Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1)

by Sharon Gibbs

  ‘Will he be back?’ Gerard wondered if he’d have to share the room.

  ‘Nope!’ Carl said before Clarence could cut him off. ‘He has to get a job to help his family, so he won’t be back.’

  ‘Oh.’ Gerard walked over to the couch by the hearth and sat down. ‘So who will I share with?’

  ‘Harold. He’s all right. Keeps to himself mostly and likes to read a lot.’ Michael grinned.

  Carl swung his legs off the arm of the couch and sat upright. ‘Well I’m starving,’ he said. ‘Are you coming down for dinner then?’

  ‘Sure.’ Gerard realised how late it was as his stomach had begun to protest a while ago. The boys quickly washed up and headed downstairs.

  Gerard couldn’t believe the vast assortment of food they could choose from. At each side of the room there were tables laden with trays of assorted meats and vegetables. Breadbaskets had been placed along the table, while jugs of water and juice were placed within easy reach. Gerard helped himself to a little of everything. When they’d finished their meal the tables were cleared and the desserts were brought out. Gerard’s stomach could hold no more and he sat at the table while Clarence helped himself to another dessert.

  The meal had finished and the Hierarch called for everyone’s attention as he stood on the dais at the far end of the great hall.

  ‘Students and teachers, I’d like you to welcome a new student who has joined us at the Keep today. Gerard Antrobus, please stand.’

  Gerard stood, even though he felt a little self-conscious. Everyone clapped to welcome him and Brother Astern watched the boy. He wasn’t sure about Gerard. He seemed like a quiet boy but something about him didn’t feel right. Both times he’d seen the boy he’d felt the same sensation run through his body and it unnerved him somewhat. Gerard took his seat again as the Hierarch continued on with his announcements.

  ‘In two weeks’ time, we’ll mark the end of the harvest season and we’ll celebrate with everyone from the village. Lists will be posted in the lobby and you are required to sign up to help bring this event to fruition. I’m sure there will be something we all will like, from the gathering of wood to the baking of pies. There are many chores that need to be done before the festivities can begin. Winter will be with us before we know it and now is the time we need to prepare. So, on that note, please make sure you add your names to the lists. Goodnight to you all and pleasant dreams,’ the Hierarch said and then he stepped down from the dais and they were all dismissed for the evening, to seek their own pleasures until bedtime.

  The four boys decided to show Gerard around the Keep. Through the lobby they headed up the stairs to the first floor. Their rooms lay to the left and there were two hallways on the right, one led to the Brothers’ residences and the other led past the reading rooms. If you continued further there was another staircase, which passed quite close to the back of the kitchens before it descended underground into the depths of the Keep.

  The boys led Gerard up to the second floor. Upon this landing the hallways led to the student’s classrooms and the offices that were used by the Brothers of the Keep. To get to the Hierarch’s office there was a staircase that led from the second floor high up into one of the turrets. As they climbed they stopped to look out of the small windows that dotted the walls and overlooked the grounds below. Climbing higher, they could see the rooftops of the common and as they passed the Hierarch’s private study they continued on up the stairs.

  At the top was a small doorway which led outside onto the viewing platform. It was sheltered up there; the cone shaped roof originally had been designed to protect the Guardians, as they stood watch in all types of weather. Because they were so high, the Guardians could see past the common and beyond the village and no one could approach the Keep unseen. When the war had ended and the land was at peace the Guardians no longer needed to stand watch over the Keep and eventually they returned to the mountain and blended back into the stone where they had come from.

  Gerard looked out and could see for miles into the distance. ‘This is amazing!’ he said. It wasn’t like home and Gerard told the boys how he’d travelled from Reist and about his life. This journey had been an adventure for him and to now be here at the Keep brought new hope to Gerard.

  The other boys had only ever known life in Solencia and were interested to know about Gerard’s life back home, especially since his father was the Lord who governed the land. Life was different here for Gerard. He was free; free from his day to day tasks. His father had expected a lot from him, as one day he would pass his title and responsibility onto Gerard.

  The boys sat and talked as they watched the sun slip beyond the horizon and the moon rose in the evening sky. The breeze ruffled their hair and it had become quite cold so they decided to head back inside by the fire.

  Tomorrow Gerard would say goodbye to his father and then a whole new chapter of his life would begin here at the Keep. He thought about this as he sat in the warmth and watched the flames flicker and lick at the dry wood. The clock struck the hour and signalled for all to retire to their rooms. Gerard heard the door open and watched as a man entered their common room.

  ‘Where’s Harold?’ he asked as he accounted for all that should be there.

  ‘He’s probably still in the library,’ Eli said as he pulled a rug over himself to keep warm. Even though they’d lit the fire, the room would take time to warm.

  The housemaster grunted and then left.

  Gerard waited until the man had closed the door. ‘Who was that?’

  ‘That’s George, the housemaster. He comes around every evening at the same time to make sure we’re all inside the Keep. There’s nothing that goes unnoticed by him,’ Eli said.

