Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (34 page)

Early the next morning Christopher and his friends arrived at the Caves of Choice. Clarence opened the portal and the wagon passed through, before he closed it again to keep the entrance hidden. Within the sealed chamber they travelled along the narrow path. As they approached the torches clamped on the walls, they burst to life and the cobwebs that had formed sizzled as the flames lit their way.

Once inside the cave they made Elle a soft pallet and laid her down upon it. Time had passed within the cave and now dust covered every surface. There was a dampness that hung in the cave, and Clarence could smell the change in time. No person had ventured into this haven over the past twenty years. Everything was still as he’d left it, frozen in time since he’d sealed the portal many years ago.

‘Christopher, there’s wood stacked against the wall over there,’ Clarence said as he pointed to the wall near the circle of stones. ‘See if any is still good to burn and build a fire. I feel the night ahead will be a long one.’

Christopher went to do as he was asked and within the pit in the middle of the cave he built a fire to drive out the damp and the cold.

Henry had left the group and now searched through several books upon a shelf. Each book he looked at in turn reading the title in his search before he ultimately placed it back where he had taken it from. Finally he went over to a chest, on the far side of the cave where shelves with strange bottles and jars lined the wall. Dust had settled over the years, and now they were covered in the powdery substance. Undisturbed cobwebs still lingered where they’d been spun. No longer holding their silken sheen they, too, had collected the passage of time while sealed in the tomb.

Henry undid the clasp that held the chest closed and rummaged around inside its depths. Then he removed a small book and brought it into the light to read. He scanned several pages and took the arrowhead out of his pocket to hold it near the page. He checked the book again and looked closely at the metal nib to see what it was made from before he closed the book and returned the tip to his pocket.

‘What is it, Henry? What’ve you found?’ Atlas was desperate for any news Henry could give him. As he sat next to his daughter, he bathed her face with cool water. A fever now raged within her. Elle’s skin was dry and no sweat formed on her brow or dampened her hair and it was as if the heat was trapped within her body and seared from the inside.

‘This arrowhead has been enchanted. See these marks,’ Henry said as he handed the piece of metal to Atlas. ‘They’re a spell to inflict death upon the victim.’

Henry hid the fact that it was a slow and painful death.

‘What is it we have to do?’ Atlas said as he bathed his daughter’s face and hoped the cool water would soothe some of the heat her body contained.

‘There’s nothing we can do. One born of strength is what we require. Clarence has little magic at the moment, and until it regenerates he’s limited in what he can do.’

‘And your powers,’ Atlas looked to Henry for the answer.

‘They’re not strong enough on their own, that’s why I haven’t used them unless we absolutely needed them. The use of magic will attract attention from the Sorceress, and my power alone isn’t enough. The Sorceress Athena has power from the Underlands. She boosts her power from the Dark Lord there.’

‘Is there nothing else we can do?’ Atlas loved his daughter and searched for any solution to heal his child.

All within the cave listened to the conversation between Henry and Atlas. Clarence nodded as he listened to Henry speak.

‘I believe there is one, but he has to come to this decision on his own terms. He needs to have the conviction and desire to follow his path in life and fulfil his destiny.’

‘I’ve already made my choice,’ Christopher said as he interrupted their conversation. ‘I made my choice long before we left home to travel here. Long before we’d heard of Clarence’s imprisonment and before I’d met Elle.’

Christopher looked down at Elle. He’d moved to stand next to her father and he saw not only the pain in Atlas’ face but the enchantment that had spread through Elle’s body.

‘I’m ready to follow my path, to go places unknown to me, to fight for those who’ve no voice and unite those who wish to be free. I’m ready to lead us all to our destiny.’

Henry gazed in awe at this young man. One who only weeks ago had no knowledge of his history but now stood ready to face the world and save all he could. He was proud to call this man his kin.

‘With Clarence’s power so weak we must wait until the moon is full tonight,’ Henry said. ‘If we wait until then, the moon will magnify our powers and give us the strength we need to call the souls of those from the past to again rejoin us in this sacred place. We need them to restore your essence. Until then rest, Christopher, for the time ahead of you will be one of pain and you’ll suffer as you are reunited with your true self.’

‘I am and always have been my true self,’ Christopher said.

‘Come with me, Atlas. I need your help to collect the items we need for the ritual,’ Clarence said as he ushered Atlas away to leave Christopher and Henry to talk.

Henry touched Christopher’s arm. ‘You’ve been asleep in this life. The life you were born for is a much deeper reality than you could ever know.’

Christopher didn’t understand his grandfather’s words and he continued to soothe Elle’s face and arms with the cool water.

Henry collected his bag from the wagon and from it he removed the wooden box. He took it over to Christopher and removed the orb. ‘This is your essence,’ Henry said as he held the sphere over Elle’s still form. ‘Within the orb lies the powers that were taken from you as a child. They’ve remained dormant within the sphere for the last twenty years, but they’ve absorbed information from the realm and the power inside has magnified as our need has grown.’

Christopher looked at the orb and then he reached out to touch its scared surface. The orb seemed as if it was made of midnight, its gnarled and knotted surface flickered with the emerald green power within. The light that pulsed within the orb drew Christopher to it and this time when he touched the sphere, sparks enveloped his hand and Christopher knew, this was the part of himself that was missing.

‘But what about Albert, Rose and Joseph? They’re at risk now. The longer we’re away from them, the greater the chance that something will happen to them. I owe them my life,’ Christopher said.

‘Hopefully they’ve heard news from Canameer and will make their way to Corn Fallow. We’ll meet up with them there.’

Henry had told Albert that if they found themselves in trouble or heard any word that things may have gone wrong, they were to leave at once and travel to Thomas’.

