by Jenny Ealey
“What? Did he save your life?”
“Rainstorm, I’m not going to tell you. So stop guessing. He did save my life at one time but that could just have been the oath, so it proved nothing. You will have to ask Waterstone. And don’t say I asked him to tell you, because it is totally up to him. Clear?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” replied Rainstorm meekly.
Tarkyn gave a short laugh. “And I think we have had quite enough of the ‘Yes Your Highness’, ‘No Your Highness’. You can go back to calling me Prince or Tarkyn anytime you’re ready.”
Rainstorm grinned, “Thanks, prince. If you’re sure that’s not being too familiar.”
“Don’t push your luck, Rainstorm.”
The young woodman sighed, “I can see why Waterstone thought it was a challenge being around you. It really is quite tricky trying to figure out how to act with you.”
“Oh, good,” replied Tarkyn, completely unfazed by this little gambit. “The world is back on its axis then. It’s well-known that I’m difficult to be around. Ask anyone. So if you’re finding that too, everything must be back to normal.”
Rainstorm subsided with a little huff and they walked in silence for a few minutes. Then Tarkyn ruffled Rainstorm’s hair and gave him a couple of hearty thumps on the back. “Come on, Rainstorm. We’ll sort it out. We’ve only had one run-in with each other, so far, not counting your fight with Danton. Considering how much you like to rub people up the wrong way and how difficult I am to figure out, I’d say we’re doing pretty well.”
Rainstorm pushed his arm away but gave a reluctant smile. “I guess we are, if you put it like that.”
As they approached the firesite, Summer Rain came down to meet them.
Tarkyn frowned in sudden anxiety, “Is Autumn Leaves all right?”
The healer smiled reassuringly, “Yes. He’s fine. I wanted to talk to you about Golden Toad, Rushwind and Ibis Wings, the woodfolk we rescued.”
“Go on.” As he spoke with Summer Rain, Tarkyn noticed with some trepidation that his two companions were making a beeline for Waterstone. However, as his attention was being firmly claimed by Summer Rain, there wasn’t much he could do but leave Waterstone to his fate.
“You know that Golden Toad and his family contracted an infection some time ago that robbed them of their mindtalking abilities?” asked Summer Rain. When Tarkyn nodded, she continued, “I was wondering whether you, as forest guardian, could use your esse to restore their mindtalking? They would be much safer if they could keep in contact with everyone else.”
“Yes, they would. I would be pleased to help them if I can,” replied Tarkyn, “provided, of course, that they feel ready to trust me. I will discuss it with them after we have decided what we are all doing.”
Meanwhile, Ancient Oak was reproaching his brother. “How could you threaten to withdraw your friendship from Tarkyn? What sort of friendship is that?”
Waterstone looked bewildered. “What are you talking about? I’m still Tarkyn’s friend. At least I am, as far as I know.”
Ancient Oak frowned impatiently. “I don’t mean now. I mean back when you first knew him.”
Waterstone’s brow cleared. “Oh then.” He smiled a little ruefully, “Yes, it was a bit mean, I suppose. But everything was very new and strange then. All this business about power games and not being trusted. Poor Tarkyn was very kind about it when I said I wouldn’t be able to stay around him. That’s what made me stay, actually.”
“And what made him trust you?” asked Rainstorm.
Waterstone glanced at him then looked away. After a moment, he looked back at him and asked, “I gather Tarkyn didn’t tell you why. Did he say that it would be better coming from me?”
Rainstorm shook his head and replied faithfully, “No. He said you didn’t have to tell us.”
“But,” added Ancient Oak, “he said that it was extremely courageous and we’re both dying to know.”
Waterstone laughed. “Another classic example of Tarkyn manoeuvring people.”
Ancient Oak smiled. “No. In fairness, I don’t think it is. We were pressing him hard and he refused to budge.”
Waterstone looked around to check who was nearby. “I don’t want everyone knowing about this. Some people may think it was foolish or excessive and I don’t want judgements being passed on my actions. So if I tell you, it goes no further. Agreed?”
The two woodmen nodded solemnly.
