by Thandi Ryan
‘I am happy we all found peace and joy and I would not change a single second of my life, if it meant never crossing paths with any one of you. Peace is upon us now and it has been for a long while. But friends, you were all present when Adriel disappeared from our very eyes and evaded capture. I ask you therefore to be forever vigilant. Our children were born after the war and they know of it only through books and our teachings – but we remember, we remember the horrors that it brought, so my friends, you can never forget.’
‘You know I never will,’ Michael said gravely.
‘Protect Elana and the princesses, protect Amalah and everything that we have sworn to protect,’ Kai implored. ‘When Amara becomes Empress, guard her and above all – help her to keep the nations at peace.’
‘You have my word,’ said Garrick; ‘and as I promised, I will lay down my life if necessary.’
‘You have my solemn promise,’ said Thaddeus.
‘And mine,’ said Raynor.
‘Always,’ said Häkan.
‘For all time,’ said Michael, as he looked at the Emperor and then at his friends, who nodded in agreement.
‘Each of you I trust with my life and with your promises, I now know that I can leave the world a happy man.’
The five men swore their allegiance to the Emperor, Kai’s family and the nations, and they swore to carry their allegiance to the future Empress. When they had given their allegiance, the six men talked and reminisced for a while before each one rose in turn and left the Emperor to rest – each one of them not knowing if that would be the last time that they saw their Emperor and friend.
In the coming hours; Rakan, Kalon, Kenaz, Rufus and Waldon also spoke with the Emperor, they too were taken aback and distressed to see Kai so vulnerable and weak and after they had left his room they spent their time comforting Ellora, Amara and each other, as they knew that the death of the Emperor was soon approaching.
When Elana had told her children the news about their father, she returned to Kai’s side and refused to leave him. She smiled weakly when Ellora entered their room and Ellora kissed her mother on the cheek and then sat beside her father, kissing him on the cheek also.
‘Daddy,’ Ellora said, stroking her fathers face.
‘Ellora – my beautiful daughter, my baby, how I love you so.’
‘I love you too Daddy.’
‘My child, I do not have much time left but I wanted you to know how much I love you and how proud of you I am. Look after your mother and your sister – look after each other. Your sister now has much responsibility to bear and when you grow older – you must help her bear it.’
‘I will daddy.’
‘Good girl,’ Kai said, as he hugged his daughter tightly and kissed her before letting her go. ‘Go now Ellora, I must speak with your sister too.’
‘Yes Daddy, I love you,’ the young princess said as she climbed down off the bed and left her mother and father alone again.
Kai looked at Elana and reached out for her hand, she put her hand in his and they held onto each other, gazing at each other, as unspoken words passed between them.
‘Elana, you are everything to me; you gave me your love, yourself and two beautiful children. You made me feel like a man and an emperor, my love.’
‘Kai don’t leave me,’ she said beginning to cry.
‘This death is only physical; I will always be with you my love. Live here, look after our children and I will wait for you.’
‘Kai,’ Elana said, as the tears ran down her face.
‘I love you,’ he said as he pulled her closer towards him and she rested her head on his chest.
Elana was about to speak again but the bedroom door opened and Amara entered and went straight to her father’s bedside. Elana kissed her daughter and then rose gracefully to let Amara sit in her place, so that Kai could talk to his eldest daughter.
‘Amara, I do not have much time left in this world,’ the Emperor began. ‘We both know that. I love you and I am proud of you and I always will be. Look after your mother and your sister. I know you are young and this is a great burden for you to bear but you will bear it.
I have seen you grow over the last few years and turn into a beautiful, strong and intelligent young woman. If anyone can handle the days ahead you can my child. I want you to carry on learning and doing what you are doing, for when I am gone, the people will look to you for leadership and you must lead them. I know you can and you will, I also want you to make me another promise.’
‘Anything father.’
‘Promise me that you will keep the nations united, promise me that you will rule wisely and fairly, that you will temper justice with mercy and that you will listen to those around you but ultimately – you must listen to yourself to do what is right.’
‘But what if I am wrong father?’
‘As I have said to you before; do things with a good heart and learn to listen to your instincts; follow them and you will learn to trust yourself and you will not go far wrong dear child.’
‘I don’t know if I can.’
‘You can and you must,’ he said firmly; ‘and I trust that you will. Promise me this Amara.’
‘I promise father.’
‘Good, now remember, never forget…’ Kai began as he took a few deep breaths and took hold of his daughters hand and squeezed it; ‘…I love you,’ and then Kai’s eyes widened suddenly and he clutched his chest with his other hand.
‘DADDY!’ Amara screamed.
Elana rushed over to her husband who was still clutching onto his chest for dear life but when she reached him, his hear was no longer beating. Elana desperately put her ear to his chest and even though she knew that Kai had gone, she listened nonetheless, hoping beyond hope that somehow, he would come back to life.
Elana still held onto Kai even though she knew he was gone. She stared at him for the longest time as a thousand thoughts went through her head, none of which she could comprehend and so, she just remained there in silence looking at her husband as the tears began streaming down her face.
