Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (19 page)

‘Gerard,’ the Hierarch began, and he noticed how Gerard’s eyes longed for the book. It was then that he knew deep in his soul that Gerard didn’t tell the truth. ‘You say you’ve not studied from the book and that it’s only been in your possession for a short time, but now I find you long to have it back. I don’t think you’ve been entirely honest, Gerard. I think you’ve had the book longer than you say.’

Gerard stood there. He wanted the book back and would say anything to get it. ‘I don’t know what you mean, Hierarch. Like I said, I haven’t really even looked at it and if I’d known it was a book of such things I wouldn’t have bought it from the man in the village.’

He sounded genuine but they had to be sure. They couldn’t allow him to stay at the Keep unless they were certain. The Hierarch placed his elbows on top of his desk and his fingertips rested against each other as he bowed his forehead towards them and thought. Then he lifted his head and spoke to Gerard. ‘Very well.’ Gerard’s relief showed on his face and the Hierarch was now totally convinced they’d have to proceed with the Drawing. ‘Gerard, if we allow you to stay at the Keep we have to be sure you tell the truth and haven’t deviated from your path. You’ll be subject to a Drawing, to prove that the words you say are the truth.’

Hierarch Jacob then lifted his hand and his Wizard’s essence shot out and surrounded Gerard to hold him still while he began the Drawing. The Drawing would prove without a doubt the truth of this matter. The Hierarch would pull Gerard’s essence from his body and if it emitted any shade of green they’d know he was true to his word. However, if his essence was red they would, without a doubt, know that his words were false.

Hierarch Jacob continued as the other Brothers watched on. Slowly but surely Gerard’s essence emitted from his body to protrude an inch in front of him and its colour was ruby red. Hierarch Jacob stopped the Drawing and let Gerard’s essence reabsorb into his body and then he bound him tightly with his magic.

‘Gerard Antrobus, this Drawing has found you to be untrue. You’ve wilfully lied and dabbled into things that are forbidden here at the Keep. You’ll be stripped of your essence and then banished from our haven and the lands of Solencia. As I’ve spoken, so now let it be done.’

‘Brother Astern, escort Gerard to his room and have George help him pack his things and then take him to the Ceremonial Room. Brother Issac, gather the Wizards of the fold so they can stand and witness the removal and destruction of this man’s magic. Have them prepare the room.’

Hierarch Jacob rose from his chair and then picked up the book. Gerard couldn’t move his body, but still he followed the book with his eyes. ‘As for this,’ the Hierarch said as he held up the book, ‘it’ll no longer be a problem.’ Then he tossed the book into the fire.

‘No!’ Gerard yelled. As the flames licked at the book Gerard’s heart sank.

Hierarch Jacob released his hold on Gerard just enough so he could be escorted back to his room. Brother Astern now wove his own web around Gerard so he couldn’t flee before they’d completed the removal of his tainted essence. Whether Gerard had studied the book for a short time or not, his essence had already been taken over by the dark power and it could never be reversed. Once the taint had taken hold, he would be forever committed to the Dark Arts.

The Wizards all knew of the one in the old days who’d followed down this path and the devastation it had caused, not only at the Keep but also throughout the lands of Solencia.

Once Gerard had gathered his things, the Brothers walked him down to the Ceremonial Room. Two Brothers of the fold accompanied Brother Astern as he held his restraints on Gerard. The Ceremonial Room was located deep within the bowels of the Keep, close to where the bones of the Wizards from long ago had been laid to rest.

Gerard had never ventured into its depths before and as they made their way down the winding stairs and hallways, they passed the room where the Prophecy Books were kept. Deep into the bowels of the mountain they descended, down to where only the Wizards of the fold were allowed access. Small torches lit their way as they approached and soon extinguished themselves once the Brothers had passed.

The air cooled the deeper they ventured underground and no other sounds were present as they made their way down the stone staircases towards the Ceremonial Room. As they passed through the hallways, Gerard noticed other passages which lead off to the sides. He’d no idea that at the end of these passages the bones of the Wizards from the Old Time were laid to rest.