“I gave Tarkyn free rein with my memories without any veto,” Waterstone said shortly.
“Oh.” Rainstorm sounded deflated. Then he thought about it a bit more and his eyes widened. “Oh! Stars above, Waterstone! Tarkyn was right. That was excessively brave.”
Ancient Oak regarded him thoughtfully. “You really have put yourself on the line for him, haven’t you? Over and over again. And you invited him into our family in front of a full assembly of woodfolk without even being sure he would accept. That would have been horrendously embarrassing if he had refused.”
Waterstone smiled, “Yes. It certainly would have been. For a heartbeat of time, I thought he was going to. After all, it was a huge commitment for him to get his head around with only a few seconds’ warning; choosing whether to become part of what, from his perspective, is a commoner’s family.”
“So why did you do it?”
“Which one?”
“Both.”
Waterstone shrugged. “Lots of reasons. He accused me at one point of having him as a pet project. That was partly true. I saw how damaged he had been by the betrayals he had suffered and I wanted to help him to recover. As I have come to know him, it has been intriguing to watch him digest our culture and change his behaviour and expectations to accommodate us. I suppose the fact that he was able to shift his thinking so fast that he could accept joining our family on a moment’s thought sums it up, really. He’s amazing, the way he can change his preconceptions.”
“Huh! I just had a dressing down for being too familiar with him. So I’m not sure I agree with that one.”
Waterstone smiled. “But I bet that was more because Tarkyn has thought out how far he wants to go and has drawn a line in the sand. Whereas, you see, most people just stay as they are, without question. If he had done that, we’d all be bowing and scraping to him by now, just as Danton did when he first arrived.”
Rainstorm looked much struck. “You’re right. I keep forgetting where he’s come from. Hmph. I suppose it’s reasonable that he doesn’t want to go all the way to being the same as us.”
“No. He is, after all, from a completely different culture, not to mention, being a prince. He’s never going to be the same as us but that doesn’t mean we can’t get on with him.” Waterstone grinned. “And he’s always made it perfectly clear that he can’t go as far as considering himself equal with everyone else.”
“Which makes it all the more amazing that he joined our family.”
“Yes. It does, doesn’t it?” Waterstone thought for a minute. “Oh no. I know how he’s thought his way around that. In his birth family, different people have different ranks. His brothers are both more highly ranked than he. So Tarkyn can easily be a member of our family and have a higher rank than us. He doesn’t have to consider himself as equal at all, does he?”
Ancient Oak shook his head in bemusement. “No, I suppose not. What a peculiar system they have.”
“Besides, he’s the only member of your family who has everyone beholden to him under the oath,” added Rainstorm.
“True.”
Waterstone put his head on one side and considered his brother, “I don’t think I told you this, Ancient Oak, but he felt genuinely honoured to be asked to join our family.”
“I think you’re right. I’m sure when he said it to me that he wasn’t just saying it to be polite.”
Waterstone shook his head and smiled, “Tarkyn would not be polite at the expense of truth. Because of all the betrayals and our resentment about the oath, he is very unsure of hims
elf in some ways. He is very strange mixture of vulnerability and strength.” He shrugged. “Anyway, despite or maybe because of that, he has managed to pull something workable out of the hideous reality of us having to accept him as our liege lord.”
Ancient Oak gave his brother a slow smile, “I think he might have struggled more if he hadn’t had your support.”
“I think we all might have struggled more if he hadn’t had your support,” added Rainstorm.
Waterstone nodded. “Possibly. But I try not to use my friendship with him to manipulate his attitudes. Looking back, I can see that things I’ve said, and Autumn Leaves has said, have changed his views but that was mostly because it gave him new information. If I wanted him to change his attitude about something, I would say so to him directly.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, Waterstone! You don’t have to tell us that,” exclaimed his brother. “We know you. You have all the subtlety of a rock.”
“Thanks very much,” replied Waterstone dryly. As he spoke, he saw Tarkyn on the other side of the clearing raise his eyebrows in query. The woodman raised his own eyebrows and nodded in response. Tarkyn let out a guffaw of laughter that made Summer Rain frown at him. As Waterstone looked away, Tarkyn was trying to explain to the humourless Summer Rain what he had been laughing at.
