your duty, no doubt you would like to see your friends after all this time. Please feel free to leave us. We will follow on behind, at our own pace.”

  Just as Falling Rain was thinking that their encounter with the prince would be mercifully short, Tree Wind glanced at Waterstone and Summer Rain before saying firmly, “No. I think we would rather go back alongside you. We do not want to start celebrating Falling Rain’s return to the fold without you there. You are one of us, don’t forget.”

  “I hadn’t forgotten,” said Tarkyn, “but I thought you might have.” He turned his unnerving gaze on the hapless Falling Rain, “And never again make the mistake of confusing my status. As liege lord, I provide support and protection as I see fit but I answer to no one, not even to the king.”

  Falling Rain glanced at the woodfolk around him, a slow burn of anger igniting deep inside him, before bowing again, “I beg your pardon, Your Highness, for misunderstanding. I think it was because no one spoke to you or included you. I realise now that all those actions were pre-arranged to keep me from panicking, for which I thank you. I think I would have been truly overwhelmed if I had had six people, three of them sorcerers, on my reed platform. And to be honest,” he added tightly, “I do not have the best memories of sorcerers and have spent the years of my exile avoiding them. I am sorry if my uninformed remarks offended you.”

  For a long moment, Tarkyn just stood there, staring at him. Then he glanced first at Danton and then at Stormaway before bringing his eyes back to bear on the woodman. He dropped his arms to his sides. “Falling Rain, I did not wish to be so harsh at our first meeting. I accept your apology. And it is up to you, but please don’t feel you have to bow to me, every time you address me. I know it is an uncomfortable action for woodfolk.” With a visible effort, the prince relaxed his stance and walked over to squat next to the egret. He glanced up at Falling Rain, “This particular bird seems very loyal to you. She has not moved from here since you left.”

  Falling Rain let out a long, slow breath of relief and, grabbing a bit of dried fish from a little bag he had hanging beside his shelter, he came over and, feeling very daring, held it out to the prince, “Would you like to feed her?”

  For the first time since the woodfolk had returned, Tarkyn smiled, “Thank you. I would.”

  The woodman squatted down next to the prince as he held out the fish in his fingers. The egret eyed him for a moment before extending her neck and snapping the offering out of his fingers. Woodman and sorcerer smiled at each other.

  “I found her as a fledgling,” explained Falling Rain in his quiet voice. “I don’t know what happened to her parents but for some reason they abandoned her. Perhaps they were killed, I don’t know. But I rescued her from her nest in one of those trees over there. She was making an incredible noise as she became hungrier and hungrier. So I went to investigate.” He smiled sadly, “I suppose she will have to fend for herself now. She can, but she still likes getting little titbits from me.”

  For a moment, Tarkyn said nothing but then he turned to the woodman, “She would like to come with you, if you would allow it.”

  Falling Rain blinked, “Did you just ask her that?”

  Tarkyn nodded, “In so many pictures, yes.”

  A smiled spread slowly across Falling Rain’s face. “Yes. I would like that very much. It will take her away from her friends and her hunting ground, though.”

  “She’ll be all right,” said Tree Wind. “We can all help to find her food if there are places where other birds won’t allow her to fish.”

  Falling Rain put his hand out slowly and gently stroked the top of the egret’s head. “Did you hear that, Elsie? You’re coming with me.”

  Waterstone raised an eyebrow, “Elsie? You’ve given her a name?”

  Falling Rain nodded happily, at last beginning to relax, “Yes, Elsie the egret. Has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?”

  Amidst the smiles that greeted this, Summer Rain said firmly, “Shall we go? I am feeling hungry and it will take us half an hour to find our way back in the darkness. We can return tomorrow to collect any things you want to take with you.”

  Receiving assent from the prince, the woodfolk headed off through the trees while the sorcerers took to the air beside them. A short time later, a loud rattling shattered the quiet of the evening.

  “Hear that, Tarkyn?” called Waterstone. “That’s one of Falling Rain’s sound traps.”

