Free Bound to Survive (The Magic Within Book 1) by Sharon Gibbs Page B

where to find the ingredients needed and how they should be prepared. I learnt to read spells and incantations and how to use them to service the people. At the Keep we celebrated life and all things that nature provided. With my gift I treated the people of the village and helped mothers when they gave birth to their children.
    ‘As I visited the village often, I met a young girl named Eleanor. We became smitten with each other and eventually married. We lived at the Keep and ventured down to the village where we treated the people. In time we’d been blessed with three children. A fine son, Eric, and two daughters, Gabriella and Cynthia.
    ‘Eric wasn’t born with the gift, as a Wizard is, but still I tried to teach him the art of healing but it wasn’t his passion. He went to school in the village. There he found a love of numbers and he went on to become a clerk and took care of the Keep’s money and accounts.’
    Henry paused as he refilled his cup of tea and helped himself to another slice of cake. ‘Eric eventually married and he and his wife Sarah were happy to live near us on the common. Our two daughters Gabriella and Cynthia also attended school in the village, but they were still young and lived at home with us.’
    Mary and Thomas were amazed at how little they’d known about Henry’s life. He’d kept his life close to his heart. But they’d noticed the small things that happened when Henry was near and to learn that Henry had been a healer was no great surprise to them both. Henry had always tended to Mary when she gave birth and looked after them all when they were sick.
    ‘When Eleanor became a grandmother she was over the moon. Eric and Sarah had two children. The first child was a girl. Her name was Kate, and Eleanor doted on her. She was a fine child, happy as a button and by the time Kate was two Eric and Sarah had been blessed with another child. A son they named Christopher.
    ‘While we loved both grandchildren the same, there was something different about Christopher. He’d been born with the gift, and from the first moment I saw him I could see it in his eyes. The Hierarch at the Keep even commented on it.
    ‘Deep down in the depths of his eyes, you’ll know him by the shimmer which lies there inside,’ he’d said. At that moment in time Henry hadn’t known what the Hierarch had meant. He did now, of course, as he’d read the prophecy all those years ago.
    Henry continued on and told of life at the Keep and how he and Christopher would venture out together to collect the items they needed to restock the Keep’s supplies. Christopher had loved the adventures with his grandfather and was always interested in the new things his grandfather showed him. Henry taught him about life, nature and how for everything there was a time and a season. These things came naturally to Christopher as he’d been born with the gift. He was too young to begin any formal lessons, but at least he understood the world around him. Henry would take his horse and cart when he ventured out with Christopher and they’d usually be gone all day. If Christopher was tired he could climb into the cart, curl up in the furs and sleep. Sometimes they went overnight and then Kate and Eleanor would come along for the adventure.
    Henry told Thomas and Mary how much he’d loved his family and life at the Keep. ‘Could I have some more tea please, Mary?’
    She sensed Henry needed time to compose his thoughts and poured him another cup.
    Henry sat in silence, while he sipped his tea. When he was ready he continued on with his story.
    Henry recounted the day the invaders had come to the Keep. He’d taken Christopher out to look for herbs and roots to restock his supplies. They’d left early that morning as they needed to travel quite far to collect the roots of the Coneflower and Goldenseal. At first light Henry had wrapped Christopher in warm furs and settled him in the back of the wagon. Eleanor had packed them enough