Resurrection of an Empire: The Magic Within (The Magic Within Series Book 2)

by Sharon Gibbs

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  From the middle plain the Elders watched as events in the realm unfolded. Brother Asterly paced back and forth as he worried. There’d be no escape from the Dark Lord. As soon as the sun sank below the horizon and darkness returned to claim the land, the beasts would be released from their safe haven and would be free to stalk the fleeing army. No shelter nearby would be large enough for an army the size of the battalion which fled from the pass. No matter how hard they rode, it wouldn’t be long until the beasts arrived to pick them off one by one.

  ‘What is to be done?’ Hierarch Jacob asked of Brother Michael.

  ‘I fear nothing. We have no control over what happens in the realm. We can cast no spell to hide them from the forces about to be released,’ Brother Michael replied.

  Brother Asterly stopped mid-pace. ‘We may not be able to cast spells to hide them but we can, for a time, halt the descent of the sun.’

  Brother Joseph, shocked, stepped forward. ‘You know to do such a thing would anger the kings and could alter the seasons of time.’

  ‘If we do not,’ Brother Asterly said, ‘the world of the living will end. Zute will change the world as we know it. He will massacre and eradicate the people and the time of the king’s will end. He will be free to cross the land unchallenged. Until all lands here, and across the oceans, fall under his spell.’

  Their Ancient leader stepped forward. ‘Your Brother is right. If we do nothing and let events play out as they will, we could risk losing the world we have known. If we intervene we run the risk of changing the seasons of time and who knows what the old kings will do. We must all decide together, Brothers. From our mistakes, back in the war of the Old Time, we unknowingly created the events which are happening now. We must all decide together, for when the sun sets this very day, will you be able to watch as they’re all massacred? As you watch the setting of the sun ask yourselves Will it ever rise again?’

  The group, gathered in the middle plane, talked amongst themselves before one of the Brothers spoke to the Ancient one. ‘So if we halt the setting of the sun, how long will it be for?’

  ‘Only until they’ve had the chance to reach safety. Then it will be up to them where their path lies.’

  ‘And what if the seasons change? What if time is altered?’

  ‘Then so be it. For if we do not intervene, all will be lost. And as for the old kings, I’m sure they will eventually work out an agreement or accord.’

  ‘Then we really have no other choice and must yield and give them a chance,’ the Brother said.

  The Ancient One gathered them all in a circle. ‘Know this, my Brothers, for our mistakes we now make amends.’

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Elle, Clarence and Goodwin lay low on their mounts as they raced towards the village of Corn Fallow. Once there they would be able to obtain fresh horses and warn the people of the danger headed their way. Traveling along the worn roads, Goodwin glanced back to make sure they weren’t being followed. The way behind them seemed clear but something wasn’t right and it continued to nag at him the further along they rode.

  ‘Clarence,’ Goodwin called to the wizard.

  ‘I know, lad. I feel it too.’ As Clarence bounced gently in his saddle he could feel the change in the air around them and it unnerved the wizard.

  ‘What is it then?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ he said.

  ‘It’s the sun.’ Elle pulled her horse in line with the other two. ‘It should have set by now. We’ve been riding for at least two hours and the sun has yet to disappear.’

  ‘We must count our blessings and not question what we don’t understand,’ Clarence said. ‘There is a reason for everything, and it just so happens that this is one in our favour.’

  As they rode into Corn Fallow the villagers were out in the streets gossiping and guessing why the sun hadn’t set.

  ‘Good people, arm yourselves,’ Clarence called to them. ‘Flee to a place of safety. The Dark Lord Zute has risen and with him he brings a horde of death. Spread the word,’ he yelled as they rode through the town headed for the Bartholomew’s home.

  As the three on horseback rode up the path to Thomas’ home, they saw him outside in the garden. Evening had yet to draw in and he too wondered why the sun still sat low in the sky. Thomas recognised the riders as they cantered in and pulled to a halt. He noticed the salt runnels on their mounts, the tell-tale sign that they’d been ridden too hard.

