Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (31 page)

Athena wanted to look for
The Book of Alden
that she believed would be somewhere in the Keep.

Arnak rode down to the village. His men had already rampaged through the streets and Arnak sent a scout of men to secure the woodlands and fields around the village in case the boy should return with his grandfather. But for now, he’d help his men take control of Canistar.

The invaders stormed through the village, they ransacked the houses and shops at will. The people who came out to defend their loved ones were slaughtered. This attack would be more violent than any other that would follow. To impress their domination upon the inhabitants of Canistar was paramount. Those who escaped and fled to other towns and villages would tell the tale of the day Canistar and the Keep fell to the new Lord and his Sorceress.

Athena entered the village, annoyed that she hadn’t found the book. It hadn’t been in the Prophecy room as she’d thought.

The soldiers had gathered as many boys as they could find. Athena checked them all. None were the One they searched for and this caused her temper to flare all the more. She was furious and vowed to search to the ends of the earth to find the boy and when she did she’d make his death excruciating.

Gradually Arnak and Athena spread from the Keep in Canistar far into the south to the abandoned city of Alden. Alden was a crumpled city of ruins governed only by the rats that had made it their home. The Sorcerer’s Dome had been devastated during the wars of the Old Time, hit amidst the conflict pieces of the dome lay on the temple floor. With walls battered and scared by the conflict that had raged.

Athena bonded to these ruins and bound herself to them. She selected a group of tradesmen from Arnak’s army, and had them restore the building to its former glory.

Until the day she could reside there, Athena would live at the Keep with Arnak and make regular journeys to check upon the progress of the restoration.

Once the Sorcerers’ Dome was completed Athena performed a ritual. In the altar room she removed a flagstone from the floor and dug a small hole. In this hole she placed a piece of her hair and then cut her hand to bleed over the tress. As she held a candle she dripped its wax into the hole and cast her spell. The spell bound her to the building and she would forever more be connected to her home.

Athena governed the land from the south while Arnak ruled from the Keep. They placed platoons of soldiers and a head Advisor within each town and village so they could keep control of the lands which they now ruled.

Arnak and Athena never found the boy the prophecies told of, but he always lingered under the surface of their consciousness.

It was the day before the parade, and as Elle woke she pulled the covers up to keep her face warm. The night had been bitterly cold. Winter had come early and each night the temperature had dropped lower. Unless she stayed perfectly still, the cold seeped through her covers. Finally she gave up and left the warmth of her bed.

Elle dressed and made her way into the kitchen to stoke the fire and bring it back to life. A few coals still glowed in the hearth and she added dry grass and small sticks and blew on them until the flames burst to life. She fed the small flames until she’d established a fire that would continue to grow on its own. Warmth penetrated the kitchen as the fire grew and Elle prepared food for her family.

She could hear her father and brother in the next room as they dressed and it wasn’t long before Jack sat with his father by the fire. Elle smiled at them and placed the biscuits over the fire to cook.

‘Jack, can you fetch some water for the tea? I’m already late so you’ll have to fend for yourselves this morning. Just watch the biscuits don’t burn.’

Jack left to fetch water while Atlas watched over the food.

‘Go on, lass, we’ll be fine. I don’t want you in trouble up there. We’ll be ready to leave when you return home.’

Elle kissed her father goodbye. She rugged herself up against the cold and left to walk to the manor.

Today would be the last day she’d see Clarence. Her father and brother would pack and tonight they’d leave under the cover of darkness. They’d planned to head north to Alberdez as Jack was well known within the city and they’d be able to find a place to live. King Sioban would welcome Jack’s return and although Jack knew the King would want him back, he wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted.

Elle pulled her cloak tighter around her small body as the wind howled through the trees and the cold of the morning seeped through the material, to bite into her tender flesh. Elle quickened her step towards her destination, there was plenty to do in the mornings and she was already late.

When she arrived at the manor the kitchen was still quiet and Elle began her morning chores. She lit the fires and placed the heavy pots of water over the flames before she prepared the breakfast. Elle was deep in thought as she cut a loaf of bread. She was worried about Clarence. How long would it be until he was free? What if all didn’t go well? What if they were caught? She tried to push aside her fears, and she thought about Christopher. Elle was glad he’d come to Canameer. She felt her stomach wriggle as she thought about him. She liked the way he looked; that raven hair, his strong muscular shoulders, those arms that held her safe. Elle felt embarrassed. She hadn’t realised her thoughts had drifted in this direction. She shook herself and prepared the tray of food to take down into the cellar.