Daddy,’ Amara whispered as the tears began to fall from her face.
Amara turned and wondered where her sister had gone. She stood up to leave and find her sister to tell her about their father but as she opened her father’s door, she was caught off guard as she saw Ellora standing there with her hand on the door handle. Ellora stopped in her tracks as she saw her sisters’ ashen and distressed face and Ellora knew immediately that something had happened to her father. She looked at Amara, hoping it wasn’t so but Amara’s slow and unmistakable nod, confirmed her worst fears.
‘No,’ she cried. ‘No,’ she whispered as she stepped back, not wanting any of this terrible moment to be real. Amara rushed forward and enveloped her baby sister in her arms and Ellora cried for her father.
‘Come now Ellora,’ Amara said gently. ‘We must say goodbye to our father.’
Ellora, who was still crying and resting her head on her sister’s shoulder, nodded.
‘Alright,’ she said quietly, the tears still running down her face.
Amara led her sister into their parents’ room and Ellora ran to her mother, whose arms were open and once Ellora reached them, she began sobbing anew. Elana kissed her daughter’s head and tried to soothe her but Ellora was inconsolable. Eventually, Ellora let go of her mother and went to her father and held his hand and stroked his face.
‘Daddy,’ she whispered.
Elana and Ellora wept openly as they clung desperately to Kai. The two were beyond distraught and in that moment, Amara knew it was she who had to be the strong one. It was she who Ellora and her mother would turn to for solace and support and in that moment, for the first time, the Empress felt truly alone.
Amara sent the guard who had been stationed outside her father’s room, to call for: Michael, Häkan, Garrick, Thaddeus and Raynor and all five men arrived promptly. When they entered they room they remained by the door, waiting for news of their friend. A
mara, who was comforting her sister and mother turned and nodded and then made her way to the five men.
‘Amara, what is it?’ Michael asked.
‘My father, he has…he’s gone,’ she said blankly.
It was Häkan who let out a short cry as the news was relayed to him. He had been strong for Elana and the children up to now but when the moment came, and he realised that his friend of twenty-four years was gone; it was his emotions that got the better of him.
The men had been expecting the news but when they received it, it still hit them hard and they struggled to keep their tears and anguish at bay, for the sake of Kai, his wife and children.
Michael gently took hold of Amara’s arm and he bent his head slightly to look into her eyes before speaking: ‘I am so sorry for you Amara. Know that I – and all of us here now – will be here for you, your sister and your mother.’
‘Thank you,’ she said distantly and then went back to where her mother and sister were.
All five men walked to Kai’s bed, they each in turn hugged Elana and Ellora and then paid their respects to Kai before bowing deferentially and stepping back and left his room to allow the women alone to grieve once more.
It was Amara who approached the five men once again.
‘Empress,’ Michael said to Amara, as he and the five men looked solemnly at the new Empress.
Chapter 7
Amara had not realised that Michael was talking to her, she had forgotten that it was she, who was now the monarch and she remained silent, caught up in her own thoughts and grief.
‘Empress,’ Michael said again softly, as he touched her on the shoulder. The men then bowed to Amara and nodded in acceptance of the new sovereign. ‘Empress, we shall take care of your father and see that he receives the burial befitting for him, in the meantime; is there anything I can do for you or the princesses?’
‘Thank you Michael and thank you: Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor. I am glad that you will take care of our father and no, there is nothing that any of you can do for us at the moment except for giving us some time and space.’
‘We will make the arrangements but please feel free to call on any one of us if you need to. I understand your loss Empress and if you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to call on me, regardless of the hour.’
‘Thank you Michael, that is very kind but for now, I think the three of us need to be alone.
‘Very well Empress but sadly I must remind you, that as the Empress of the nations, you do not have much time for yourself; you must announce the death of the Emperor and address the Council and you must formally accept your role as Empress.’
‘Now?’
‘Not right now, I can perhaps give you a few hours but it must be done this very day.’
‘Very well Michael,’ she said in a sad and resigned tone. ‘Give me that time, but at this moment I wish to spend some time with my mother and Ellora, so please ensure that we are not disturbed until then.’
‘Very well Empress,’ Michael said, bowing respectfully.
Amara went back into her father’s room and placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder. ‘Mother, Ellora,’ Amara said quietly. ‘Let us leave this place now, Michael and the others will make arrangements for our father, let us leave him here in peace.’
‘Let me say goodbye,’ Elana said sadly and somewhat desperately.
The former Empress walked over to where her husband was and took hold of his hand and placed it in hers, she stroked his hand and then his arm and laid her head on his chest. She listened to the silence of it, for years she had rested her head on his chest and felt his heart beating, it had been strong and regular and reassuring and now that sound was gone and at that moment she realised her beloved Kai was gone too. He was truly dead and she would no longer listen to his beating heart or his voice or touch him again and then once again the tears began to fall freely from her face. She lifted her head up and touched his cheek and then kissed him tenderly on the lips before she whispered to him:
‘Goodbye my love, may the gods protect you wherever you may journey.’