  “Yes, very noisy. Just as well we approached by air, wasn’t it?”

  “I think so,” said Waterstone. But what they were really saying was that all was well between them again.

  Chapter 63

  Falling Rain sat quietly with his back against a tree watching his kinsmen in the flickering firelight. He had been inundated for the first couple of hours but just as he had begun to feel almost panicky at the unaccustomed bevy of people around him, they had all casually melted away to do other things. After a little while, a small darker haired woodchild walked over purposefully and sat himself calmly on Falling Rain’s knee. Midnight looked up at him and pointed firstly at Falling Rain, then at himself followed by clasping his hands in his gesture for friendship. When Falling Rain nodded a little uncertainly, Midnight showed him images of Falling Rain standing away from the main group of woodfolk followed by images of himself living alone outside the circle of the mountainfolk.

  Falling Rain frowned a little, “What happened to you? What did you do? You are too young to be exiled.”

  Midnight put his head on one side as he tried to work out what Falling Rain was saying. He pointed to one ear and shook his head. Falling Rain tried mind speaking to him and received no response. Eventually, Falling Rain pointed at Midnight, pointed away into the darkness and looked puzzled.

  The little boy beamed up at him and sent him images of Pipeless with his blue magic swirling over the woodfolk embittering their attitude to Midnight. Then he showed the whole episode of Tarkyn facing the resurrected Sorcerer and the swirling blue magic reversing the woodfolk’s attitude to him. Falling Rain was not sure that he completely understood but he knew enough to realise that Midnight was offering friendship based on shared experiences. The woodman nodded and repeated Midnight’s first set of gestures.

  Falling Rain looked up to see Tarkyn bearing down on them. He tried to hide his immediate fearful response but his dilated eyes gave him away. The sorcerer stopped short, giving him time to recover, before approaching more slowly and sitting down near him, with his knees drawn up and his arms linked loosely across them.

  Falling Rain rubbed his hand over his face, “I beg your pardon, Your Highness,” he said, “I know you mean me no harm but I am not yet used to the sight of sorcerers around me.”

  Tarkyn smiled gently, “I too am sorry for startling you. I have come to retrieve this little rascal who knows that everyone is supposed to be giving you a break.” He delivered a mock frown at Midnight, “Don’t you, rascal?”

  Midnight beamed at him and indicated that Falling Rain and he were now friends.

  Falling Rain thought through what Waterstone had said about Tarkyn, “Did you ask them to leave me alone for a while?”

  “Not exactly. I could feel your panic beginning to mount and relayed your feelings to them. What they did about it was their choice. I hope you don’t mind.” He smiled suddenly, “I’m afraid I have a tendency to orchestrate events.”

  “Why wouldn’t you? You are their liege lord, after all. I thought that was the whole point of the oath,” said Falling Rain trenchantly. He glanced at Tarkyn before letting his eyes travel slowly over the woodfolk and sorcerers chatting in relaxed groups around the firesite. He took a quick breath and then blurted out, “I am just glad that everyone has not suffered too badly under it.”

  Tarkyn raised his eyebrows. “You do have courage, my friend, don�
�t you? To say that to me, so early in our acquaintance.” Falling Rain swallowed nervously but the prince merely said, “I am not the person who can reassure you that they have not. For that, you must ask Tree Wind or Waterstone or one of the others. My hope is that they have not suffered too much. I have tried to fulfil my part of the bargain as their liege lord well enough so that they do not feel too hard done by.” He shrugged, “But nothing replaces freedom, does it?”

  Tarkyn found himself being scrutinised by the man who had spent long enough alone to pay less heed to social niceties. He endured it without comment until Falling Rain answered, “No. Nothing replaces freedom.” Staring Tarkyn straight in the eye, he said, “I did not swear your oath. Must I do so now, to live once more among my kin?”

  Tarkyn didn’t rush his response. He thought carefully but decided that, if his leadership depended on the oath of one woodman among many, he did not deserve it anyway. “No. I have never intentionally forced woodfolk to make that vow. I would like some reassurance that you will not harm me but you do not have to swear the oath. Perhaps that can be some recompense for your unjust exile.”

