Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (37 page)

The next morning, wrapped in his cloak, Henry rode into the village of Corn Fallow while everyone else in the Bartholemew house slept on. His intentions were to call upon Frank, the man he’d met when he’d first left upon his journey to see Christopher.

It was early and the sun had just begun to cast its first rays of light upon the sleeping village. As Henry passed by the Trading House, he saw that the doors stood wide open and it appeared to be deserted. Henry reined his horse in and stopped by the tree where he’d first met Frank. He dismounted his mare and tied her to a limb and ventured over to have a look inside. When he entered the building, it had been emptied of all weapons and Henry worried where they’d gone.

He mounted his horse and hurried towards the lane by the bakery and onto the house with the red door. The little house was quiet and Henry had to knock twice before he heard any movement from within. Slowly the door opened. Frank stood before Henry with his shirt untucked. He’d dressed in a hurry and was still half asleep and his eyes lit up as he recognised Henry.

‘Come in, come in,’ Frank said.

‘I know it’s early, but I needed to speak with you,’ Henry said.

‘It’s never too early. I told you anytime you’d be welcome. Come in and I’ll make some tea and we can talk.’ Frank led Henry towards the small kitchen.

‘Sit, Henry, while I light the fire,’ Frank said as he pulled a chair from the table. Henry sat and watched while Frank began to rekindle the embers in the hearth.

‘So what have you come to see me about?’ Frank asked as he prepared the tea.

‘I came to see you about the armoury, but it now stands empty,’ Henry said.

‘Yes, a rider came early yesterday. The Lord has ordered the majority of his soldiers to return to the Keep. Why, what’s going on Henry?’

Henry filled Frank in on the events pertaining to Canameer, but he deliberately omitted the time they’d spent within the Caves of Choice. The caves were sacred and the less people who knew about them, the better.

‘So you’re the ones involved in the happenings there? Are you the Wizard the soldiers speak of?’ Frank had to ask the question, he needed to know.

‘Yes,’ Henry said.

‘Thank heavens,’ Frank said and he began to ramble on.

‘Frank, slow down. What are you talking about?’

Frank rose from the table and slipped into the small bedroom he shared with his wife, soon returning with a small red book. He handed it to Henry.

‘This book has belonged to my family for hundreds of years. Each one who has held it has guarded it with his life and in turn when they felt their son was ready, it was then passed on. As a child I relished the stories my father told me about it and I dreamt of the day it would become mine to hold and protect, until my turn came to pass it onto my son.

‘Late one night in my twenty-fifth year, my father came to me with the book. We’d just opened the Trading House in the village and I’d been working long hours and my wife and I had already retired for the night.

‘My father, Arath, was sick and had journeyed out with a desperate need to pass the book to my hands. His thoughts dwelt upon handing over his responsibility and he made me promise, upon the book, to take care of it. If the One didn’t come within my time, I was to hand the book over to my son and teach him the importance of its protection.

‘While he rode home, in the early hours of the morning, a storm descended and my father was thrown from his horse. He was found the next day down the bottom of a ravine with a broken neck. As the years passed by my wife and I had a son, a child to grace our home. But one day while he swam with his friends in the river, he was caught in an undercurrent and drowned. From that day, my faith to pass the book on also died.’

Henry was saddened for this man and he sat quietly while he waited for Frank to continue with his story. Frank sat at the table and said nothing more.

Henry looked at the book he held. It was one he’d never seen before, but as he opened the cover, he noticed an inscription inside. Under the inscription was the author’s name.

The instant Henry saw the name he knew Frank spoke the truth, for the name etched upon the inside page was that of Asterly Du Laurent, Wizard of the Order.

‘What does the book contain that I need to know?’

Frank took the book from Henry and then he flicked through its pages until he found the passage he was looking for. He turned the book for Henry to see and he quoted the passage.

‘For when the Wizard comes forth to save his brother, they’ll cause events unlike another. While all that’s good is there to save, the snake they fight for, he will enslave. The beast will rise and with his power, suck the life from every flower. This book they’ll find is the key, to force back evil it’s up to thee.’

Henry shivered. Had their actions triggered a chain of events that would lead them down yet another path?

