Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (11 page)

Henry had been shocked. He’d never thought he’d be questioned. He’d thought they would understand and see their need.

‘I do!’ Clarence said with determination. He’d remembered the words written in the Prophecy. ‘I say it has everything to do with the Prophecy. You’ve just confirmed what we know. Yes, the snake travels through our lands, as it is written in the Prophecy. You’ve just confirmed it with your own words,’ he’d said.

The Ancient One had looked at Clarence. ‘You be Brother Clarence, I see. You’ve great conviction in your words. Do you stand by your Brother and ask the same, for the circle to be fulfilled?’

‘Yes, I stand by my Brother. The need for the boy outweighs any needs that we may have for ourselves.’

‘Do you understand the consequences of what you ask? Do you know that for us to complete the circle, it leaves only you two to perform the Binding? So the same two must be present at the Unbinding of the boy’s powers. If anything should happen to either one of you, the other won’t be able to return the boy’s essence? He can never have back what has been taken from him. Do you understand the consequences of what you ask?’ The Ancient One had turned to Henry to reaffirm his words. ‘Do you understand all I have spoken of?’

‘I understand,’ Henry had said.

The Ancient One spoke to Clarence again. ‘Do you agree with what your Brother asks? Are you sure you want to make this choice for the boy?’

Clarence looked at Henry to make sure this was what he wanted for Christopher and Henry had nodded.

‘I agree with the choice for the boy,’ Clarence had said.

‘Very well then, the circle will be filled.’

Relief had swept over Henry. Even if something should happen to either one of them, Christopher would be safe.

The Ancient One’s green glow moved as he’d taken his place in the circle.

‘You may have four others of your choosing, if they agree,’ he’d said. ‘But an elder of my choice shall fill the last place. Do you agree?’

‘Yes,’ Henry had said.

‘Call to them now.’

Henry had held the amulet between his palms. ‘I call Hierarch Jacob and Hierarch Astern to the circle. I call Brother Joseph and Brother Michael to the circle.’

As Henry had opened his eyes, four forms had appeared behind the stones in the circle and only one place had remained vacant.

The ancient Wizard had spoken to the others that’d arrived. ‘Do you Brothers agree with the choice Henry and Clarence make for this boy who lies upon the altar, in our great circle?’

Each one in turn had spoken their agreement. Then the voice of the Wizard had called forth the last to fill the circle. He was an ancient Wizard of the Order, Brother Asterly. Unknown to Henry, this ancient Wizard was from his lineage. Brother Asterly had looked at Henry and then at Christopher. Within the Other World, he’d watched as the events had unfolded and led them to this place in time. He’d witnessed Christopher’s birth and had watched as Henry began the boy’s lessons. Brother Asterly could see and feel Christopher’s essence and from the moment of his birth he’d watched as it had grown and magnified into the colossal force it now was. The light within Christopher had glowed, even as he lay asleep on the altar. The Wizards had watched the realm of the living; they all knew that one day the Prophecy would come true.

‘Let us begin,’ the Ancient One had said.

Henry and Clarence had opened their arms wide to encompass the circle while the others had chanted. They’d hummed in unison and their voices had echoed throughout the cavern as Henry had initiated the spell that would bind the boy’s powers. As he’d spoken, the small stones on the rocks had begun to levitate and spin on their axis. They’d moved at a slow pace and then as they’d gathered speed, they’d begun to rotate in an anticlockwise direction around the circle. Faster and faster they’d twirled as Henry had spoken the words of the Binding. Henry and Clarence had drawn their hands inwards until their arms were outstretched in front of them and their palms had faced each other as they’d conjured the spell.

Henry had cast this spell a few times before, when it had been requested of him. Foreman Johns had requested the removal of his essence. He couldn’t control his visions and every night as he’d slept he’d had the most horrific dreams.

