Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (36 page)

Elle rested by the fire. When Christopher’s essence had entered her body it hadn’t only withdrawn the taint, but had started a reaction within her tissue to heal itself. Elle was still drained. She looked perfectly healthy, but memories of the torments she’d suffered while under the influence of the taint floated in her mind. She’d seemed to be unconscious but her thoughts had delved into the deepest despair of her soul and caused the bad memories of her life to surface. She’d become lost in her own world as her thoughts roamed to unfathomable zones.

‘Elle should be well enough to travel in a few days time. You’ll be able to journey north and seek out a new life for yourselves,’ Clarence assured Atlas and Jack.

And where will you go? Where will you seek refuge?’ Jack asked.

‘There’ll be no refuge safe for us any longer,’ Henry said. ‘We’ve woken the sleeping beast and he’ll weave his way across the lands in search of us. The Sorceress will have felt the shift in the balance of her powers; she no longer has total rule over the realm. We must stand and fight to end their reign once and for all. The people have waited for the last twenty years and have prepared for this day. Christopher’s purpose is to unite the people and to help them rise up and take back what’s theirs, so peace can once again reign in our lands. No man can do it on their own.’

Atlas and Jack thought about Henry’s words.
What if they weren’t successful? Arnak and his army would continue to rule and there’d be no place safe to hide. King Sioban had no magic to use in his army’s defence, while Arnak had his Sorceress to power him forward.

‘So what are your plans? How will Christopher unite the people?’ Jack was interested.

‘Yes, grandfather, where do we go from here?’ Christopher was unsure of what their next move should be.

‘We must journey to Corn Fallow and meet up with your aunt and uncle. Joseph will be with them and from there we’ll decide our next course of action. The decision must be made by as many of the fold as possible.’

They’d already begun a chain of events that would take them down an unknown path. The men had gathered around the fire, and Elle listened to their plans.

‘I’ll come with you to Corn Fallow,’ she said.

‘No, you must get away from all this, Elle. Your involvement has nearly cost you your life already.’ Jack worried for his sister. She’d not long ago been at death’s door and Jack couldn’t fathom her idea of wanting to be further involved in the fight that was to come.

‘How can you say that, Jack? You of all people.’ The words burst forth from Elle’s mouth. ‘We can’t stick our heads in the sand and wait for others to do the hard work for us and expect to reap the rewards of freedom. It’s to each to decide where their fate lies and I choose to fight. I’m better than most with the bow and you can’t deny that.’

Elle had always been better with her aim than he and Jack couldn’t protest her words.

‘Your sister is right,’ Atlas interrupted. ‘Each must make their own decisions in life and follow the path that calls to them. It may not be the safest or easiest one, but it’s the one that we freely choose. To not have choice, is to live as we do now and everyday we must fight against it.’

Christopher understood Jack’s worry and spoke to them all. ‘We each must decide for ourselves. This won’t be an easy thing we must do, but I for one would be grateful if you joined us Jack. Your knowledge will be invaluable, we could all learn a lot from you. Think before you make up your mind, and if you still feel the same way when the time comes for us to leave, we’ll not judge you. Elle still needs to rest before we can move on, so there’s plenty of time. You don’t have to make the choice just yet.’

As Kovak and his men scouted the land for signs of the traitors, the sun shone and the snow began to melt.

‘Over here!’ Brice called. He’d stumbled upon a rut left by the wheel of the wagon. He knew they were hunting Elle and the others she travelled with and as much as he didn’t like it, he was bound to his Lord and had no choice.

Kovak hurried over to where Brice waited. He looked at the rut and he smiled. Now they’d a marker to follow and if the sun kept up its warmth, the snow would melt fast. The tracks that lay beneath the frozen flakes had been preserved and they’d soon catch up with the traitors.

Kovak lusted after the chase and he now only thought of two things, to have Christopher’s head upon a pike as he rode back into the town of Canameer and Elle.

‘Pack up, we ride as soon as we’re ready,’ Kovak declared to his men. ‘Brice, scout ahead and look for other signs to show the way.’

With that Kovak went back to camp for his horse. He drew his sword from its sheath and ran his fingers over its edge. ‘Your time will soon come, Christopher,’ Kovak said and then he smiled.

Royston Hark called for all the soldiers in Canameer to gather in the market square. Their Lord was to make an announcement.

‘Let it be known that today is one that’ll be marked in history!’Arnak spoke loud and clear.

‘Today we’ll gather those from far and near and journey to the Keep. We’ll leave only a few behind to govern the towns as we make our way across this land.’

Arnak stood upon the platform in his battle armour. His presence awed the soldiers who gathered before him.

‘It’s to war we go! None will rise up without retribution. We’ll hunt these traitors to the end of the realm. There’s one who travels with these Wizards, one who I seek beyond all. He’s mine! Any other, you may do with as you wish.’

Arnak then sent riders to all the towns and villages in the land to gather the army to become one again, while he and Athena returned to the Keep to wait their return.

As soon as Athena set foot within the Keep, she knew she had to find the book so she made her way to the Prophecy room to search for it. She had a feeling there was something she’d missed and that feeling nagged at her. The book had to be there, but why couldn’t she find it. Every time she’d entered the secluded space, the book would speak to her, but no matter how long she searched she never came upon it.

