The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sorry, Tarkyn. I was just teasing,” said Ancient Oak, giving his adoptive brother a pat on the back, “I care no more for power and influence than I do for money. Woodfolk are used to having a fair say in things that matter. It’s usually a given, so it’s not something we hanker after.”
    Tarkyn’s face relaxed into a smile but Ancient Oaks’ last words had given him food for thought. As long as the woodfolk had a fair say, they wouldn’t be angling for power but if he upset their traditional decision-making too much, he would become the focus for power and attract the same sort of conniving attention that he had been the target for, at court. So far, he had insisted that the woodfolk keep their decision-making capacity but the urgency of recent events had meant that he had taken the lead on planning out their activities. With a jolt, he realised that he was quickly slipping back into his more accustomed role of being dictatorial.
    “Ancient Oak, you’d better send everyone another message asking them for any other better ideas, if they have them, about what we should be doing.”
    Ancient Oak regarded him quizzically for a moment before going out of focus to relay the message. When he had finished, he said, “I wasn’t trying to make a point, you know.”
    “I didn’t think you were. I just suddenly realised the dangers of assuming too much authority. I can do it, but it will have consequences for me as well as for everyone else.” Suddenly Tarkyn grinned, “I can remember when Waterstone first offered me his friendship, I told him I couldn’t be sure he wasn’t just using me for his own ends. That’s the problem with wielding too much power. You can’t be sure of anyone.”
    Ancient Oak boggled at him. “You said that t o Waterston e ? He must have been livid!”
    Tarkyn chortled. “He was. He was furious!” Then his face fell. “But soon after that, the controversy over Falling Rain’s exile reared its head and he began to realise why I was so circumspect about professed friendships. In fact when he realised the complications, he nearly retracted his offer of friendship to me altogether.”
    “Wolf’s teeth, Tarkyn. That was a bit rough.” Ancient Oak frowned, “I’m surprised at Waterstone. You can’t just be a person’s friend one day and then change your mind when it gets a bit difficult. True friendship is not like that.”
    Tarkyn gave a slight smile. “Don’t judge him too harshly. He was the first woodman to risk getting to know me. Neither of us knew at that stage how we were going to co-exist under the oath. Neither of us knew that I wasn’t going to assume total control. If I had done so, his friendship with me would have made him a target for woodfolk seeking to influence my decisions, just as I had been a target for those seeking influence with my brothers at court. He wasn’t sure that he would know how to manage that….and on top of everything, I still didn’t fully trust him at that stage.”
    “Still…”
    Tarkyn shook his head, “No, not still. It was really just Waterstone’s way of saying he didn’t know how to cope with the challenge of being around me. He’d just wrecked part of the forest with his temper too. So he was feeling very bad about that and was worried about it happening again.” Tarkyn shrugged, “That’s the main reason I maintain my permission for him to attack me if he needs to, and why I have given it to you two and a couple of others, as well. Damage to the forest is too wicked a consequence for a temper outburst, especially when I am perfectly capable of defending myself.”
    “I didn’t realise he’d damaged the forest,” mused Ancient Oak. “He hasn’t told me any of this.” 
    “Hasn’t he?” Tarkyn grimaced. “Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you either, then.” He thought for a moment, “But all the home guard know about the damage to the forest. We all worked on repairing it together. So it’s not really a secret, is