As Henry and Clarence’s hands had faced each other, the stones converged and spun above Christopher as he lay asleep on the altar. A pale green light seeped from Christopher’s small form and mixed with the stones. As it drew up, the candles’ flames flickered and dimmed and the stones collided together with a cataclysmic bang. Christopher’s essence had changed to a dark emerald green light and it had radiated throughout the cavern, to light the walls with its eerie glow. As the mass came together the stones and light fused into a sphere and trapped Christopher’s essence within the spinning orb.

The light disappeared, the sphere stopped and the black orb had hung in mid-air. It was etched with Christopher’s magic and the emerald green scars had danced upon the orb as it had pulsed to the beat of Christopher’s heart.

The sphere plummeted towards the boy’s small body. The candles had burst back to flame as the sphere had plunged towards the child’s chest. As the orb reached Christopher it slowed and settled gently upon him as he slept on.

‘It is done!’ the Ancient One had said and then his light disappeared from the circle. Gradually the other Wizards disappeared, too, until only Brother Asterly and Hierarch Astern’s lights had remained. They’d watched the boy a little longer before they vanished as well. Clarence had then lifted the sphere from the boy’s chest and collected the hair from the bowl and Henry had given Clarence back the amulet.

Henry had lifted the boy from the altar and walked back over to the fire where he placed Christopher back upon the cot. He’d taken the sphere and lock of hair from Clarence and Clarence had searched for a box to store them in. He’d returned the amulet and then he’d chosen an old wooden box and stuffed it with small pieces of cloth. Henry had taken care as he placed the sphere and the lock of hair inside, and then from his pocket he’d removed Eric’s necklace and added it with the other items and closed the lid.

‘Rest tonight, my friend,’ Clarence had said. ‘You’re tired and need some sleep before you continue on your way to The Dale.’

Henry had conceded and after a drink he’d settled down by the fire to rest. Before Clarence knew it Henry had fallen asleep, and he’d covered him with warm furs and had taken to his own bed. They’d needed to be up and away early, he back to Canameer and Henry and Christopher to travel on towards The Dale.

They’d woken before first light and Clarence had been busy as he’d packed food Henry would need for his journey. When Henry had secured everything in the cart, he’d strapped a tarp over the supplies to keep out any rain and conceal its contents.

The fire had gone cold, no embers remained, just the small black coals within the ash. Christopher had stayed warm, wrapped in the furs while Henry carried him over to the cart and placed him in the back. He’d then tucked more furs around his grandson to keep him warm while Clarence had placed a sack of foodstuffs and two skins of water for their journey behind the driver’s seat of the cart. Together they’d dragged the cart through the walkway to where the horses had been penned and while Henry had fastened his horse to the cart they’d talked about the journeys that lay before them.

‘Clarence, what will you do when you get back to Canameer?’ Henry had asked.

‘I’ll return to the Chancellor and help the people survive this invasion. Hopefully the Chancellor will surrender for the people’s sake and not insist on a fight to save the manor. If he chooses unwisely many lives will be forfeit. I’ll stay with the town and help the people where I can,’ he’d told Henry.

‘It’ll be a dangerous time for you, Clarence,’ Henry had said to his friend. ‘Try and stay out of harm’s way. I’m proud of you and your commitment to the people.’ Henry had worried for his friend. After what he’d seen at the Keep, the people of Canameer needed someone strong to guide their choice, to fight or surrender to survive.

Clarence had then stopped and placed his hand upon Henry’s arm. ‘I’ll survive, and hopefully the Chancellor does the right thing for the people.’

The horse had been readied and Henry had led her through the tunnel to give Clarence room to saddle his own horse. That done, they’d ventured to the portal. Clarence had checked and made sure the way was clear as the sun lit the sky above the horizon and they’d left the safety of the cave and ventured outside. Clarence had sealed the portal again and the two friends had embraced.

‘Until we see each other again,’ Henry had said.

‘Yes, my Brother, until we’re reunited once more, may your journey be safe.’

Henry had known he wouldn’t see Clarence for a long time. They couldn’t risk being seen together for if they were ever caught it would mean death for them both.

