Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) (40 page)

‘My dear, what happened?’

Dry blood smeared the side of her swollen face and a deep hue of crimson lay just under the surface of her skin.

‘Kovak decided because I have a smart mouth that his boots would fit me well,’ she said.

‘Are you hurt anywhere else?’ Henry asked as he examined her.

‘That bastard, I’ll kill him.’ Jack’s anger boiled within him.

‘I have pain in my stomach,’ she said.

‘There’ll be plenty of time for killing later, Jack.’ Henry then reached out to feel Elle’s abdomen. Her belly was hard and distended and caused her pain as he touched it.

‘What we need is to get Elle back to camp so I can heal her,’ he said. ‘If I numb your pain do you think you’ll be able to travel?’

‘I can travel with or without pain,’ Elle said.

‘That won’t be necessary, dear.’ Henry removed a small vial from his bag and with one arm he helped to lift her head as he placed the vial to her lips. A small amount of the sour liquid trickled into her mouth. She winced at its bitter taste.

‘I know it doesn’t taste good, but it’ll help,’ he said and then lay her back down. ‘Jack, untie the horses. We need to leave immediately.’

Elle rode with Christopher. She sat across his lap while his arm cradled her to him. Henry had shown Christopher how to use his essence to increase the potency of the elixir he’d given Elle, so she’d be comfortable while they travelled. With one hand Christopher held the reins of his mare and with the other he supported Elle. With a little practise he managed to dull most of her pain, as they rode back to their camp.

The first rays of light beamed across the sky as Elle rested with Atlas by the warmth of the fire. Her pain had eased after the Wizards had worked to heal her injuries, but the magic could only do so much. Her body needed to finish the healing process. Elle and Atlas had been left one horse and wagon. If things didn’t go as planed, they were to journey north, to Alberdez.

Christopher led the men of Solencia and in their divisions they advanced.

Arnak and Athena’s army was broad, so they’d have to attack head on and take only those who came towards them. Henry and Clarence would work within each flank. They’d protect and guide their wing to gain the upper hand.

Streaks of lightning pulsed across the sky and hurtled towards the enemy’s camp, their impacts eliminating all they stuck whether it be man or material.

Their warning had been sent.

The Wizards were on their way.

Arnak and Athena woke to sound of explosions and the screaming of injured men as the Wizards’ lightning bombarded their camp. Arnak’s heart raced as he leapt from his pallet and raced out of his tent to find his army in disarray.

Kovak had also woken amidst the first strikes of the Wizard’s attack. He rushed outside to see Arnak and Athena as they prepared the horde and gave orders to enter the battle. Now would be the time to use Elle. She’d be his bargaining chip, and he returned inside his tent to collect her. The slit in the canvas flapped in the breeze and Kovak’s anger flared as he stared at the remains of the rope strewn on the blood stained mattress. He flipped the small table over and stormed into his room. Kovak dressed and left his quarters.

Henry and Clarence led their groups towards the horde. They could see Christopher ahead as he led his force towards the battle, a battle not only for their freedom, but also for every man, woman and child who lived in Solencia. If they failed, if Christopher couldn’t fulfil his destiny, then they’d all be doomed under the rule of these tyrants, and retribution would come upon swift wings.

The enemy’s first wave of retaliation met with the army of Solencia as the fold clashed against the bewitched army. They now fought for their lives. Clarence and Henry joined the attack as their own forces ran ahead. They chose specific areas to cast their pulses of lightning and the blasts obliterated all they touched leaving behind depressions in the earth. They were careful to stay away from their own men and their magic impacted on the force ahead enabling the fold of Solencia to hurtle forward. The fold fought hard, steel against steel and the men they fought bled the same as they did.

Not long after the first blasts were inflicted upon Arnak’s army, Athena moved forward to cast a shield. As it came down, it encompassed the majority of Arnak’s men and prevented any further attacks from the Wizards.

The fold of Solencia tried to advance but Athena’s magic had become an impenetrable barrier no man could cross. The bewitched army were still able to move beyond Athena’s magic, but once outside its protection they were left to their own purpose. Athena cast her evil beyond the shield to attack those outside. Clarence and Henry worked hard to deflect her power, before it impacted upon Solencia’s numbers.