  Gerard was tired, it had been a long day and he said goodnight to the others and headed for his room. When he entered he could tell Harold had been there since he’d last left. Books littered his bed and boxes stood upon the floor. Gerard undressed, brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. He blew out the candle and lay there in the darkness as he thought about his day before he drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning Gerard waited in the lobby for his father to arrive. Breakfast was already served in the great hall and Gerard’s stomach grumbled as the aromas of food wafted through the room. It was busy that morning with everyone already up and about. The lists had been posted on the notice board and the students were lined up to choose their chores.

  Gerard decided to go over and see what jobs there were. There were chores which varied from the collection of wood to work in the kitchen. Harvest was a busy time indeed with fruits and vegetables to pick and preserves to make and store for the cold winter months. There were many jobs that needed to be finished within the next few weeks, before the cold weather set in. Preparations were needed to make the barn, which was attached to the Keep, habitable for the winter. Enough food was to be stored so that the animals could remain inside. Horses, sheep, cows, pigs and fowl would live in the barn safe from the wintry weather, or the chilly nights would claim them. Fine days would see them out in the yards, but through the coldest part of winter, when the snow sat piled high against the sides of the Keep, they’d be confined indoors. Chickens, ducks and geese would be housed on one side of the barn in coops, while the other animals would be held in pens towards the back. Heat radiated through the Keep’s walls from the fires that would burn day and night and it helped to keep the chill out of the barn. Over by the enormous doors enough feed would need to be stacked to last the winter through which also helped to insulate the barn against the cold.

  Gerard wasn’t sure which job to choose but he eventually decided to work out in the gardens and pick vegetables for storage. They were only expected to work in the morning, as the afternoon needed to be spent in study.

  Devon Antrobus entered the Keep and watched Gerard as he talked with the other students by the noticeboard. He took a seat and waited for him.

  When Gerard was finished they went into the hall to have break
fast together.

  With plates piled high they sat down to eat their morning fare.

  ‘How was your first night, son?’

  ‘Just fine, father. I’ve made a few friends,’ Gerard said as he pointed to the other boys lined up for breakfast.

  ‘Good,’ Devon said. Then he handed Gerard a small pouch of coins. ‘Take this so you can buy what you need in the village. I’ll organise to leave more with the Hierarch.’

  Gerard took the purse and tucked it into his pocket.

  ‘Don’t forget you can send word when you want to come home for a visit. I’m sure your mother will miss you greatly.’

  After they’d eaten Gerard and his father took a walk outside. They warmed themselves in the morning sunshine and talked before Devon left to return home.

  ‘Take care, my son,’ Devon said as he climbed into the carriage. The horses set off and made their way from the plateau, back down the winding path of the mountain and on to the port of Fledgel. Once there, the Merryweather would set sail and Devon would resume his task as Lord of the Lands.

  Gerard settled into life at the Keep. He helped in the gardens and collected wood to store for the winter. When he worked in the kitchen he felt a little out of his depth, as he’d never done so before.

  His lessons were basic to begin with and he was given many books, which in his own time he was expected to read, from books on philosophy to basic herbal remedies. He’d a lot to learn. Gerard enjoyed this new aspect of his life and looked forward to the end of harvest celebrations. There were many things he’d never heard of before and this was one of them.

  The last day of the harvest had arrived and in the early hours everyone rose and gathered outside. The Wizards and their students had dressed for the cool of the morning and began their procession down the winding pathway. A cool breeze blew in the darkness and toyed with the candles they carried. The flames flickered as they made their way down the mountain from the Keep, to the common. Staff carried baskets for the morning celebration, to share with the Keep’s community and those who chose to attend from the village. When the procession entered the grounds of the common, the Brothers, students and staff from the Keep mingled with the people who gathered and waited to give thanks for the year’s bountiful harvest. Hierarch Jacob called for all persons present to be seated on the ground as the sun’s first rays began to warm the earth.

  ‘We are gathered here to give our thanks for another bountiful harvest this year,’ the Hierarch said. ‘We celebrate together and are grateful we’ve enough food to see us through the cold winter months. We give thanks to Mother Earth who’s provided us with the wisdom to heed her call and make use of the best that she provides. We’ve plenty of seed to plant next season and with her blessing we shall reap another bountiful yield next year. This morning we give thanks and rejoice in the beauty she provides. Let us all bow our heads and give thanks to Mother Earth for her fertility which allows us to flourish.’

  The people in the common whispered their thanks for the bounty of that year’s harvest. Gerard wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do and he sat in silence and watched.

  When they’d finished all became quiet. Hierarch Jacob then welcomed the morning sun, which now bathed them all in its golden glow. ‘Today will be a celebration of life,’ he said. ‘This morning we share our bounty and celebrate our neighbours.’

  He finished his speech and everyone left to gather the food they’d prepared for the morning. Tables were brought out and assembled and the food was placed for all to share. After the ritual breakfast, everyone went about their business. There were many tasks to be completed before the evening’s festivities. The pits needed to be prepared for the meat, which would be skewered on long poles and roasted over the fire. It would be turned to allow the juices to drizzle over the skin and keep it moist as it sizzled and cooked over the hot coals. Salads and vegetables harvested from the village gardens would be prepared in various ways and then later in the evening cakes and biscuits would be brought out to share.

