The Destiny of Amalah

by Thandi Ryan

  ‘We were headed to the palace,’ said Häkan. ‘We feared something was going to happen to the boy’s father and the prince’s father, who is also in attendance; not to mention the representatives of Parades.

  Thaddeus looked at Kai, his face betraying his emotions

  ‘Tell me,’ Kai whispered.

  ‘The summit was a trap,’ said a grim faced Thaddeus. ‘It was Adriel’s plan of crushing the rebellion and any sympathetic leaders. No one was spared – I am so very sorry. I am sorry that this is how our first meeting begins.

  Kai nodded and Elana gently took hold of his arm and grasped it.

  ‘I’m so sorry my love,’ Elana said.

  ‘And my father?’ Michael asked tearfully, who was now standing opposite Thaddeus.

  Thaddeus shook his head, not wanting to tell the boy about the fate of his father, knowing what had occurred to his mother and siblings. Garrick knelt down in front of him.

  ‘Michael, I am so sorry. No one at the summit survived, your father included.’ Michael let out a scream and ran from Garrick and the other adults who were standing by. ‘Michael wait! It’s not safe.’

  ‘I will go,’ said Kai, as he ran after Michael.

  ‘He needs to know about his brothers and mother,’ Garrick croaked.

  ‘He knows,’ Elana said quietly. ‘He saw them slain. His mother helped him escape but he knows she was slain too. I found him by the river. The guards…well…anyway…we were coming to find his father.’

  ‘In one day he is an orphan with no home and no family,’ Raynor said sadly.

  ‘And in one day, Adriel has changed the fate of the nations forever,’ Garrick said grimly.

  Chapter 4

  Kai found Michael sat by a tree, hugging his knees and crying. Kai wanted to weep too, not just for the loss of his own father but he wanted weep for the small dark haired boy who had just lost his whole family; so quickly and so violently. He stared at Michael for few moments, agonising what to say and do, and then he sat down beside him.

  ‘You have suffered the unimaginable today Michael. I loved my father dearly but I was blessed to have had him through my childhood; to see me become a man and to get married. I am so very sorry for you this day; for your pain, your grief and your loss.’ Kai said gently, as he placed an arm around the young boys shoulders. ‘I swear to you that Elana and I will protect you from here on in. I know that Garrick will also protect you with his last breath.

  ‘I want my mother,’ he cried.

  ‘I know you do,’ Kai said softly. ‘I wish I could put this right but I am only a mortal man.’

  ‘The Order want to kill me too don’t they?’

  ‘With your father gone, I hope that they no longer do,’ Kai said candidly.

  ‘I don’t mind if they do. Then I can be with mother, father, Tristan and Saul.’

  ‘I think with his very last breath Michael, your father would want you to live. I think your father, mother and brothers would want you to go on and become a man: to love, have a wife and children and grandchildren. Now, you may not see it but I promise you Michael; you will have joy in your life once again. And I, Elana and Garrick, will care for you and guide you through this life.’

  ‘But I am the one placing you all in danger…Adriel…’

  ‘Adriel will be dealt with but for now, we must leave this place.’

  ‘Where will we go?’

  ‘I think the best place for us all to be is in Mantor,’ Kai said as he rose to his feet and looked at Michael. ‘Come now Michael,’ he said holding out his hand to the young boy. ‘Let us join the others.’

  Michael took Kai’s hand and stood up and Kai led him back to where the others were standing. Elana looked at Kai and he saw the concern on her face. He knew her concern was for Michael and himself and he nodded slowly before turning to the others.

  ‘I was saying it is not safe for any of us to remain in Amalah,’ said Häkan.

  ‘I agree,’ said Kai.

  ‘We can’t travel as we are,’ said Elana. We will be recognised as royals and guards.’

  ‘I know some rebels who may be able to assist with clothing,’ said Garrick.

  ‘It won’t be safe,’ said Michael quietly.

  ‘Why?’ Garrick asked.

  ‘I think Adriel may know who they are.’

  ‘How can you know this?’ Häkan asked.