As Christopher raced forward upon his humble mare he saw the shield appear to protect the enemy. Spurring his mare forward he released her reins and drew his sword. He held the steel in both hands and pointed it towards the army. His will was strong and his need was great, and Christopher urged his horse on. His essence saw no boundary before him. His magic was one of a kind; it came from life around him and his love of the world. He’d been born for this purpose and nothing would stop him. As Christopher viewed the shield his Wizard’s essence dissected Athena’s magic and began to decode the spell. It whirled within him as it moved the sections aside and created a void. As Christopher neared the shield parted and he passed through and behind him the web stayed open and his men were able to follow.

It wasn’t only the sword he carried that magnified his essence, but it was his will to lead the people to freedom. His talisman sent his essence forth in a magnanimous wave, and those who stood in his path fell before his magic. His power cast them aside to clear a path as he rode on. His need to find the head of the snake drove him forward.

Kovak stood near Arnak and watched as their men passed out through the glimmer of the shield. The front of the battle was quite a distance away and Kovak set forward to fight this battle and win. He watched as a horse and rider galloped towards the force field and wondered what would happen if they failed to stop before they reached the protective wall. The rider hurtled forward and showed no sign of slowing and as Kovak watched the man drew his sword and held it aloft.

This is it!
Kovak thought as the rider approached. Kovak’s jaw opened in shock as the soldiers before the man were cast aside and the rider passed unhindered through Athena’s barrier. The soldiers that marched towards the fray were flung aside; it was as if the rider had parted the sea. Christopher was angry. This army under Athena’s evil spell had all but destroyed the people and the land of Solencia and as much as it pained him to take another’s life he knew the evil in them would never stop. They couldn’t.

Kovak realised who the rider was and he ran towards him.

Christopher would be his.

Christopher saw Kovak approach and his essence roared. The way he’d found Elle last night, battered, bruised and tethered had sickened him. Kovak was pure evil and Christopher would make him pay for the way he’d abused her.

Through the mud Christopher reined his horse towards the Captain and as he closed in he slowed his mount and jumped from her back. Landing upon his feet with his sword in his hands he stormed forward.

As Christopher closed the distance between them, Kovak saw a strange glow emit from his foe’s eyes and he faltered as Christopher rampaged towards him. Christopher’s anger roared through the sword and with a flick of his wrist the soldiers between Kovak and himself were flung aside. No longer was he the youth Kovak had first met in the marketplace. Gone was the young man who Kovak could rile whenever he chose. Now before him was a rampaging beast which sent a shiver of fear slithering up Kovak’s spine.

As Christopher strode forward Kovak raised his sword and attacked. Christopher slammed his weapon into Kovak’s to block its path and the steel of the inferior sword crumbled with the force of the impact. Then Christopher retaliated in earnest. He swung his talisman around and as it cut through the air Christopher felt the instant the sword touched Kovak’s flesh and sliced its way through the taut muscle.

A faint sound emitted as the steel sliced through Kovak’s windpipe and crunched through the bones of his neck. Christopher withdrew his sword before he decapitated the man. Kovak’s eyes were wide with shock as his head slowly toppled backwards and his heart pumped his life’s blood from his body. Blood gushed from his aorta and sprayed forth as his legs buckled beneath his body. Kovak collapsed to the ground, twitching as the messages sent from his brain to move reached their destination too late. Christopher stepped over his body and moved on.

Athena was caught up in the battle that raged. She sent pulses of her dark magic towards the Wizards and their forces while at the same time she held on to what remained of the shield. But because she did both things simultaneously it weakened her gift and she couldn’t commit her entire power to either. The Wizards cast their own protective shields to rebuff her attacks but as they’d never used their magic in battle before, it took all their efforts to deflect the onslaught that Athena conjured. The men of the fold were strong and they continued to fight their bewitched foe and pushed forward through the shield. Even though Arnak’s men had been bound to him through magic, they were still mortal and they fell under the blade.

Arnak had witnessed Christopher’s advance upon Kovak and saw how easily he’d dispatched him. Kovak’s soul rose up and as it tried to move on to the next world, the Lord of the Underlands called it to his realm. His essence was sucked down as were all the fallen bewitched by Athena’s magic, and so with each soul Zute collected, his army in the Underlands grew.

Arnak roared as he approached Christopher. ‘You’re mine! Today you will die.’ He strode towards Christopher, his broadaxe in his hands ready to attack.

Christopher heard Arnak and looked up. Although Arnak was still as large as Christopher remembered, he’d aged. His once athletic frame had now thickened, and the years that had passed had turned this youthful Lord into a burly tyrant.