She lifted the latch and heaved the heavy door open and descended. Brice was on duty this morning and he greeted her with a friendly smile.

‘Morning, Elle, ‘tis a bit chilly down here,’ he said.

The dampness seeped through the stone walls now that the nights had fallen cold and Elle placed the tray on a sack of potatoes.

‘The fire is warm in the hearth and tea is ready if you’d like some,’ she said to Brice and hoped he’d leave her to speak with Clarence as she doubted she’d get another chance. There’d be many others in the house later, and she wanted to say goodbye to the man she’d cared for all these years.

‘That would be nice,’ Brice said as he reached for his keys to unlock the door for her.

‘I need to get the chamber pot and tidy the room a little,’ Elle said. ‘I’m sure the Captain will be down for an inspection sometime today. Could you bring down a pail of water when you’ve warmed yourself and finished your tea?’ Elle tried to extend his absence and hoped he’d stay by the fire a little longer.

After Brice unlocked the door to the vault, he climbed the stairs to the kitchen. Elle could hear him as he moved around upstairs, and she pulled the door to the vault open. She removed the amulet from the nail by the door and placed it around her neck before she picked up the tray and entered the vault.

‘Morning, child,’ Clarence said.

Elle placed the tray down upon the small stool in the corner. She walked over to Clarence and sat next to him on the bed. ‘Tonight my family and I will leave. If I don’t I’ll have to go with Kovak tomorrow. He wants to take me home with him, to be his wife. That thought I cannot bear and I would surely die if I was trapped to someone else’s will.’

Clarence placed an arm around Elle. ‘Worry not, my child, it’s about time you thought of yourself. You’ve cared for me when others wouldn’t, and for that I’m grateful. Things will work out for the best.’

Elle flung her arms around Clarence and held him close. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought what life would be like to never see him again. Brice would return soon. They could hear him as he walked towards the trap door, and soon Elle would have to leave. With a final hug, the two let go of each other.

‘I’ll miss you,’ Elle said.

‘Child, I’ll miss you more than you could ever know. Be well and live a full life.’

With that Elle went to collect the chamber pot and walked out of the vault.

That evening Elle brought Clarence a warm brick from the fire to keep the cold at bay. The sun hadn’t appeared that day and dark clouds blackened the sky; a storm was coming.

Elle stood and stared at Clarence as Brice closed the door. Elle knew she may never see Clarence again, and a single tear fell from her lashes to land upon her cheek. It left a small wet trail as it made its way towards her chin. It was the worst Elle had felt for a long time and her heart ached as the door closed and was again locked up tight.

She pulled her cloak around herself as she left the manor for the last time and made her way through the gates.

‘Night, Miss,’ the guards called to her as she passed by. Everyone now knew she was to be Kovak’s wife and showed her the respect an officer’s wife deserved.

Christopher waited in the darkness, not far from the estate. He peered into the night and looked for Elle. Then he saw her; her slight frame wrapped in a threadbare cloak. She struggled to walk as the wind whipped and buffeted her around and as she neared, Christopher called out to her.

‘Elle! I need to speak with you!’

Elle heard Christopher’s voice and her heart lurched in her chest. She quickened her step and his tall dark shape came into view.

‘Talk, what about?’

‘About tomorrow, we’ve plans for tomorrow,’ Christopher said.

Elle could barely see Christopher as the night was dark and the moon’s intermittent glow did nothing to lighten his face.

‘I’m on my way home. We can talk there. My family have packed and we leave tonight.’

‘You can’t leave tonight, I need your help,’ Christopher said as he reached out and took her by the arm. ‘We plan to attack tomorrow at the parade and free Clarence. I need you to help me cause a diversion.’ Christopher could see all their plans fall in a heap if she couldn’t plant the heat ball inside the manor.

Elle shivered as they stood by the side of the road. Christopher noticed the quiver and knew the cold had set into her bones. He placed his cloak around her and they walked off towards her home.

As they entered the kitchen, Elle introduced Christopher to her father and brother.

‘Good evening, sir,’ Christopher said as he extended his hand to Atlas and then nodded towards Jack before he shook hands with Elle’s brother.

Atlas was uneasy with Christopher’s appearance. ‘What brings you out so late this evening?’