Frank watched as the colour drained from Henry’s face.

‘Henry, it hasn’t yet come to pass. Things aren’t always as they seem. You of all people should know that.’

Henry shook himself. What Frank said was true. These books always had a way to instil fear into the reader and were quite easily taken out of context.

‘So what’s our plan, Henry? The book is now yours, and I for one will assist you in any way I can. There are others here too, who are willing to rise up. Most of the soldiers have left the village and I’m sure we can overpower those who remain.’

Henry rubbed his chin as he thought upon all that Frank had shared with him.

‘Gather those who’ll come to our aid. The time is now. We’ll oust those who’ve taken our lands. As we speak others are already doing the same and they ride this way to join us in our task. The reason we rescued the prisoner in Canameer is that he is, as the book says, my Brother of the Order and together we have returned the powers back to the One who will lead us. He’s come of age and is no longer hidden. He is, as he always should have been, a Wizard with powers greater than anyone can imagine. Christopher is the One to lead us forth and rid our realm of these evil foes.’

Henry rose from his seat. ‘I must go, Frank. Speak to those in your fold and find out if they’re ready to join with us. We leave early tomorrow. Meet us at the crossroad.’

As Henry rode back to Thomas’, he thought about the book. Should he tell Christopher about it? Of course he would, but maybe he’d wait until he’d had time to look through it first.

Jimmy arrived at Thomas and Mary’s home that morning. He brought news with him that the people had taken back their towns.

Henry returned to the house in time for breakfast and as the household gathered together they spent the day finalizing their plans.

Early the next morning as the group prepared to head into Corn Fallow, Albert drew Christopher away. In his hands, he held a large object wrapped in cloth.

‘Christopher, Rose and I have always believed in you. We’re proud to have watched you grow over the years, from the child you were when you came to us, into the man you’ve become today.’

‘Your aunt and I love you with everything we have and have always considered you to be our son, our blessing in life. Although we fear for what may come, we believe in you and will do what we can to aid you in your journey.’

‘Before you left home with Henry, to make your final choice as to where your destiny would lie, Henry asked me to craft you this sword.’

Albert unwrapped it from the piece of cloth and handed it to Christopher.

When Christopher held the sword he felt an immediate connection. Henry had helped Albert prepare the initial stages of the steel and had taken a small amount of Christopher’s hair from the wooden box to infuse into the raw metal. When Albert had finished the sword, Henry’s magic had created a talisman which, when held in Christopher’s hands, would bond to him and become part of his essence.

Four stones adorned the hilt and each one was placed precisely to represent the points of the compass. The stones connected the Wizards to all life around them. Sun, moon, water and earth, the four stones placed in the handle would draw energy from the world around and magnify Christopher’s inner essence.

The sword measured his worth as he held it in his grasp. Christopher was amazed at the craftsmanship. The fine latticework on the handle was one Albert could be proud of and Christopher ran his fingers over the stones. As he held the sword out in front of him, Christopher tested its balance. He moved it through the air, where it flowed as if it were an extension of his body, He could feel the power as it pulsed through the stones.

‘Thank you, Uncle. Your craft has done you proud.’

Albert also gave Christopher a leather sheath that the sword could be carried in when not in use. Albert placed it over Christopher’s head so the strap sat upon his shoulder. Christopher slid the steel into the sheath and Albert helped Christopher as he adjusted its position so that it sat balanced upon his back. Christopher embraced Albert and held him for a moment before he drew away.

‘Uncle, I consider you and Rose to be my own blood. The father and mother I can’t remember, I now see within my essence and they’re proud of the way you raised and loved me. I couldn’t have wished for better parents than you both. I always have and will forevermore be your son.’

A tear slipped from Albert’s eye, to run down his cheek and Christopher reached out and wiped it away.

‘Let us be on our way, there’s much that lays before us,’ Albert said and they walked over to join the others.

Kovak and his men followed the trail the wagon had left. Brice tracked them through the hills of Cherish and on to the abandoned village of Agon. The wagon’s tracks led them to the house where they’d taken Elle. As Kovak entered the building he looked around the room. The fireplace showed signs of recent use and a small clay pot lay near the hearth.