Chapter 3
It wasn’t until the evening that Tarkyn had a chance to address the issue of the freed woodfolk’s lack of mind talking. During the day, they had discussed and endorsed Tarkyn’s plan of action, acknowledging that it was what they had all previously decided upon anyway. Everyone, even Danton, agreed with the premise that the prophecy should be ignored until the threat facing the woodfolk had been investigated and dealt with.
When they had settled down after dinner and everyone was sitting back around the fire, drinks in hands, Tarkyn spoke diffidently to Rushwind, “I understand you have lost your mindtalking ability. Is that right?”
Rushwind nodded unhappily. “It makes us feel cut off from everyone.”
“I know just how you feel,” said Tarkyn dryly. “I am also unable to mindtalk.” He leaned forward, “However, Summer Rain and I were thinking that I might be able to repair your ability. If you would trust me and let me try. I can’t promise but it might work. What do you think?” Seeing Rushwind hesitate, he threw up a hand and said hastily, “Perhaps it’s too soon just yet. Think about it. Maybe later when you get to know me better.”
Rushwind glanced at Golden Toad and little Ibis Wings. Then she smiled and looked at Tarkyn. “Although my experience of sorcerers to date has not been pleasant, I believe I can trust you. All my kin seem to trust you and you were very careful when you removed the chains. Yes. I believe I can trust you and I would like to try.”
“I can promise I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee success.” He looked across the fire, “Summer Rain, do you think you could assist us please? Are you sure this idea is safe?”
Summer Rain walked around to sit beside Tarkyn. She considered her answer carefully, “Yes. I think it will be safe. I know little about this type of infection and even less about your power but it is a healing power. I can’t see that it could do any harm. I will stand by to help you, if you need it.”
“Thanks.” Tarkyn refocused on Rushwind, “You will need to close your eyes and concentrate. Do you want to do that here or go somewhere quieter?”
A tiny flicker of uncertainty betrayed the limit of her trust.
“Fine,” said Tarkyn dryly as though she had spoken. “We’ll do it here.” He placed his hand firmly on her shoulder and instructed, “Now, close your eyes and focus on your centre. Feel around with your mind and look for the place where your thoughts are blocked. Even if you can’t really see it, imagine what it must look like and where it is and what it is made of.” He waited. When she didn’t respond, he asked, “Can you do that?”
She shook her head. “Everywhere I go, there are patches of scarring and bits of foreign matter, small grey globules, drifting around in my blood.”
Tarkyn frowned. “I am going to send some of my life force into your body. You must direct it to repair the damaged areas and to rid your blood of those foreign particles. You will feel it entering your body through my hand…now.”
Rushwind went rigid under his hand. Her face paled and beads of sweat appeared on her brow. She frowned fiercely with concentration and grimaced from time to time as waves of pain swept through her. Tarkyn held his hand steady on her shoulder although he sent the occasional anxious glance at Summer Rain. Suddenly Rushwind cried out, “The grey things are getting stronger and multiplying.”
Tarkyn threw a frightened glance at Summer Rain. “I’m going in,” he said.
“How?”
“I don’t know but I am.” He shut his eyes and followed his own power along his arm and down through Rushwind’s shoulder into her blood stream. He found himself assailed on all sides by grey globules that rushed at him and sucked at his power. Before his very eyes, they expanded and solidified and came back for more. He drew on more power but they just absorbed it all the faster. With a sense of panic, he felt his strength fading and felt himself being swept through Rushwind’s blood stream, his very essence dissipating into the grey parasites around him. Far outside in the world around the firesite, he managed to whisper, “Tree.” As he started to lose consciousness, he thought of Waterstone and Rainstorm and the faith they had in him. Some time later, a steady stream of energy began to seep into him but this time he harnessed it and didn’t let it go beyond his boundaries. Once he had accumulated enough power, he raged in anger at these beings that were trying to destroy him when he had at last found a way to live. He brought centuries of royal arrogance to bear and dared them to assail him. Then he struck out with a mind blast of wrath that tore down the byways of Rushwind’s bloodstream burning away any grey parasites in its path with a massive overload of energy.