Christopher and Elle stood by the fire. Atlas and Jack had already packed and waited for Elle to return. Her father had made a meagre meal for her to eat before they set off and had kept a small fire in the hearth for they knew she’d be chilled to the bone.

‘I came to ask for Elle’s help tomorrow, but I see that you’re packed to leave.’

‘Yes, lad, the girl doesn’t want to be taken away with Kovak, so we’ll leave this place tonight.’

‘What did you want help with?’ Elle spoke softly as they soaked up the warmth near the hearth. Christopher looked at her and then looked towards Elle’s family. He wasn’t sure if she’d told them why he and his friends were here.

‘You’re free to speak in this house. My father and brother won’t repeat anything you say.’

‘I need someone with access to the manor tomorrow morning. We need to create a diversion, to lead the soldiers and officers away from the market square.’

‘And how will my presence at the manor help achieve this?’

Atlas didn’t like what he’d heard and interrupted their conversation. ‘Sorry lad, she can’t help you. As I said, we leave tonight.’

‘Father, I can speak for myself. What is it you want me to do?’

Christopher reached into his pocket and withdrew the heat ball. He held it in his palm as he showed it to Elle.

‘I need you to place this ball in the cellar.’

Elle extended her hand to touch the ball. It was dark and looked cold. Christopher moved his hand forward, so she knew she could take the ball and have a closer look.

‘What is it?’ she said as she lifted it closer to the light.

‘It’s a heat ball. Henry has conjured it with his magic. Tomorrow when the parade is in full swing, the ball will trigger and activate the spell contained inside. The ball will gradually heat until it causes a large explosion, and it will set light to all in its path. I need you to place it within the cellar, so it will not be detected. It’s the main part of our plan. Without your help I’ll be left to hide it in the barn, and I don’t think the barn will draw too many of the soldiers back to the estate.’

Elle looked up at him and thought for a while. She knew what her family would say. As she opened her mouth to give Christopher an answer Jack interrupted.

‘Elle, you take great risk if you do this. How will you get away tomorrow? How will we leave without being seen?’

‘I know, Jack, but if this is the only chance Clarence has, how can I not help?’

Atlas ran his hand through his hair. He knew his daughter only too well. Nothing would stop her when she’d made up her mind.

‘Let it be, Jack,’ Atlas said and then addressed Christopher. ‘Lad, she’ll help you. I can already see that she will.’

‘Father, you know nothing of the sort,’ Elle said as she reprimanded her father.

‘Girl, I’ve known you longer than you’ve known yourself. I can already see you’ve made up your mind and nothing we say will change it. Now what we have to figure out is how we can leave safely tomorrow.’

Elle wrapped her arms around her father and kissed him on top of his head. ‘Everything will be fine, father, don’t worry.’

‘Where are you headed?’ Christopher asked.

‘North to Alberdez. I know people there so it’ll be safe for us,’ Jack said.

‘I’ve never heard of the place. But we also travel north. You may join with us if you wish. We leave for the Wizard’s caves, a good day’s ride from here. You can rest there until it’s safe for you to continue on your way.’

‘How many do you travel with?’ Jack thought there might be an advantage to travel in a group.

‘There are four of us, a Wizard and two others, and then there’ll be Clarence.’

Eight sounded like a good number to Jack, and he was happier about the arrangement. Elle and Atlas would have others to help protect them and to have a Wizard on their side would boost their protection three fold.

‘Father, it’s a good plan. We should join forces and travel with them, eight is better than three. No matter if we go tonight or leave tomorrow, Kovak will surely come after Elle.’

Christopher told them of their plans and how they’d make the escape happen.

When Jack and Christopher left the house it was quite late and the wind still roared through the trees. No one would be out on a night like this and they felt it was safe to find a place where they could leave the family’s wagon. In a secluded spot just over the old rickety bridge, not far from the town, they hid the wagon amongst the trees. Christopher noticed the axe handle that poked out from under the canvas in the back of the wagon. He pulled it out and grinned at Jack.

‘I’ll be back in a while. You go home and we’ll see you soon,’ he said.

Jack watched as Christopher headed back to the bridge and then he took a saw and followed.

It was late when Christopher returned to the small camp. Henry, Peter and James were worried and their relief at his return showed on their faces as Christopher entered their camp, wet to the skin.

‘Pack up the camp. We’re now a party of eight.’