  ‘When I was travelling with my father, he let me work as a jug collector and I ran errands for men in inns. I took their empty tankards of mead away and empty bottles. The men talked freely around me, for I am a child and my father knew this. They would send me on errands with notes, thinking that I could not read.’

  Everyone looked at Michael in amazement.

  ‘A child spy,’ Häkan said shaking his head. ‘Ingenious.’

  ‘What did you learn?’ asked Garrick.

  ‘There was one note, saying that after the summit, the rebels will not cause any more trouble. My father took this as a positive sign. He thought the wishes of the leaders…’

  ‘So would any man,’ said a grim faced Garrick. ‘Thaddeus, Raynor, what news had you come to tell me?’

  ‘That the Order had installed themselves into the school of magic in Lansten. That teachers and students alike were being offered unprecedented magical powers of they swore their allegiance to Adriel,’ said Raynor.

  ‘Students and teachers were leaving the school in droves,’ began Thaddeus. ‘Some remained to resist the school being completely taken over but Raynor and I ventured to Amalah to find Galen because we discovered something disturbing.’

  ‘Which was?’ asked Kai.

  ‘Some of the sorcerers were being taught the way of the Order and the ways of a warrior.’

  ‘Why?’ Elana asked.

  ‘I fear I know why,’ said Häkan. ‘I hope to the gods that I am wrong but I do not believe I am.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Kai.

  ‘To create an Amalayan Order consisting of witches; that would make Adriel…’

  ‘Unstoppable,’ said Kai.

  ‘Exactly,’ said Häkan.

  ‘Adriel has planned well,’ Garrick said bitterly. ‘He has annihilated the leadership of the nations; created the Amalayan Order and is now creating an Order of witches. He is well ahead before we even begin.’

  Then let’s begin,’ said Kai solemnly. ‘First we leave Amalah and head to Mantor. From there, we will build our army and we will crush Adriel and his Order,’ he said vehemently.

  That fateful night of the meeting of the seven was the first step in creating and leading an army into war against Adriel and his Amalayan Order. The seven were to be instrumental in the years ahead but on that night, their only goal was to leave Amalah and reach Mantor alive.

  They first made their way to Michael’s house, gambling correctly that the Order would not return there. All were horrified at the sight of Michael’s slain family and Michael refused to enter the house ever again. The adults buried Michael’s family and they all stood quietly as Thaddeus said a prayer. Michael held onto Elana’s hand and wept once more. Once the brief funeral was over, they changed into ordinary clothes and packed only what they needed from the house.

  The journey to Mantor would take several days and they travelled in two’s or three’s and sometimes alone. They would change the order of the grouping so they would not be recognised or remembered in the next town or village. They ate in fields and forests rather than venturing into inns, lest they come across an off duty member of the Order.

  Michael rode mostly with Garrick, Elana or Kai; remaining silent for most of the journey as he grieved for his family. Only his nightmares gave away his inner turmoil and he would wake screaming until Garrick, Kai or Elana arrived to comfort him.

  As they reached the outskirts of Amalah the seven rode together and when the border of Mantor grew closer, they rode hard and fast through the dead ground until they sighted the guards of Mantor patrolling the border as Tobiah had instructed.
r />   ‘No Amalayan Order?’ Garrick enquired.

  ‘No, Adriel has being trying to enter but he has been met with fierce resistance,’ said Kai. ‘Ironically, the leader of Mantor need not have attended the summit but his actions will only have angered my people.’

  ‘How far to your region?’ Thaddeus asked.

  ‘Two more days but we can set down here and begin sending word to the other regions of what has transpired.’

  When they arrived in the first village; Kai needed no introductions and the people came out of their homes to greet him. The elders in the village came forward to speak with him – and Kai in turn – introduced the six who had travelled with him. They were led to the town hall and an emergency meeting was convened between Kai, the elders and the six.

  Kai relayed the details of the massacre at the summit to a shocked council. He ordered the guard around the perimeter be tripled and he sent riders out to the regions to tell the leaders what had transpired.

  Another day passed by and the seven remained together as they wandered through the village and took their meals together. Late in the evening, Kai convened a meeting between them all.