  Falling Rain’s eyes narrowed, “If I am the only woodman free to do as he chooses, will that not continue to isolate me?”

  “That is your choice. Talk it through with the others, if you like. Perhaps wait for a while before you decide. I personally doubt that it will make much difference either way, but it is not I who stands to lose my freedom. I lost mine a long time ago.” In answer to Falling Rain’s frown of confusion, Tarkyn said, “I too swore an oath and my commitment is much heavier than any woodfolk’s.”

  When Falling Rain looked sceptical, Tarkyn waved his hand, “I’m not going to argue with you over it. If you don’t believe me, ask the others. And now I am going to relieve you of our presence.” He transferred his gaze to Midnight, “Come on, Rascal. Bedtime.”

  He stood up and smiled broadly as Midnight ran and launched himself into his arms.

  “What happened to him?” asked Falling Rain quietly. “I know he was isolated and something about a sorcerer with blue magic but I didn’t properly understand his images.”

  “His father put a curse on him so that everyone would revile him. He has had a very hard life. The curse was only lifted a few days ago.”

  Falling Rain’s face tightened with shock, “Isn’t he a woodman?”

  “Yes and no. He’s a woodman with a sorcerer father.”

  “That’s a disgrace!” exclaimed the woodman hotly. “How can this have been allowed to happen?”

  Tarkyn hugged Midnight to him. “Might I suggest,” he said coldly, “that you make sure you get your facts straight before throwing your opinions around? I would do a lot of listening before I started passing judgements, if I were you. You will hurt people who have already been hurt too much, if you are not careful.”

  Falling Rain glared at him belligerently for a moment, clearly questioning his right to comment on woodfolk affairs. Then the tension drained out of him, “You are right, of course. I have a lot to catch up on. After all, I have never in my life seen woodfolk and sorcerers talking amicably together.”

  “If you want to take it slowly getting to know sorcerers, might I suggest you start with String and Bean? They are trappers, used to an isolated existence. None of us has a vested interest in harming or frightening woodfolk. In fact, String and Bean consider it a privilege to be allowed to reside with you for a while, as do I.” He turned to walk away but stopped and looked back over his shoulder, “But whatever you do or say, please don’t hurt Midnight. He came to you as your friend because he could see that you have suffered as he has. He is not responsible for his parents. However you end up judging them, don’t confuse who you are condemning.”

  Falling Rain stood up. “Wait.” He came over and tapped Midnight to get his attention. Then he pointed at the little boy and himself and made the sign for friendship. Midnight smiled and nodded, giving a little wave over Tarkyn’s shoulder as he was borne off to bed.

  As it turned out, String and Bean were not the next sorcerers that Falling Rain talked to. Within minutes of Tarkyn leaving, Stormaway Treemaster strolled over and presented himself with a small bow. Falling Rain ignored him and stared straight past him.

  Undeterred, Stormaway began, “Falling Rain, we find ourselves in an awkward situation. I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for what I did to you, but unfortunately I can’t.” Stormaway glanced at the woodman but saw only his profile. “I am and always have been devoutly loyal to Markazon and Tarkyn. Their welfare has always come before all else. So, because the woodfolk are now obliged to protect the prince, I cannot regret my actions. On the other hand, I know Prince Tarkyn was very unimpressed when he found out how I had gained the information from you and I can say that I am wholeheartedly sorry that you were exiled because of it. Had I known, and it had not been to Tarkyn’s detriment, I would have told the woodfolk that I had used mind control on you.”

  Finally Falling Rain turned to look at the wizard, “You are remarkably honest even if I do not necessarily share your opinions.”

  Stormaway smiled and shook his head, “Never make the mistake of thinking that. I lie, even to Tarkyn when I think it suits his cause. However, at the moment, I think it suits his cause for us to find a way to tolerate each other.”

  “I, however, have no vested interest in Prince Tarkyn’s cause.”

  Stormaway considered him for a moment, “I think you will find that his cause and the woodfolk’s cause are one.”