Peter and James sat by the fire and listened to the conversation between Henry and their friend. They’d been drawn to Christopher like many others and their friendship had developed the instant they’d met. Peter and James considered Christopher as their brother and they would lay down their lives to protect him. Christopher emitted an aura that drew people to him and a kindness they’d never seen in another, and now they sat and waited with him.

Clarence and Atlas gathered the items for the ritual. The candles and bowl were placed into a basket, and Clarence collected the amulet they’d need. Atlas watched Christopher tend to his daughter, and he’d listened to their conversation.

‘Do you think what the Wizard says is true? Will he be able to save Elle from this evil that lurks within her body?’

‘Atlas, I look at Christopher and he is more than I ever thought he’d be. When I knew him as a child he always had something about him. Many years ago I’d been given a book to bring here to the caves. One day when I’d retreated to this sacred place, I came across a prophecy in that book. It meant nothing to me at the time, until the day Henry arrived here at the caves with Christopher in tow and told of the fall of Canistar at the hands of the Lord and his Sorceress. I knew then as I know now he was born to this realm for a reason. Just as your daughter has been.’

‘What do you mean?’ Atlas didn’t understand how his daughter figured in all that had happened.

‘Look at her. We’d not be here now if not for her. When she first came to the manor, I was near death. Elle tended to me, healed me and then over the years she’s risked all to make sure I lived. Look at all she’s done over the years for others. She, too, holds a spell over all that she touches. Have you ever known her to put herself before anyone, Atlas? She is younger than Christopher, and I believe she was born to protect the realm’s interests. If she hadn’t stood in front of Christopher when the arrow struck it would be him lying there under the spell of evil and there’d be no other to save him.’

Atlas thought on the words Clarence had said. It was true Elle always had been strong of head and heart and once her mind had been made up there was no stopping her. Atlas could no longer count the nights she’d come home exhausted but rose in the early hours of the morning to help others who ailed.

‘Why do you think she’s here with us now? Surely you can’t deny their lives are intertwined; she is as he is. See the way he looks at her while he tends to her needs. The other lads sit and watch and look to him for guidance. She was born to him. She is his protector. Together they’ll be invincible.’

Atlas wasn’t sure he believed everything Clarence said, but he now had more faith in Christopher and hoped beyond hope that he’d be able to save his precious daughter.

Outside Henry had watched as the moon rose above him in the night sky before he returned to the inner sanctum of the cave. Clarence and Atlas had already placed the elements around the circle and it was now time for Christopher to take his place.

Christopher lay upon the altar, and Clarence placed the bowl next to him. Henry removed the lock of hair from the wooden box and placed it in the bowl while Clarence lit the candles with his Wizard’s magic.

Jack and Atlas sat with Elle while Peter and James watched the ceremony evolve. Never in their wildest dreams had they expected to be witness to such an event.

Clarence and Henry took their places around the circle, and Henry held the amulet in both hands as he’d done all those years ago. Once again he spoke the words to call the ancient Wizards forth. He called to them and waited for them to appear.

A misty haze rose within the circle of stones and the same voice from many years ago spoke.

‘So I see you have called to us again. What’s your reason this time, old Wizard?’ The haze was now a visible form and Henry spoke of his desire.

‘I’ve called you forth again to return that which has been taken from the boy. He’s now a man and our need is greater than it’s ever been. He’s the One chosen to unite our people and lead us out of this age of darkness.’

‘So say who?’

‘I, Henry Du Laurent, Wizard of the Order!’

‘And I, Clarence Musat, Wizard of the Order, also call to you!’

‘And why should I call the others forth?’ the haze of the Ancient One said.

‘The people now have a leader. One that’s grown and is ready to fulfil his destiny wherever that may lead. Look inside his soul and tell me he’s not all you’d look for to guide our realm.’ Then he pointed over to Elle. ‘The girl who lies over by the fire with her family needs to be healed. She also has an integral part to play within the lands. She is also born to protect and lead the people back to the natural balance of our world. This is why I call you from your plane of existence.’

The haze of green light turned to look at Christopher as he lay upon the stone and watched all that passed before him. The Ancient One looked deep within Christopher’s soul, and then he turned his gaze to that of Elle’s unconscious form. This ancient Wizard saw the mark the arrow had made when it pierced her tender flesh and he knew the mark to be the same one as Zute had used when he terrified the realm.

‘Very well, you may call forth the others to complete the circle.’

Henry held the amulet and called to the others as he’d done all those years ago.

The five Wizards called came forward and took their places for the ceremony. James and Peter were astonished. While there’d been myths and tales told to them as children of the Wizards from long ago, they’d never seen actually seen much evidence of magic. Athena’s power was all they knew. The tales of her evil ways had taken hold of them and as they grew older they no longer believed in the childhood fantasies—that was until they’d met Henry.

Jack wiped the skin on Elle’s shoulder, it was so hot and dry that layers of her skin came away with the soft cloth.

The ceremony began as it had before. The Wizards surrounded the circle and chanted and a low hum filled the cavern. No small stones sat upon the rocks of the circle. This time the orb would need to be reversed to release Christopher’s essence so it could be returned to his body.

A soft breeze blew within the confines of the cave and twirled within the formation of the circle. It swirled around above Christopher and gathered speed as it moved. The Wizards’ chants grew louder and Henry began to call the spell of the Unbinding. As Christopher lay within the circle, he could hear the wind roar around him. Faster the wind whipped, but as it twirled above him, he felt not a wisp of breeze upon his face. The roar deafened all within the cave and when the gale had reached it peak of rotation, the voice of the Ancient One called out.