  ‘Before we venture any further; I wish to lay out my plans for dealing with Adriel and his Order,’ he said and then he paused for a short while. The six looked at him expectantly and he looked at each and everyone of them in turn, his face showing the strain and grief of the last few days.

  ‘Everyone, and I mean everyone has a role to play in the months ahead. As you know, the scouts say that Adriel has strongholds in Southern Parades, Southern and Central Lansten and Western Santeb. He has a complete hold over Aradene and Basimine. Mantor and Filine and Equer remain untouched but he has mad inroads into Filine.

  The only way to defeat him is if we – the rest of the nations – unite. As you know only too well, he has wiped out the leaders and most of the rebels in Amalah. I believe it may take months, maybe even years to defeat him. I ask you to all to help but I ask the most of Elana and Michael.’

  ‘We do not put children in harms way,’ Garrick said raising his voice.

  ‘This is not a decision I came to lightly,’ Kai replied.

  ‘This is not a decision you should have made at all,’ countered Garrick. ‘Do you realise he is just a child? He has just turned nine. Knowing how murderous Adriel and his men are, and how outnumbered we are, can you seriously be suggesting to involve him in this?’ Kai stared impassively at Garrick, who defiantly held his gaze. ‘I will not let you do this,’ he said vehemently.

  ‘It is not up to you,’ Kai said calmly.

  ‘Indeed it is. I swore to protect his father and I have sworn to protect him. I will not let you put him in harms way.’

  ‘And if we fall Garrick?’ Elana began; ‘who will protect him then?’

  ‘I will protect him with my last breath,’ Garrick said.

  ‘What is it that you wish the boy to do?’ Raynor asked.

  ‘No!’ Garrick shouted. ‘You have lost your mind if you think a child should belong in a war and I will not let you use him in this way.’

  ‘Then tell us,’ Häkan said, as he turned to look at Garrick; ‘what is your plan?’

  ‘I do not have a plan as yet.’

  ‘But we need a plan now,’ said Kai. ‘Garrick, Michael’s brothers did not belong in this war but look what befell them. I know, we all know, that children do not belong in this war but Adriel has shown that he has no mercy and he has no boundaries.’

  ‘So you see fit to give him a sword and mace do you?’ Garrick retorted.

  ‘Garrick, I understand your anger and unease,’ said Thaddeus; ‘but I implore you to listen to Kai before a decision is made. And Kai, I assume you do not intend for your decision to be a unilateral one?’ Kai shook his head. ‘Then please, Garrick, at least listen.’

  ‘Very well,’ he conceded.

  ‘Adriel has already established Amalah as his power base. He plans from there and gives his orders from there. Most people in Amalah, it must be assumed, are friendly to Adriel and unless we know otherwise, that is the assumption we will work on. I also know that there are rebels in Amalah; rebels who perhaps, can assist us.

  Michael, you said that you would work as a jug boy when travelling through Amalah. People talked loosely around you did they not?’ Michael nodded. ‘And they sent you on errands with messages?’ Michael nodded again. ‘I know I ask a lot of you and Elana but I thought if you could return to Amalah with Elana, you could take on that role once again.’

  ‘You want him to return to Amalah – the place where…you know full well what happened there,’ Garrick said angrily. ‘Not only do you want him to return but you want him to spy…’

  ‘I will do it,’ Michael said quietly.

  ‘As will I,’ said Elana.

  ‘Michael you do not have to do this,’ said Garrick.

  ‘But your information will be invaluable,’ Häkan added; ‘and we could use it to our advantage.’

  ‘I used to do it for my father and I know he would want me to do it now,’ Michael said simply.

  Kai nodded: ‘Your father would be proud. Elana will travel with you at all times. You will travel as mother and son and give her the information and she will pass it on. Häkan, of the guards from Parades who travelled to Mantor, how many would you trust with your life?’

  ‘Three,’ Häkan said immediately.

  ‘Then they will be the ones making contact with Elana,’ Kai said and then he turned to Garrick. ‘Garrick, do you think you can enter Amalah unnoticed?’

  ‘I believe so.’

  ‘The rebels you speak of, who are they and how many are there?’