  ‘Thomas,’ Clarence called. ‘Pack up your family, take only what you must, and head for the Keep.’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Henry and Christopher are holding off an army headed this way. I don’t know how long they will be successful, but we three need to get back to Canistar.’

  ‘I worried when the sun lingered too long on the horizon and when it never set I knew something was seriously wrong,’ Thomas said as he gazed at the dark clouds in the distance. ‘Mary is already packing what we need, and I’ve harnessed the wagon. There are fresh mounts in the stable. Yours won’t travel too much further. And you are?’ Thomas stared at the soldier with them.

  ‘Goodwin, sir. Soldier to Canistar.’

  ‘Bring the horses to the barn, and we can rub them down and turn them out into the yard.’

  They worked quickly, grabbing handfuls of straw to rub their mounts dry, easing the heat from their bodies.

  ‘Will you stop and rest a while?’ Thomas asked.

  ‘No, I’m afraid we’ve already lingered long enough. We need to use the light to our advantage. Who knows how long it will last. We still have two days hard ride until we reach the Keep.’

  ‘I’ll have Mary pack you something to eat along the way. Those three horses over there should meet your needs. They’re strong and well rested and should take you a long way before you will have to change them out.’

  ‘Thank you, Thomas,’ Elle said, ‘but—’

  ‘It’s alright, lass. I know the wagon will slow you down. We’ll be fine and not too far behind you.’

  Elle hugged the man. She didn’t know what else to say. By leaving them to follow she knew they would be in danger, but if they didn’t get to the Keep in time all could be lost.

  They saddled the horses and lead them up to the house. Mary was stacking baskets of food on the porch. ‘We’re ready to leave,’ she said and then noticed Clarence and Elle. She took in their dishevelled appearance. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘We encountered an army on the other side of the range,’ Elle said as she looked down. Elle lifted her head with renewed strength. ‘We had to leave the others behind.’ Mary was horrified but she said nothing. In times of trouble one didn’t always have a choice.

  ‘Mary, do we have any food we can spare them?’

  ‘Of course,’ she said and picked up one of the baskets. ‘I’ll tie the food in a cloth for you, so you can eat while you ride.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Elle said.

  ‘Don’t head through Canameer,’ Thomas said, ‘it will only slow you down. Out along the road over there,’ he pointed past the house, ‘is a track. Follow it until it cleaves towards the river and then you’ll see a shallow crossing. From there you’ll see a group of trees where there’s an old trail. Some of it’s overgrown but you should be able to make your way along. It can only be travelled by foot or horse so we shall travel through Canameer and warn the town before we continue on.’

  With a skin of water each and food for the journey, the three set off along the trail.

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  The horses foamed at their bits as the miles flew beneath their hooves. After several hours whipped by they arrived at a small farm house where the owner agreed to let them change over their mounts. Setting off again on the last leg of their journey, they’d ridden only a few hours towards their final destination when the sun slipped beyond the horizon and they rode along in the dim light of eventide.

  ‘I’m afraid we’ve run out of time,’ Goodwin said as the land g
radually slipped beneath the blanket of night. Crickets chirped in the cool evening air now their extended sleep had ended and darkness cloaked the land. ‘We’ll stop here and rest,’ he said as he halted his horse. There looks to be a sheltered area over in the trees where we should be safe.

  ‘We can’t afford to stop. We don’t know how far behind us Zute is,’ Elle said.

  ‘Elle, you’re exhausted. We all are. We need to rest.’

  ‘He’s right, my girl,’ Clarence admitted. ‘We need to rest. We’ll be no good to anyone in Canistar if we never arrive. Besides, with a little luck the moon should be up in a few hours and then we’ll be able to continue on.’

  ‘I’m afraid once we’re asleep we’ll not wake,’ Elle said as she gave in and dismounted.

  Goodwin took her horse’s reins. ‘I’ll take watch Elle. Once the moon is up I’ll wake you and then we’ll continue.’

  ‘What about you? You’ll get no rest.’

