Read Online The Wizard's Curse (Book 2) by Jenny Ealey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jenny Ealey
Ads: Link
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, “Rushwind 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
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, “Rushwind 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
Similar Books