Elana mustered all of her strength to stand up and when she rose, she took hold of Ellora and gently led her out of the room. The three women went to Amara’s room to grieve in private. Time seemed to have no meaning for the women in those few hours that went by and mourned the loss of the man who had been the centre of their world.
All too suddenly – Michael knocked on their door and after apologising for disturbing them – he looked solemnly at Amara, who in turn understood that her private time was now over and she would have to grieve later.
Now it was time for her to take on her duties as the Empress, as she had been taught and as she had promised her father that she would. She turned to her mother and sister and hugged and kissed them both before speaking:
‘I must go now, there are things that I have to attend to that cannot wait, I love you mother and I love you too Ellora.’
Amara kissed them both and then hugged Ellora tightly, not wanting to let her go in what was their darkest hour. Amara followed Michael out of the room and left her mother and sister to console each other while she attended to her duties. Oh how she wished she could remain there with them and grieve with them and hold onto them as they were holding onto each other. As he looked at them she once again felt truly alone and realised – that being an Empress and being in her position – she always would be.
‘I have convened the council Empress, they are ready and awaiting your announcement, although you will inform the council that you are accepting the role of Empress you will have an official crowning ceremony after your father’s funeral. There is also a guard on the Emperor’s door and so no one will know of his death outside of your family, myself, Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor.’
‘Thank you Michael.’
‘I have convened the Council Empress, they are ready and awaiting your announcement, although you will inform the council that you are accepting the role of Empress you will have an official coronation after your father’s funeral. There is a guard at the Emperor’s door, no one will know of his death outside of your family, myself, Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor.’
‘Thank you Michael,’ she said softly.
‘Of course, I am here to help you Empress, please remember that and please, feel free to call on me whenever necessary. I shall take you to the Council now.’
Michael and Amara walked slowly and in silence to the Crest Room where the council meetings were held. Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor were already in attendance and they stood quietly, lost in their own thoughts. The remaining council members arrived shortly and they took their seats, unlike the four men, they were waiting for the Emperor and they did not hide their surprise when they saw Amara and Michael enter the room but they remained standing nonetheless.
Amara reached the large oval table that housed the eighteen members of the World Council and then she turned to Michael; uncertain of where she should sit and what she should say. Michael held out his arm and pointed to the chair where her father had sat for so many years and he smiled reassuringly at her.
Amara walked slowly, nervously and uncomfortably towards her fathers seat, visualising him sitting there and convening the Council. The young Empress was still reeling from his death and now, she had to take his place but not before conveying the sad news to the council. With Michael by her side, she eventually walked to the back of her father’s chair and grasped it firmly. She turned and gazed at each and every one of the council members; who by now had began to pull the chairs out from under the table in order to sit down.
‘Please, remain standing,’ Amara said quietly.
The council members looked at her curiously and then pushed the chairs back under the table, waiting to hear from Kai’s daughter.
‘It is with great sorrow and grief,’ she began, trembling slightly; ‘that I inform you that the Emperor, my father, died in the last few hours and it is wit
h a very heavy heart, that I now take his place, both as Empress and as the head of this, the World Council.’
A few gasps escaped some of the Council members and they looked at Amara and each other, as they processed the news. Grief came upon them all, and they collectively and instinctively bowed their heads as a gesture of respect.
They had known the Emperor personally and for years and they had all come to like and respect him deeply. In turn, each member of the council stepped away from their seat and made their way to Amara and offered their condolences and assistance to the Empress. The time would come for them to officially swear their allegiance to her but they each chose to immediately swear their allegiance to her as they had her father.
For the first time, no member of the Council sat down, as the preliminaries were dealt with. The council meeting was adjourned shortly after the announcement and the council members went their separate ways, with the exception of Michael, who stayed by Amara’s side.
‘Is there anything you need Empress?’ he asked her.
‘My father,’ she said in a melancholy tone.
‘I know that your loss is deep, your responsibilities burdensome and your age tender…’
‘And I bear this burden alone,’ she said, her stare becoming distant.
‘But I will remain by your side.
‘Thank you Michael,’ she said smiling wanly.
Garrick and Häkan went to find the six boys and broke the news to them all. The men and boys sat and talked for a while and then a heavy silence fell upon them.
‘Can we see the princesses?’ Rakan asked, breaking the silence.
‘Not yet my son,’ said Garrick; ‘they need time to be alone. They need each other, so give them that time.’
Garrick comforted his two sons and the other boys but all too soon the two men had to leave to attend to their duties, while the boys alone in the garden. For the most part, the boys sat in silence and said a few words now and then but after a while, they went their separate ways.
Rakan and Kalon were staying at the palace as their father had been away quite often as of late and so they made their way into the palace together and then they went to their separate rooms. As they walked through the palace, they noticed that the palace had become uncharacteristically quiet and the atmosphere was now sombre.