The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) by Jenny Ealey Page A

wood still hung in the air. It didn’t cross his mind to think how much worse it could have been if he hadn’t intervened. He only thought about the fact that it was his power that had triggered the mutation of the parasites in the first place. Tarkyn wandered further afield beyond the burnt area where fallen trees and smashed branches littering the ground marked the vengeance of the oath. Never having considered that a woodman or woman might attack in an act beyond their volition, he had not foreseen this danger. He realised he had become complacent about the viciousness of the oath and had not maintained his campaign with Stormaway to change it.
    He wished he knew which way to go to start the journey to find Falling Rain. Then he could just pack up and leave. The others would have no trouble following his tracks and catching him up. Perhaps he could use a bird to guide him. He knew they were heading for the mountains in the south so he could use the mountains as an image
    He frowned as it was borne in upon him that there was actually no one around anywhere. This was the first time he had been on his own since the first morning he had awoken in the forest. Even then, the woodfolk had been watching him. Presumably someone was watching him now but it was strange that everyone was keeping out of sight. He heard footsteps crunching over the tree debris and turned to see Danton coming towards him.
    As he neared the prince, Danton gave a slight bow. “Good afternoon, my lord. Are you feeling better after your long sleep?”
    Tarkyn shrugged, “I have had enough sleep, if that’s what you mean. But I feel quite heartsick about the forest. And I seem to have misplaced an entire nation of people while I slept.”
    Danton smiled, “Your woodfolk are not far away. They could not bear to face this devastation while they waited for you. So I have been keeping guard until such time as you felt ready to rejoin them. I think you’ll find some packages of food and a waterbag waiting for you outside your shelter.”
    “Hmph.”Tarkyn glanced at his liegeman, “And what is the mood among them? In what light do they see me at the moment?”
    Danton raised his eyebrows. “Why do you ask? They seem much the same as always.”
    “They weren’t, I can assure you. After I disbanded the wolves and the huntsmen, they were clearly unnerved by what I had done.”
    “Were they?” asked Danton. “I missed that bit. Well, you can’t blame them. Every day you perform some new magic that has never been tried before. You astonish me, a sorcerer, let alone them.”
    Tarkyn gave a wry smile. “I don’t mind astonishing them. But I do mind when they start to shy away from me.” He shrugged despondently. “Still, who can blame them? Look at this mess I’ve wrought.”
    Danton waved his arm around. “What? This? You aren’t responsible for this. Without you, the whole forest would be like this.”
    “Without me, Rushwind wouldn’t be able to mindtalk, but the forest would be undamaged. It is only because the parasites fed on my power that the infection became so strong.”
    Danton kicked a bit of wood aside and bent down to pick up a tiny broken egg shell. He looked at Tarkyn for a moment before replying. “I can see what you mean but I don’t think the woodfolk are holding you responsible.”
    “Perhaps not. I don’t know. But I am holding me responsible.” Tarkyn swept his hand through his hair. “Maybe my brothers were right, after all. Maybe I am not safe with this power.”
    “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Anyway you know perfectly well your brothers were only using that as an excuse to disarm you. They didn’t really think your power was dangerous.” Danton gave a wry smile. “At least, not when they had you arrested. Maybe afterwards they did.” He shrugged, “Still, at least no one was killed this time.”
    Tarkyn glared at him. “No people were killed. But many birds and animals were killed, not to mention all these