‘Over here,’ Brice said and bent down to pick up the two severed hands. ‘They definitely travelled through here,’ he said and then he tossed the hands into the cold hearth.

‘If they took the hands to unfasten the leash, where is it?’ Kovak was annoyed that the Wizard was free. He now had two Wizards to deal with, and it would make his task to steal Elle away that much harder. Brice searched the house but the leash was nowhere to be seen.

Kovak and his men rode on. They followed the tracks the traitors left to a house on the outskirts of a small village. Kovak kept his men at a safe distance while he crept closer to watch Christopher and his group pack their wagons. Then he spied Elle as she walked with an older woman towards one of the wagons and climbed aboard. He kept a close eye on how they arranged their party before he returned to where his men waited for him and he instructed them to stay out of sight.

‘The ones we follow are ready to leave,’ Kovak said. ‘Brice, ride to the Keep and inform the Lord that we’ve found the traitors. Tell him to bring the Sorceress this way. Now make ready men, we need to keep them within our sights.’

He told them only what they needed to know. His plan he kept to himself, one that would not only ensure his return to the good graces of his Lord, but would also attain him the woman he desired.

They stayed out of sight as they followed behind Christopher and his group. Kovak would watch and wait until he found the precise moment and then he’d enact his plan.

As they travelled towards Corn Fallow, Christopher and his party wore their weapons for all to see. Gone were the days of hiding from the army, their display showed their intentions. Albert, Rose and Elle travelled together in one wagon, while Clarence, Atlas and Thomas travelled in the other. Elle held her bow poised, ready in case the need should arise. The other members who made up their group rode their horses. Christopher, Jack and Peter had set out ahead of the wagons while James, Henry and Jimmy followed. Together they formed a protective barrier around their group.

It was still early morning, and they approached the crossroad where Frank had gathered the members of the fold and waited for Henry to arrive. The group of men with Frank numbered thirty and they were armed with shovels and clubs ready to fight.

Christopher and Henry rode ahead of the group and pulled their horses to a halt, in front of Frank and his men. Frank stepped forward to greet Henry. He looked at Christopher and without a doubt in his mind, Frank knew this man was the One that would lead and fight for them. They dismounted and Henry introduced Christopher to Frank. Not as his grandson but as the One born to unite the people. He said this loud enough for all to hear.

After Christopher shook Frank’s hand he stepped forward to speak with the fold. Henry watched as Christopher knew what his role entailed. These men needed to feel united in their cause and know that others stood by their side.

‘Friends, you’ve chosen of your own free will, to this day stand and fight for what’s yours. The right to live as a man who makes his own decisions. Who makes his own mistakes and chooses where his path in life leads. Today we join together and fight united for all our loved ones, so that they can again be safe to walk in the sun.

‘If we stand united we’ll rid these invaders from our lands. They didn’t seek to live in this land by peaceful means, but have taken what they wanted, when they wanted and have had no care for our people or our lives. The Lord Arnak sees fit to drag us down into an age of darkness, where famine and poverty is our only destination. I ask of you, will you join me now and help cast this foe from our door? Will you help me restore this land and bring its people back to the peace they once knew?’ Christopher stood in front of these men and asked them for a commitment, one that would benefit not only them, but also all who lived within Solencia.

At that moment thirty men united in voice and in spirit, raised their weapons in clenched fists and shouted, ‘Yes!’

Christopher looked at these men, they were strong and now they waited for him to guide them.

‘We’ll rid this village of the soldiers. They’ll either cede or die. There’ll be no middle ground. Anyone who gives aide to these invaders deserves the same fate. Don’t let another lead you from your task this day, as it may cost you your life. Watch out for each other and keep each other within sight. Your life could depend upon it!’

These men carried the crude weapons of farmers, so Jimmy called Atlas to bring the wagon forward. The back of the wagon was covered with a heavy canvas. Jimmy pulled back the cover and then he and Clarence began to pass out the weapons that Jimmy had brought with him. These were the weapons that had been carefully made and stored away in the secret compartment in his barn.

From swords and axes, to shields and armour, the fold were outfitted with the weapons of war.