  ‘Once we’re on our way, I’ll grab a little sleep then. If I tether my horse to yours she will follow along. I’ve done it before on the trail, don’t worry. Now get some rest.’

  They unsaddled their horses and Goodwin collected wood so they would be warm. Clarence blasted the twigs with his magic to set the kindling aflame and as Elle sat down by the flickering light, she nibbled half-heartedly on a dry biscuit that Mary had packed. It was one of the few that remained in the bright coloured cloth, but they’d managed to refill their water skins when they’d stopped along the way. With the dryness of the biscuit sucking the moisture from her mouth she needed a drink and as she sat by the warmth of the small fire she finally allowed herself to think of Christopher, Henry and Jack. Her mind raced with her thoughts but her eyelids soon lowered and she drifted off to sleep.

  ‘Elle.’ Goodwin shook the sleeping girl to wake her. Her eyes flew open and she woke with a start. Her heart raced and while her eyes were open her mind was still a muddle. ‘Elle we need to leave. The moon has risen and the sky is clear, we can make good time.’

  ‘I’m awake,’ Elle said as she fumbled around.

  ‘Here, have a drink and wash your face while I saddle your horse.’

  Elle took the water bag offered, and tipping some into her palm she splashed it on her face. She gasped as the cold water took her breath away but it helped to waken her somewhat. Her eyes stung and she blinked them repeatedly in hopes that the grainy feeling would go away. Rising to her feet, she pushed back her tousled auburn locks and after rolling her blanket she fastened it behind her saddle. Her body felt worse for its rest but she knew they had to continue.

  ‘Are you alright, Elle?’ Clarence asked.

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘It’s just dreams have a way of releasing the fears I’ve held back.’

  ‘I thought of them too,’ he said and gave her a slim smile.

  Elle reached for the rope Goodwin passed her.

  ‘Tie it to the loop on the back of your saddle,’ he said. She did so and then when they were ready they headed off towards home.

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  The horses laboured riding up the rocky road into Canistar. Even though they’d changed their mounts at the farmhouse along the way, the last leg of their trip had been tough. Goodwin had managed to rest for a few hours and when he’d woken, they’d picked up the pace making up some of the time they’d lost.

  The moon was faint in the blue morning sky as the sun rose and flooded the earth with its golden light. They rode into the village and Elle pulled her horse to a halt then raced up to the small white washed building.

  ‘Saul!’ she called out as she rapped on the door to the little home at the back of the butcher’s shop. ‘Saul, wake up!’

  Bleary eyed, Saul answered the door. He noticed Elle’s bedraggled looks and the dark circles around her eyes. ‘Come in, Elle. Are you alright?’

  ‘There’s no time, Saul. We need to get everyone in the village up to the Keep. I don’t know how much time we have until they get here.’

  ‘Who gets here? The beasts? Are you talking about the creatures that attacked Frank?

  ‘Yes, no, both,’ she said, making no sense. ‘So Albert and Rose have arrived?’

  ‘They’re safe at the Keep with Frank, waiting for your return.’

  Elle was relieved that at least she wouldn’t have to worry about them now. ‘Did a man named Foreman arrive with them?’

  ‘Yes, he came with Albert and Rose. But within a few days he’d fallen ill and was taken to the infirmary. They’ve done all they can for him but his sickness is baffling. Nothing they give him eases his illness.’

  ‘Elle, tell me what’s happening.’

  ‘Saul, it’s been horrific. We need to have everyone from the village move up to the safety of the Keep. We encountered an army of…of… I just can’t explain it. They’re the resurrected corpses of Arnak’s dead army.’

  Before Clarence could head for the infirmary he sought out Governor Slatterly. He stood on the porch of his home and hammered on the door. After his second assault on the portal the Governor speedily pulled it open.

  ‘What in darnation is going on?’ He flustered as his fingers slipped off the handle and the door careened into the wall. He stood in the opening in his stocking feet and hurriedly stuffed his shirt into his trousers.

  ‘Governor Slatterly,’ Clarence blurted out. ‘You need to rally the villagers and bring them to the Keep. We are under threat and you need to see the people to safety.’