They’d headed out in opposite directions and Henry had glanced back to look at Clarence and he’d prayed his friend would be safe within the walls of the Chancellor’s manor.

Mary gazed at Henry. She could hardly believe Henry had survived. The day had sped on and it was now afternoon and the children would be home soon.

‘Would you like to stay for the night and eat with us? I’m sure Thomas would enjoy spending the evening with you before you head off,’ Mary said as she tried to convince him to stay.

Henry wasn’t sure. He’d already spent most of the day with them and should be on his way.

‘What’s one more night, Henry? Christopher will still be there tomorrow and besides I think you should bathe and shave that face of yours before you arrive, or you might scare him half to death,’ Thomas said.

Henry laughed and before he could think of an excuse, Thomas left the table and was on his way to put Henry’s horse in the barn and Mary returned inside to prepare dinner. They’d made the decision for him and left him in the garden at the table.

When Thomas returned, his two youngest children had arrived home from school and now sat with Henry. Thomas smiled at the sight of them as they sat around the table and talked with their adopted uncle. He thought about all the time Henry had missed with Christopher and a little sadness crept into his heart for his dear friend.

Thomas greeted his children as he approached the table. ‘How was your day at school?’

‘Hello, Father. We learnt some new things today,’ Ellis said. ‘Sums, oh and about the Meer River. Where it begins in the Challisberg Mountains and the places it flows through before it finally ends up out in the sea.’

‘Good,’ Thomas said. ‘Now off into the house with you and help your Ma with the dinner.’

‘Bye, Henry,’ they both said before they ran off.

Henry loved Thomas and Mary’s children. They reminded him so much of his own family and how much of Christopher’s life he’d missed.

‘Henry, will you help me feed the animals before we head inside for dinner?’

‘What kind of question is that? As if I wouldn’t help.’ Henry liked to poke fun at Thomas and as they headed off to the barn, Henry thought about how much Clarence would like Thomas.

When they’d finished with the animals, Thomas and Henry entered the back door of the house.

‘You two better wash up before dinner. It’s nearly on the table,’ Mary said.

Henry rubbed his hands together. He did enjoy Mary’s hard work in the kitchen. ‘We already washed up at the barn, Mary,’ Henry said.

The children were seated around the table as Thomas and Henry took their seats. Mary placed a large pot of soup in the middle of the table, along with a plate of bread and butter—the last from that morning’s milking—and then she served out the soup.

Henry always enjoyed the time he spent with the Bartholemews. He loved to hear the children share the events of their day. The sounds of family chatter and the laughter in their voices brought him joy.

Leonie was the oldest of the Bartholemew clan at nearly twenty and with her beautiful black hair, she’d grown into a lovely young lady. She worked at the bakehouse in town and sometimes the owner would let her take home a loaf of bread.

Jonathon was next in line at seventeen. He worked for the local blacksmith. His job was to lift the heavy iron bars off the wagons and stack them in the storage shed. He wasn’t allowed to work the iron as of yet, but he enjoyed the work and was able to watch the smiths as they pummelled on the metal bars and shaped them into beautiful tools.

Mary and Thomas’ middle child’s name was Margareet. She was thirteen and attended the school in the town with the youngest two children of the household. The twins were now at the ripe old age of eight and thought they knew everything. Katherine and Ellis brought much joy to the household in the way they questioned everything and always had much to say on every topic.

Henry watched them as he ate. Their banter and play as they teased each other always amused him.

It was late by the time the meal was over and the children prepared for bed.

Mary made a pot of tea and passed Henry a cup as they gathered around the fire.

‘How do you feel about Christopher? You’ll see him tomorrow and he’ll learn who you are,’ she said.

‘I don’t know, Mary. I don’t know how he’ll react to my appearance after all these years. Will he hate me for leaving him with Albert and Rose? Will he understand? Will he want to know of his heritage? All these questions have been on my mind, but I’ll be happy to see the boy face to face. I’ll be glad to no longer keep secrets from him, and I hope he accepts me back into his life.’