The wagons were left with Albert, Rose and Elle not far from the edge of the village. There they’d be safe, away from any reprisal and the wagons would be ready to move on. The three would be able to keep watch for anyone who approached the village and give warning.

Christopher and Henry mounted their horses ready to ride on ahead of the group. Jack, Peter and James would join with half of the members of the fold and make their way towards the main road of the village. Clarence, Jimmy, Atlas and Frank would go with the rest and attack from the opposite side.

As Christopher and Henry entered the main road that passed through the village, Christopher called out to the soldiers. Their plan was to lead the soldiers into the open and from there the battle to reclaim the village would unfold.

‘I call to you, soldiers of Reist, army of Arnak. I’m the One the Lord seeks. It’s my head he wants as his prize. Come forth and try your luck, for today is your day of reckoning.’

The soldiers left behind to govern the village came out of their homes and into the street. There were more than Christopher had expected, but they numbered no more than thirty. None in the army had felt the need to leave extra weapons behind, so the soldiers only had those they carried upon them.

Christopher sat upon his horse as she danced around in the street, while the fold made their way around the village and took their positions for the battle to come. Henry stood next to a building; he watched and waited within the shadows until the time came to act.

‘Cede now and you’ll remain unharmed,’ Christopher yelled. ‘Fight and it’ll be to the death, for there’s no in between.’

A soldier stepped forward, his sword drawn and he yelled back. ‘It’s to the death we fight. We’ve no choice, our bargain has already been made.’ And with that the soldiers advanced. With a last ditch effort Christopher tried again.

‘There’s always a choice!’

‘Not for us there isn’t.’ With that the soldiers raced towards him.

Christopher jumped from his horse and drew his weapon as the soldiers closed in. With the first clash of swords the fold entered the main street and hurled themselves into the fight. Jack, Peter and James ran to the forefront of the onslaught and there they stood by Christopher as they repelled these men who fought for their Lord.

Steel weighed upon steel. The soldiers had talent and knowledge but their lives over the years had led them to become lazy and so these combatants were evenly matched. The fold had a lust for freedom, as did Christopher’s men, and united in their cause they drove their swords into the beast that had ruled them for so many years. Henry and Clarence didn’t intervene with their magic. To do so would take from the fold that which they’d earned, victory and choice for freedom. There was no magic within these soldiers, except that which had bound them to Arnak. They, too, were mortal men.

As they stood in the street and surveyed the bodies strewn across the road, Christopher saw a dark shadow out the corner of his eye. A form rose from one of the soldier’s bodies and as Christopher turned to look, he saw the soul of the soldier drift up and away from the vessel it had inhabited. He watched as it rose to begin its journey on to the next world.

Souls departed all the corpses, wisps of their essence floated up into the air. Then, as the souls of the dead hovered over their lifeless forms they were sucked down. These hapless souls struggled and thrashed, each one reached out to try and halt their descent, but there was nothing in this world that could stop them from being sucked down. Christopher watched them and heard their screams as they thrashed around. He looked at Peter and Jack, but they didn’t seem to notice the commotion. Christopher turned to Clarence and his grandfather. Clarence’s face said it all. Christopher knew they, too, saw and heard as he did.

‘I’ve never seen this before, Henry. Do you know what this means?’ Clarence said as they watched the souls disappear.

‘No, but I assume the Sorceress Athena has more power than we’d first thought. This isn’t magic I’ve ever seen before.’

Christopher looked at the bodies of the men that lay before them all. ‘I gave them the option, surrender or fight to the death. They said they had to fight; they’d no choice. I told them there always was a choice.’

‘What did they say to that?’ Peter couldn’t believe the conversation between the three.

Christopher looked at Peter and repeated the words the soldier had said. ‘Not for us there isn’t.’

‘If what you say is true, Christopher, we must take their bodies and burn them. They’ve been bound to their Lord by dark magic and even death cannot separate them from him,’ Henry said.

Rose stumbled as she entered the street. She saw Christopher as he stood among the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

‘Christopher… Christopher… They’ve taken Elle!’ Rose’s eye was swollen and had begun to discolour.

Jack rushed to her side and steered her towards a step on the nearby building, where he sat her down.

‘What happened, Rose? Who has Elle?’ he said as he tried to get the information he needed from her.