At the bottom of the stairs they turned down another passage and stopped as the door they were headed to came into view. Brother Astern walked over to the wall, near the left of the entrance. Upon the wall a myriad of symbols had been etched into the stone. He placed his hands over the etchings and moved them over the symbols, while he spoke an incantation. The door in front of them opened and Brother Astern walked through as the two Wizards behind Gerard urged him forward. As Gerard entered the room, the Wizards of the Keep parted and a narrow passage between them led to a stone circle. Gerard walked into the middle and the Wizards merged together again to surround him. Brother Astern removed his magic and the Wizards looked to their leader and waited for his instruction.

‘Gerard, you’ve been found in possession of a book, a book that contains an evil magic. The Drawing earlier proved that you retain the taint of the Sorcerers’ magic and we can’t allow you to leave the Keep with any of this evil.

‘You’ve wilfully lied about how long you’ve had the book and your use of its magic. Once one dabbles in such wickedness, there’s no return to your true self. You’ve left us with no option but to strip you of your magic. You will then be escorted from the Keep and taken to the port to be sent home. You are banished from this haven and can never return to Solencia.’

Gerard stared at the elders who surrounded him. They stood solemn but resolute as they listened to the words the Hierarch spoke. They knew the history and the teachings of the Old Times and knew what Hierarch Jacob said had to be done.

Hierarch Jacob spoke loud and clear. ‘We are, as of now, no longer individuals. We are one. Find your inner sanctum, Brothers, and prepare yourselves for what needs to be done.

‘Let us begin.’

The Brothers stood united and a low hum emerged from them as they began to perform the ritual.  The sound echoed through the room and Gerard placed his hands over his ears to drown out the noise, but he could still hear their voices as they chanted. The drone buzzed in his head and in pain he staggered around the circle to find a way out, but he couldn’t leave. He was surrounded, with no hope of escape. As he neared the Brothers his pain increased and the vibrations they emitted tortured his body. The taint would be hard to remove; it’d bound itself within Gerard and its tentacles had hooked into his soul.

Hierarch Jacob began the ritual. It was the same one Henry had used to bind Christopher’s essence, but the difference would be what happened once they had Gerard’s essence within the sphere. The stones spun around the circle. Gerard froze, his arms flew outwards from his body and his chest heaved towards the ceiling. The bright ruby red glow of his essence seeped from his vessel and he screamed with pain as the taint was ripped from his soul. It soared up towards the stones and as the two mixed, the stones collided with a thunderous crash that rocked the Keep. The stones had now melded into an orb and as it spun, the sphere pulled the evil from his body. Then the light disappeared and the orb became still. It hung above Gerard as he fell to his knees. The orb was as black as midnight and etched upon its surface Gerard’s essence pulsed to the beat of his heart.

As the orb plummeted Hierarch Jacob stopped the sphere in mid-air. Gerard slumped onto the cold stone floor and Hierarch Jacob hurtled the orb into the altar. The impact was so great that it caused shockwaves to reverberate throughout the Keep. A cloud of stone and dust spewed out and covered those in the room as the sphere disintegrated and extinguished Gerard’s power.

‘Gerard Antrobus, you’ll now be escorted to the port of Fledgel where you’ll be placed upon the first ship home. Never again will you be able to set foot upon the soil of Solencia. This land is now forbidden to you.’

The Brothers helped Gerard to his feet and escorted him through the passages of the Keep. As they passed through the main foyer towards the portal, the students watched as Gerard was taken outside and placed in a carriage. Four Brothers also climbed inside and the conveyance left. All in the Keep had felt the tremor as it rumbled through the building and were still shaken by the event. Never before had they seen their teachers surround someone and escort them from the Keep. They stared in amazement and whispered to each other of the possibilities that could’ve caused such an event to occur.