  Falling Rain shrugged, “I am not yet sure that I even care about the woodfolk cause. It will depend on what it turns out to be. A lot has changed since I last stood among my kin. No one has had any care for me for a long time. I do not feel that I owe them much.”

  “What about Tree Wind?”

  “Hmm. We’ll see. We are both remembering the other person as we were, twelve years ago. I have spent more of my adult life apart from her than with her. A lot changes in twelve years.”

  “Tree Wind gave Tarkyn such a hard time when he first arrived. She began by physically attacking him…I think she would have killed him then and there, if the swirling wind hadn’t shown her that the forest was truly under threat. So then she showed him how the oath was instigated and made sure he knew how unwelcome he was. She followed this with ongoing agitation against him until he pointed out that her hostility was damaging the forest. She fought him every inch of the way. Eventually she acknowledged that woodfolk would be able to live with him. But only when his actions demonstrated how much he was willing to suffer to protect the forest and woodfolk, did she finally give him her true support and explain to him why she had been so antagonistic.”

  Falling Rain stared at the wizard, “Why are you telling me this?”

  “To show you that some people at least have cared about you the whole time you were away. Summer Rain has advocated for you unstintingly.”

  “Hmph. Maybe so. But I walk back into a society that suddenly accepts our sworn enemies as friends, where a sorcerer has become a woodman and where a woodchild has a sorcerer father.” Falling Rain shook his head back and forth, “I am shocked by what I see. It goes against my whole upbringing, my entire heritage. After what you and your cronies did to me, I will not be so quick to accept sorcerers as my friends.”

  “What do you mean me and my cronies? Don’t spread the blame too widely. It was only King Markazon and I who were responsible for what happened to you.”

  Falling Rain snorted, “And what about the others?” He began to push Stormaway in the chest almost as punctuation for his phrases, forcing him to take a step backwards with every jab. “Those sorcerers who woke me every half hour and interrogated me, who removed the food you gave me before I could eat more than a few mouthfuls? - And I withstood all of that and gave nothing away, despite my hunger and illness and lack of sleep. Then suddenly,” Here, an extra hard shove drove Stormaway back against a tree. “after a blank in my memory, I find mys
elf on the road into the forest on the way to betraying my kin.”

  As he was speaking, a group of woodfolk had quietly gathered to listen to his story, outrage at his treatment clear on their faces. Stormaway was aware that he was surrounded by growing hostility but kept his eyes unwaveringly on Falling Rain.

  “Stormaway, you have been dishonest with us,” rumbled Thunder Storm’s deep voice. “Even after you told Tarkyn about the mind control, you still didn’t confess the extent of the torture you subjected Falling Rain to, or that other people were involved.” Thunder Storm stood scowling at the wizard. “I know you are devious but I thought you had always been straight with us about keeping our existence secret.”

  “Waterstone, could you ask Tarkyn to come over here please?” asked Stormaway quietly, his eyes still not leaving Falling Rain.

  “Why?” sneered Falling Rain. “Do you need him to protect you from us now that everyone knows the extent of your infamy?”

  “No. I am quite capable of protecting myself, should the need arise.” The wizard, back against the tree, let his eyes survey the bevy of woodfolk who surrounded him before returning his regard to Falling Rain. “But what you have said concerns me deeply. I did not orchestrate your ill treatment. Someone else knew of your existence without my knowledge.”

  “Don’t be pathetic, old man,” spat out Falling Rain. “The game is up and you know it.”

  “No,” Waterstone intervened. “I don’t think it is that simple. I’m beginning to wish it were. Stormaway knew you would tell people everything, once you had returned. If he had something to hide, why did he just stay here waiting to be found out? He may be devious but he is not a fool.”

  “Thank you for those kind words,” said Stormaway dryly.

  The dark mood of the woodfolk did not lighten. As Tarkyn appeared at the rear of the throng, people moved aside with ill grace, to let him into the group. He glanced around at the angry faces and asked Stormaway, “Why did you send for me?”