When that terrible barrage of wrathful power had burnt its way into every corner of Rushwind’s being, Tarkyn pulled the power back in and waited in fear that Rushwind might be too damaged. She was certainly unconscious. He sent a gentle exploratory trickle of healing power coursing through her bloodstream to soothe the aggravated interiors of her veins and arteries. All the surfaces were raw and burnt. There were small tears in some places. He increased the flow and gradually repaired all the damage. He found her heart and felt that it was still beating strongly. He flowed into her lungs and felt the rise and fall around him. Slowly, with a sense of dread he worked his way up towards her brain. He nudged against its borders but felt a firm resistance. He nudged harder and was pushed firmly backwards. Then he sensed Rushwind’s voice saying, “Keep out. This is mine.” Tarkyn let himself go and flowed backwards towards Rushwind’s shoulder, back along his arm and into his own body. Then he drifted away completely.
He opened his eyes to see a ring of anxious faces bending over him. He was nowhere near the fire. He was lying with his palm placed against a large oak. There were other, bigger trees nearby but Tarkyn suspected that Waterstone knew he liked oaks best. He remembered his ordeal and his eyes widened in panic, “Rushwind. Is she all right?”
For an answer, Autumn Leaves went briefly out of focus and reported, “She says she’s fine.”
Tarkyn let out a long breath, “She can mindtalk again? Oh good. I’m glad it was worth it. I nearly died in there and so did she. And I think she went through a lot of pain.” He looked around himself. “Thanks for moving me here. You saved my life and hers by doing that.”
“Are you right to get up yet?” asked Waterstone.
Tarkyn lifted his head then let it drop back down. “Hmm. Maybe not quite yet. I am really thirsty though. It was an inferno in there for a while.” He lifted his other hand and inspected it. “I haven’t gone green yet. Just shows I haven’t overdone the power refill yet.”
It was quite some time before Tarkyn felt strong enough to move. Even then, he wavered when he stood up and had to be supported
down to the firesite. As he was lowered carefully to sit with his back against a log, he became aware that Rushwind had scuttled away from him around to the other side of the fire. He frowned and asked Rainstorm, “What was that all about?”
Rainstorm grimaced, “I don’t quite understand but it has something to do with a wave of your anger.”
“I didn’t get angry with her,” replied Tarkyn in a puzzled voice.
“I don’t know. She said you sent a huge mind blast of rage and I don’t know, hauteur? arrogance? through her. And she said she was afraid of anyone who had that in them.” Rainstorm met Tarkyn’s eyes reluctantly. “Something like that,” he finished lamely.
Tarkyn’s amber eyes glinted in the firelight. “It was that rage and arrogance that saved her life and mine.” He crossed his arms. “Blast her. She’s a sanctimonious little pond dweller! Would she have preferred me to politely allow those grey bloodsuckers to annihilate us both?” He glared at her across the fire. Suddenly she rose and came around to stand before him, clearly quaking.
“Rushwind, I am offended by your behaviour. Yes. I have rage and arrogance within me, as we all do. If I hadn’t harnessed mine to attack those foreign bodies in your blood, you would be dead by now. Your ingratitude and lack of civility sorely tempt me to unleash my anger on you and really show you what you have to fear. But you have suffered enough at the hands of sorcerers. I will not add to it. You can think on this, though. My rage was not ungoverned nor was it directed against you. It was harnessed for your protection.” He glared up at her, “I hope that if you ever entrust someone with your dark side, they do not reject you as summarily as you have rejected me.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Please feel free to return to the other side of the fire safely away from me, the person who just saved your life.”
If this last remark sounded petulant, Rushwind didn’t notice. She just turned and fled.
Autumn Leaves wandered over and sat down. He frowned at Tarkyn. “I caught the edge of that summons you just sent her. I gather it was followed up by a salutary dressing down.”