  ‘What?’

  As Clarence’s barrage of information sank in, Governor Slatterly fumbled to find his voice. ‘What threat? What’s going on?’ he said in a fluster as his trousers slipped from his wide girth without his belt.

  ‘Governor, calm down. Gather the people and have them make their way up to the Keep and then take your wagon to the infirmary and help move the sick. I must go I have much to do before I wake the Guardians,’ Clarence said as he trod down the steps and set off for the infirmary.

  ‘Guardians! What are the Guardians?’ Governor Slatterly called after Clarence. ‘Hobbit’s spots,’ he said and then rushed back inside to dress himself. But the wizard had enough worries of his own and didn’t hear the Governor call after him.

  As Clarence entered the sanatorium he found Thelia tending to the sick.

  ‘Brother Clarence! We thought you’d not arrive back in time.’

  ‘There’s no time now, Thelia,’ Clarence said. ‘I’ll help you heal the sick once we’ve moved them all up to the Keep. We need to move everyone. The whole village needs to seek refuge there.

  ‘Why? What’s happening?’

  ‘I’ll tell you all about it later. Right now we have to get moving,’ Clarence said.

  ‘Yes, Brother Clarence,’ she said. ‘The wagon’s out back. I’ll have my husband harness the horse and the sick can travel safely inside.’

  ‘Good, Thelia. Can I leave you to organise their transfer?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Your husband’s here with you?’

  ‘Yes, we’ve both been staying here at night. With the wizards away, he thought it best. I need you to take a quick look at this man,’ she said as she dragged him over to the small cot in the corner. ‘He arrived almost two weeks ago with your friend Frank and after a few days he fell sick. His illness is unlike any I’ve ever seen before. Nothing I do eases his pain.’

  ‘Foreman,’ Clarence said as he dropped to the man’s side. He touched his friend’s forehead and felt the searing pain of the Sorceress’ magic. Fever ravaged his body, and Foreman opened his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but exhausted was unable to utter a word.

  ‘Stay strong, my friend. We’ll have you well soon,’ he said. ‘We need to move them all up to the Keep. I’ve organised the governor to come with his wagon. Are you sure you and your husband can manage?’

  ‘Yes. The other women will be here soon and they’ll be able to help. It shouldn’t take more than three trips.’

  ‘I’l
l organise some men to help you load those who are bed ridden while I organise a place in the Keep for them to be housed. I’ll see you soon, Thelia.’

  As Clarence scuttled along the road he found Elle leaving the market where she’d urged the villagers to pack what they needed to bring to the Keep. ‘So do we need to organise to move those at the infirmary?’

  ‘I’ve already sent men to help with transporting them,’ he said.

  ‘So everything’s fine then?’

  ‘Well, not exactly. Foreman seems to have worsened. We’ll look into it when he arrives and is settled. Right now we need to head up to the Keep, organise accommodation for the village and see to that other business.’

  Goodwin caught up with them as they mounted and they rode down the main thoroughfare and headed for the Keep.

  Chapter Fifty

  Inside her home, Elle leant on the window ledge and gazed out across the Keep’s grounds. She watched as villagers were ushered through the gates. Goodwin and the men from the barracks assisted those arriving and informed them where they could house their animals. Elle lifted her hand and stared at the ring on her finger. She thought back to the time, not so long ago, when she and Christopher had sat outside under the oak tree enjoying the morning sunshine. A time when she thought happiness had returned for good.

  Rose wandered over to Elle’s side and wrapped a comforting arm around the girl’s waist. ‘That’s the trouble with thinking,’ she said. ‘It let our worries run wild. He’ll be fine, Elle.’ Rose gave her waist a squeeze and Elle looked at Christopher’s aunt, returning a small smile. She hadn’t the heart to tell Rose that they’d nearly lost Christopher once already.

  ‘So what’s this thing Christopher wants you to do?’ Albert asked as he hurried over to join them.

  ‘Clarence is to resurrect the Guardians of the Keep. To protect the people and our home.’