Today she wouldn’t leave until she held it within her hands. Today she had to find it.

Athena made her way through the passages of the Keep and down the stairs to where the Prophecy room held the knowledge of all that had come before. She moved past the Wizard’s enchantments with no problem for Athena’s dark magic was more powerful than the silly spells used to prohibit students. She opened the door to the Prophecy room and stepped inside. Within the entrance she stopped and concentrated upon that which she sought. In her mind she could hear the call of the book. It beckoned her forth to where it lay. As Athena opened her eyes the call of the book vanished. Around the room upon shelves and in stacks, were thousands of books. She stepped past a small wooden step that was used to access the books upon the highest shelves and ventured further inside. She walked past the students desks and over to an enormous bookcase on the far wall. It spanned the entire wall from floor to ceiling and the titles on the books told tales of years gone by. Athena ran her hand over the spines and scanned them with her magic for the one book she sought.

After Athena had searched for hours to no avail, she felt frustrated. Her need to find the book grew with every hour that passed. Within days the army would arrive, gathered from across the lands of Solencia, and she needed to be ready to go to war.

She quietened her thoughts and closed her eyes and listened for the book to call to her. Softly it began as a low hum and with her eyes closed she walked forward to where the book led her. Athena felt close, so close she could nearly touch the book and as she took another step forward her shin bumped into the small wooden step by the door. Angry, Athena’s eyes flew open and she used her magic to pick up the wooden step that’d caused her offence and hurtle it across the room. The step crashed into the bookcase on the back wall. The impact caused the joints that held it together to split and as it fell to the floor, in a heap, the step broke apart and there within the pile of broken debris laid the book.

Joseph sat by the fire in the Bartholemew home and thought about his sons. He’d not heard from Peter and James since they’d left with Christopher and Henry. He could only assume, when he’d heard news of the uprising in Canameer that the people who led the revolt, somehow involved his sons. Now he waited with Albert and Rose in Corn Fallow for word from them.

Back in The Dale, Jimmy had organised the fold. Riders had been sent to the nearby towns and villages and advised them to prepare. They in turn sent men on and so the news spread. When each town or village felt the time was right they were to gather and make their way north.

It had already begun; the time was now and all within the fold made ready to leave.

Arnak’s soldiers arrived and brought word from their Lord that his men were to return to the Keep. The people watched as the majority of the army packed and left. Leaving only a handful to govern the people.

The rebellion began; the people of Solencia rose up and overpowered the soldiers left behind and as they travelled north they joined with others along the way. The time had come and the people made their choice and united. Freedom was what they desired and to obtain it they were prepared to fight.

Joseph sat in the garden wrapped in a warm blanket. He enjoyed being outside even thought the air was cool as the clouds shifted across the sky. The sun shone briefly upon him and he relaxed as he enjoyed its warmth.

A group towing a small wagon travelled along the path towards Thomas and Mary’s home. Joseph watched the group as they rode into view. He didn’t recognise them at first as the group had become larger than when they’d left, until James rode into view.

Joseph called to the others and he walked up to greet them. Rose rushed out of the front door. She was overjoyed to see Christopher and the boys return.

Christopher dismounted and hugged his aunt. He was glad his family had safely arrived in Corn Fallow.

‘Christopher, we’ve been so worried not knowing what had happened,’ Rose said as she hugged him.

‘Son, I’m glad to see you’re all safe,’ Albert said as he welcomed Christopher.

Mary and Thomas hugged Henry. They’d been worried about him while he’d been away. Henry then introduced Clarence to his friends.

‘Come into the house everyone,’ Mary said.

Christopher returned to the wagon where Atlas, Elle and Jack waited. He took Elle by the hand and led her and her family forward to introduce them.

‘Aunt Rose, Uncle Albert. I’d like you to meet Elle, her father Atlas and her brother Jack.’ Atlas and Jack stepped forward and shook hands with Christopher’s family. Christopher then introduced Elle to his aunt and uncle. They could tell by the way he presented her to them that this wasn’t just a girl who travelled with their group. As Christopher let go of her hand Albert greeted her and Rose stepped forward.

‘Welcome,’ Rose said and then she took Elle by the hand and they went inside.

After introductions were made and thanks returned for Thomas and Mary’s hospitality, Mary and her family set about to prepare food, while water heated for their guests. Elle and Rose helped in the kitchen with the food and Elle told of her life and the happenings in Canameer.

‘Elle, come bathe before we eat,’ Mary said. ‘Do you have anything else to change into, dear?’

‘I’ve a few things packed in the wagon.’

‘I’ll have Christopher bring them in for you,’ Rose said and then left to speak with him.

Elle relished the tub. Not since she’d been a little girl had she the time to relax and actually enjoy a bath, and she lay there in the heat until it cooled.

After Elle dressed, she returned to the kitchen. The clothes she wore were clean, even if they were past their best. Mary wondered at the life Elle had lead, with no mother to guide her.

‘Come and eat,’ Mary said as she placed the final dishes on the table.

That night as they gathered around the fire, plans and ideas were spoken of as they waited for Jimmy to arrive from The Dale.