In time they’d learn what had happened that day, but it would be a while before the truth came to light. The Hierarch was disappointed with the events that had just played out and he was sure, if it wasn’t for the book that Gerard would’ve certainly come around. He’d thought the book they held in the Keep was the only one, but now he knew that wasn’t the case and wondered how many more there could be. The Hierarch would have to be diligent and watch for any sign that would reveal the appearance of any other.

Gerard arrived back in Reist. He stood on the deck of the ship and wondered what his father would say but there was nothing left to do except continue on and face him. As he collected his luggage from the dock a carriage pulled up. He loaded his bags and told the driver to head for his father’s home. As they travelled through the town, they drove past the tavern Gerard had visited when he was last home and he called for the driver to stop. He stepped out of the carriage and told the driver he wouldn’t be long then climbed the steps on to the portico and went inside. Gerard sat at the counter and ordered himself a drink. The warm amber fluid slid down his throat with ease and warmed his soul. When he’d finished he ordered another.

Time slipped by and the driver entered the tavern. He approached Gerard and could tell he was well into his cups.

‘Excuse me, Sir. How long before we leave? I’ve other things to do before I head home for the night.’

Gerard was relaxed, the beverages he’d consumed had eased his anxiety.

‘You can go along. Take my things to my father’s house and take this for your trouble,’ he said as he handed the driver some money. ‘I’ll find my own way home.’

Not sure what he should do, the driver thanked Gerard and left to take his luggage to the house. It was late and his wife would expect him home soon.

The carriage pulled to a halt in front of the Antrobus home and as the driver unloaded the bags Mathew attended to the carriage. He wasn’t pleased to hear that Master Gerard had sent his bags home without him and knew his Lord would be furious when he told him. Mathew thanked the driver and closed the door, then organised two of the houseboys to take Gerard’s bags up to his room as he went to tell Lord Antrobus the news.

Mathew knocked on the door to Devon’s study and was bid to enter.

‘My Lord, a livery driver has delivered Master Gerard’s things.’

‘And what of my son?’

Mathew was uncomfortable with the news he had to report. ‘My Lord, the livery driver had stopped for Master Gerard at the tavern on Gilly Street. After he waited for some time Gerard bid him to travel on and deliver his things here and said he’d be along later.’

‘Very well, Mathew. As soon as he arrives tells him I’d like to speak with him.’

Mathew waited and Devon looked up. ‘That will be all, Mathew.’

‘Yes, my Lord,’ Mathew said and left the study.

It was three days before Gerard arrived home. Mathew opened the door and let Gerard into the house.

‘Gerard, your father wishes to speak with you. I’d suggest you bathe and dress yourself in a presentable manner before you see him.’

‘Thank you, Mathew. I’ll take it under advisement,’ Gerard said as he stumbled through the door. He went to his room and fell asleep on the bed. It was late in the evening before he woke, bathed and sought out his father. He entered Devon’s chambers and found his father by the fire. There was a chill in the air as the fire hadn’t long been lit.

‘Father, you wished to see me?’ Gerard said as he walked over to the hearth.

Devon had looked up when he’d heard someone enter his room. ‘Gerard, come and sit over here,’ he said and he pointed to the lounge next to him.

‘I’m disappointed in you my son. You return home without any notice and only send your bags forth while you sit and drown yourself at the tavern. I want to know what’s going on, Gerard.’

‘Father, I’m ashamed to have been sent home for something I didn’t do. When I returned to the Keep, I worked hard at my studies. Then one morning the Hierarch came to my room and said that I’d in my possession a book. Jealous of how well I’d been doing someone must have hidden it among my things. I was dragged up in front of the Wizards of the Keep, to explain where the book had come from. Father, I’d no idea the book was of the Dark Arts and I couldn’t explain how it’d come into my possession but was punished for it. They dragged me to a room under the Keep and took my essence and then banished me from ever returning to Solencia. I’d been doing so well, father, and now it is all gone.’ Gerard told his lies and hoped they would pacify his father.

‘Father, how could I have been such a fool to ever think the others at the Keep were my friends? When all the time they must have plotted against me.’