  ‘At least a hundred that I know of. There are some warriors and trackers but mostly they are ordinary farmers and townsfolk, who have outgrown Adriel’s tyranny.’

  ‘Good. I want you to return to Amalah; the warriors and the trackers, send to Mantor, we will be building an army from here. If you can, establish passages of information and runners but only with the people that you know and trust but under no circumstances mention Michael or Elana. Thaddeus and Raynor, I want you to venture onwards and find fellow sorcerers and sorceresses and send them here.

  Häkan, your tasks are number and arduous. When you have instructed your guards, take a troop of my men to Filine and meet with Queen Nadah. Tell her you speak on behalf of Prince – no King Kai and his slain father, Tobiah. Offer yours and my condolences for the loss of her daughter and then seek her help. Tell her we in Mantor are raising an army.

  You are a warrior of Parades and you also know the ways of the Mantor warrior; we have shared our knowledge, now share it with Filine and help to build the army. I will do the same here, with the help of the men and women from Parades and Mantor. I will co-ordinate from here. Stay in contact through trusted riders. It is hoped that our armies will then unite and we can then begin to fight back.

  In a few months, I hope that Elana and Michael’s help will assist us and that Garrick arrives back in Mantor safely and with his rebels. Then, we will take back Filine first and then we will begin the long fight to vanquish Adriel. Are we agreed?’

  Everyone nodded and stared solemnly at each other. When they adjourned that evening the seven spent their last evening together; talking of their lives and the unknown future that lay before them. Kai and Elana retired early, wanting to spend their last night together alone; while Garrick and Michael talked of Amalah and their parents both now gone.

  In the morning, Garrick was the first to leave. His head was now shorn and he dressed in village clothes that made him indistinguishable from the other villagers.

  ‘The transformation is impressive,’ said Kai. ‘I have spent days in your company and I would not recognise you.’

  ‘Then it is hoped, neither will anyone else,’ said Garrick, as he shook hands with Kai and then Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor. ‘Look after Michael,’ he said to Elana.

  ‘I will protect him with my life,’ Elana prom
ised and then hugged him.

  ‘I know you will,’ Garrick said and then nodded. ‘Michael, you will be in my thoughts always. Stay safe and hopefully, Adriel will fall one day soon and your father and family will be avenged, I will see to that.’

  Michael hugged Garrick and Garrick looked at Kai and Elana, his expression one of ambivalence. Kai nodded indicating that he understood Garrick’s concerns.

  ‘We will take care of him,’ said Kai.

  Garrick hugged Michael once more and climbed onto his horse, he raised his hand and waived and then turned and rode off towards Amalah. Next to leave were Thaddeus and Raynor, who said their farewells without much ado and then headed to Filine.

  Häkan followed shortly thereafter, heading further into southern Mantor and all too soon, it was time for Elana and Michael to leave and Kai walked them to their horses.

  ‘If anyone asks, it was your husband’s horse,’ said Kai.

  ‘I can’t bear to say that word in the past tense,’ she said as she shuddered. ‘I am scared that it will tempt fate.’

  ‘Fear not my beloved Elana, we will be reunited soon – I promise.’

  ‘I hope so dear husband,’ Elana said, as she leaned in to kiss him.

  Kai held onto Elana and for the first time, he was afraid to let her go. He remembered the first time they had met. He had been invited to Parades on official business and it was the first royal duty he had undertaken alone. When he had first seen Elana, the attraction was mutual and instant. He was immediately enchanted by the tall and beautiful ivory woman with long ebony hair and he was taken aback by her beauty, grace and gentle nature and he was not surprised to learn that she was also a princess.

  The affinity between them was immense and the two were virtually inseparable from that day onwards. They had married shortly afterwards and had decided to settle in Mantor. Elana’s father had sent Häkan, his most trusted warrior and guard to stay by the couple’s side as their protector and Häkan had selected ten guards to travel with him and remain in Mantor, where the couple had decided to live.

  Kai and Häkan had soon become firm friends and they were both fiercely protective of Elana. Kai came back to the present and he knew at that moment, that neither he, nor Häkan would be able to protect Elana in the coming days, and so he hugged her once more, savouring the feeling of her being safe and warm in his arms.