  The people gathered back in the common that afternoon to relax and share time with family and friends while their children played. Gerard sat under a tree in the shade and sipped a cool drink as he watched the children of the village play games. He was amazed that the whole village came together to celebrate.

  After dark two bonfires were lit. The Wizards dressed in ceremonial robes and cast blessings as animals from the Keep and village were herded between the fires. The yearly ritual was to promote fertility for a prosperous breeding season. Young men and women who wished to begin or expand their families could also pass between the fires. Later that night, when the moon had risen, Hierarch Jacob gathered the Brothers together and they returned to the Keep to have their own private ritual of thanks. Eventually, when the evening came to an end, the people returned to their homes and the students walked back up the mountain path to seek their beds within the Keep.

  The days turned cold and the animals were ushered into the warmth of the barn. Most of the student’s time was spent inside the Keep as the winds turned bitterly cold and the first snow fell. Gerard kept busy with his studies and evenings were spent with his friends around the fires in the foyer or their own lounge area. Gerard now wore the same thick woollen clothes as the other students and the fires in the Great Keep burnt day and night. Soon the snow would block passage up the mountain and the inhabitants of the Keep would be isolated for the winter, until the sun’s warmth returned to melt the snow.

  Chapter Twelve

  Gerard Antrobus stepped out of the Keep and into the warm afternoon sun. Most of the snow had melted, as the days were now warm and green sprouts of life burst through the barren earth.

  As Gerard made his way down to the village, the sun warmed his back and he thought about the woman who waited for him. Gerard had lost interest in his lessons and spent most of his evenings in the village.

  Gerard was now twenty-two and after eleven years at the Keep he was bored with the life he led. Every day he spent less time on his studies and more time in the village, only returning to the Keep to rest.

  Over the years he’d alienated himself from the friends of his youth and his jealousy of them had grown. Clarence had met Henry the first day he’d arrived at the Keep and they’d instantly become friends. Clarence had taken Henry under his wing and they spent much of their free time together, ending up in all sorts of mischief. Both had the same passions in life and wanted to help the people of the land.

  Gerard had withdrawn from the group, and his studies had suffered. His jealousy ruled him and he’d taken a dislike to Henry, undermining him whenever he could. His friends noticed his spiteful ways and they, too, turned away from him.

  In the summer Gerard would go home for a few weeks to spend time with his family. He knew it was his father’s deepest wish that he develop his skills and eventually return to Reist to spread his knowledge to its people. Devon wanted Gerard to lead the people to a new age, where they could prosper and flourish throughout the land and where neighbouring provinces would come and seek the advice and guidance of his son.

  Gerard had found himself a companion within the brothel on Long Ridge Street. Although she was somewhat older than him she’d taught him more than the other ladies of the night. Gerard had become enamoured with Jaqulin. There was something about her that intrigued him. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

  In the beginning she’d been elusive, always busy as she entertained other men at the house. Every time Gerard visited she already had someone in the foyer waiting for her, but finally after two months he’d managed to arrange time with her. That day he’d arrived at the house early and had booked her for the whole evening. At last she was his and he’d been happy with her for the last three years.

  Jaqulin, for her part, was hopeful that she’d nabbed herself a man of prominent position and she’d one day be able to leave her dowdy existence and become the lady of substance she’d always dreamed about. Gerard showere
d her with gifts and treats and spent much of his time with her, not only at the house, but he also whisked her away for quiet dinners at the inn. He took her for long strolls through the woods and dressed her in fine clothes that he bought from the milliners in the village and the neighbouring town. He shared with this woman more than just the lust of his passion; he shared his hopes and desires for the future and had shared his plans with her for when he returned to Reist. Always he’d included her in those plans, and she’d come to believe that one day she’d become the lady of his house.

  This particular afternoon as he lay in her bed, he seemed different, more distracted than usual. Jaqulin was worried he wasn’t satisfied with her usual antics and as she stroked his chest of fair hair she cooed to him to find out what was on his mind.

  ‘What ails you my love?’ she said.

  ‘Oh Jaqulin, I wonder what it’s all been about,’ Gerard said. ‘All these years at the Keep spent in study for what? To tell the people when to plant the corn or what season they need to choose to shear their sheep? I just don’t see the point of it all. The magic they all seem to have is never used for much at all. If I were as powerful as I’ve heard some of them are, I would simply cast a spell so the corn would grow to perfection. And so what if the sheep were shorn too early? I could use a spell to thicken the fleece to get a good price. I’ve asked the Brothers at the Keep and all they say is, this is the way it has always been and to follow the teachings. Anytime I talk about their magic I’m told, that to delve in any other Arts is not allowed here at the Keep or disciplinary action will be enforced. What, so I have to read more books!’

  Gerard couldn’t see past his own thoughts, to see the logic behind the philosophy of the Wizards.

  ‘There should be more to life. I’m sick of books and the balms and tinctures I have to make. When I rule, the people won’t have to work so hard and their lives will be easier. If only I could develop my Wizard’s essence faster, then I could be away from here and rule in my own lands.’