With Henry and Clarence’s guidance, Christopher had practised with his power and he now used what he’d learnt to cast forth his Wizard’s essence. He aimed his power at Arnak’s chest, but as the force he released connected with Arnak’s armour, it sizzled and was absorbed. Christopher tried again. This time he sent a ball of magic forth, a blast that would knock his foe down. Christopher cast his orb. It hurtled through the air towards Arnak.

Arnak laughed as he held his broadaxe up and took the impact. ‘You fool! You can’t match the magic of the Dark Lord. His axe protects me.’ Arnak then released Zute’s power from the axe. Bolts of blue lightning shot forth. Christopher instinctively raised his arms to defend himself and his essence created a protective shield to reflect Arnak’s attack.

Christopher moved forward and returned Arnak’s powerful blasts. As he drew near, he met his foe in a clash of wills, but the sword and the axe were too good a match for each other. The heavy bulk of the axe and the nimble swiftness of the sword were both just as deadly. This battle would come down to the one who wielded their weapon best, and so the two began their own dance—to the death.

Arnak swung his axe but Christopher moved back and then counter-attacked with his sword. Arnak wore a shield of thick metal across his forearm which he used to help deflect Christopher’s advances. The only time the two weapons met was when the sword cut into the handle of the broadaxe. Christopher used his essence to help block the axe’s path as it swung towards his flesh. He kept his wits about him and was able to defend and then attack on his own terms. Both men looked for any weakness, any mistake, so they could inflict the final blow.

The souls of the army moved past Arnak and Christopher, on towards their goal. The men of Solencia ploughed through the gap in the shield and their attack had expanded now they were inside.

Jack and Peter led the fold and directed their attack. The bewitched army moved on past their Lord and his opponent as the two wielded their weapons in battle. Arnak’s axe swung through the air and missed its target, but impaled anything it touched. Time and time again Christopher rebuffed Arnak’s attacks, and when he saw his opportunities he took them only to be deflected by the broadaxe or Arnak’s heavy arm shield.

Arnak used his strength, while Christopher was nimble and able to dodge. The two battled on. Arnak saw his chance as Christopher slipped. Christopher had stepped back to find a secure foothold but the ground he stood upon was slippery and for a split second he’d lost his balance. Arnak seized the moment, and using both hands, he swung his mighty axe, aiming it at Christopher’s side. Arnak intended to drive his axe deep into Christopher’s flesh and inflict a wound that would cripple him, enabling him to deal his final blow.

As Christopher’s foot slid in the mud he knew Arnak would take his opportunity. He saw Arnak swing the broadaxe as his foot continued to slide and then his foot found something solid. A rock lay beneath the slush and as his foot caught hold, it gave him traction. Christopher balanced himself for Arnak’s blow. He used the rock for leverage as he twisted and ducked below the head of the broadaxe. The rock supported his weight as he lowered his body to avert the bite of the steel that hungered for his flesh, and he felt the breath of the axe as it swung over him. Arnak had used such force as he’d swung his weapon that he couldn’t stop the momentum and the axe continued on its trajectory and spun him around.

Christopher pushed off from the stone. He whipped around and swung his own weapon and his sword rang as it cleaved the air. The side of Arnak’s neck was exposed and Christopher aimed to sink his sword into the exposed flesh.

Athena had moved forward and now watched as Arnak fought with Christopher. Her fight with the Wizards had slowed as her bewitched army fought on. She moved closer to watch her brother as he swung the fatal blow and saw how Christopher eluded the force of his axe. Arnak was vulnerable and as Christopher found his foothold and began his own retaliation, Athena saw the realisation of the move he was about to make. In that moment she recalled all her power. The shield fell and in one swift movement she thrust her power towards Christopher. Athena intended to kill him.

Her ball of power shot forth and headed for the One as he made his final turn. His sword was aimed and it sang as it ripped through the air; his intent was to take the head of the snake. As Christopher’s sword rounded and sailed towards Arnak, Athena’s power ball flew forward. Christopher was its intended victim, but as the sword swung it was intercepted by Athena’s orb of light and the weapon’s course was altered and, deflected, the orb slid up the steel. The swords path had changed and only the steel’s razor sharp tip slid along the side of Arnak’s neck. The blade was so sharp that Arnak didn’t feel its bite. Athena’s power struck Christopher and lifted him from the ground. It thrust him back into the sodden earth and he landed among the bodies of the fallen, his talisman falling from his grasp.