The Destiny of Amalah

by Thandi Ryan

  ‘What troubles you Empress?’ Michael asked perceptively.

  ‘Today while I was walking behind my father’s coffin, I saw a man. I would not have paid any more attention to him had I not seen the look on his face.’

  ‘What look?’

  ‘A cold look; most of the people at the funeral showed sympathy or grief or sorrow, but this man did not. In fact his face showed no feeling at all and I doubt that it is capable of doing so. He unnerved me Michael and I know he was not there for me or my father.’

  ‘What did he look like?’ Michael said, the concern growing within him.

  ‘A pale man, he was old and bald with cruel glinting eyes with thin lips and a long slim nose and he was dressed in dark clothes.’

  ‘It couldn’t be,’ Michael whispered.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Adriel,’ said quietly.

  ‘The Adriel who started the war? He who killed indiscriminately and easily?’

  ‘We never found a body or confirmed a kill.’

  ‘But he was old, was he not when the war ended?’

  ‘But he was also powerful,’ Michael said, gravely alarmed. ‘Wait here!’ he said, almost commanding the Empress; before rushing out of the room. Michael found Garrick, Häkan, Raynor and Thaddeus having ale in one of the guard’s beer rooms and when he opened the door all four men saw the troubled look on Michael’s face.

  ‘What troubles you Michael?’ Häkan asked.

  ‘The Empress saw a man today who unnerved her, she described him to me and I am certain it was Adriel.’

  ‘What!’ Raynor said, putting down his drink as he stared sternly at Michael.

  ‘Do you really think Adriel could be alive after all of this time?’ Thaddeus asked, looking sceptical.

  ‘We do not know yet if it truly was Adriel,’ Garrick said calmly.

  ‘No we do not,’ Michael said, ‘but how many people have glinting eyes, a long thin nose and thin lips and would be indifferent about the death of Kai?’

  ‘Not too many,’ Garrick admitted.

  ‘Even if it was not Adriel, it sounds as though the man was hostile to the Emperor, and he could be a friend of Adriel’s,’ Thaddeus said.

  ‘Or worse, a relative,’ Raynor mused. ‘I hope the gods saw fit to not allow Adriel to produce any offspring.’

  ‘The Empress awaits us in the reception room,’ Michael said.

  ‘It has been a very sad and very long day for her today – must we trouble her with this now?’ Raynor asked.

  ‘Yes we must,’ Michael said rather sharply, causing the others to exchange glances. ‘I know the Empress is grieving but this cannot wait and we cannot act alone,’ he said in a softer tone. ‘I mentioned his name to her and she awaits us.’

  ‘Very well, let us not waste any further time,’ Garrick said, as he stood up and headed towards the door.

  The four walked quickly to where the Empress was waiting, they knocked on the door and on hearing her give permission to go in they entered one at a time bowing and greeting her.

  ‘Good evening gentlemen, I gathered by the look on Michael’s face and the speed in which he fled out of the door earlier that we are convening this evening for an urgent reason – that reason being Adriel.’

  ‘You are correct Empress,’ Michael began, ‘and I apologise for my hasty exit but I fear that the man you saw today, was in all probability Adriel.’

  ‘I know that name all too well,’ said Amara.

  ‘We never knew what happened to him, after his disappearing act,’ Häkan admitted.

  ‘Can he be still be considered as a threat after all of this time has passed?’ Amara asked.

  ‘I believe so Empress,’ said Häkan.

  ‘He was much older than my father, if my memory serves me correctly,’ Amara said, recalling her lessons from her parents and their friends. ‘Surely he is too old to pose any kind of threat now?’

  ‘Yes he was much older,’ Michael said slowly; ‘but as you know, Adriel was a very powerful sorcerer who used dark magic. No one knew how he managed to harness such power, but many speculate that he did so with the help of some higher power. Of all the people who could and would survive the war: it comes as no surprise that he was one of them.’

  ‘And now, for some reason he appears at my father’s funeral,’ Amara said wistfully. ‘Do you know why?’

  ‘No Empress, I do not,’ Michael said regretfully.

  ‘Nor do I,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘Did anything change in the last months of my father’s reign?’

  ‘Not that I am aware,’ said Garrick.

  ‘No feuds, or rumblings of discontent?’ Amara pressed.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Thaddeus, as the others shook their heads in agreement with him.

  ‘Empress, I will send some of the guard out now to try and track him down and if they capture him they shall bring him back to the palace,’ Garrick said. ‘And unless there is anything else Empress, I will bid you goodnight as I recognise that today has been a very sad and difficult day for you.’

  ‘Thank you Garrick. If the guard capture Adriel then wake me immediately – regardless of the hour; if they do not, then we will convene again tomorrow.’

  ‘Yes Empress,’ he said and then bowed before leaving Amara’s quarters.

  Garrick left hastily and found four members of the guard. He instructed them clearly and soon after, they were riding out of the palace gates to find Adriel.

  Amara was left in the company of the four men and they looked at her curiously as her mind raced; she had not even been crowned as the Empress yet and she was already beginning to feel out of her depth, but somehow, she managed to remain calm and think clearly.

  ‘If it was indeed Adriel, then perhaps he thinks that now is a good time to put any nefarious plans that he may have into action because my father is no longer here.

  I know I cannot show any weakness now and I thank you for coming to me with this. I know that you all swore to my father that you would protect me but you cannot do that if I am not aware of what is occurring. I ask that you promise, like now, to do what you have done this night and not to keep the truth from me to try and protect me.’

  ‘You have my word Empress,’ Michael said without hesitation.

  ‘And mine,’ agreed Thaddeus.

  ‘I speak for Garrick and myself, as your friend and Commanders of the Guard; you have our solemn word,’ said Häkan.

  ‘And you have my word,’ said Raynor.

  ‘Thank you one and all,’ said Amara, smiling weakly.

  ‘I think that for now Empress; you, Ellora and your mother should have a guard by your side at all times.’

  ‘Is that necessary,’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘It is precautionary,’ Häkan replied.

  ‘Very well Häkan. I also think that for now, the guard needs to be increased in number and I want them to be present in Amalah city.’

  ‘Yes Empress.’

  ‘Thaddeus and Raynor, do what you can to find this man, regardless if he is Adriel. Check with the schools of magic in Amalah and Lansten and use your own powers to find him if you can.’ The two men nodded indicating their agreement. ‘And now gentlemen, I shall retire, it has been a long day and a long night and I therefore bid you good night.’

  Amara left the four men and made her way to Ellora’s room and to her surprise, her sister was still awake and her mother was with her.

  ‘She would not go to sleep until you said goodnight to her,’ Elana said gazing up at her eldest daughter.

  ‘I am here now, Amara said warmly. She went to her sister’s bed and looked at her sister. ‘Good night, dear Ellora my sweet, sweet sister,’ Amara said, as she bent down and hugged and kissed her sister.

  ‘Goodnight,’ Ellora said sleepily.

  ‘Sleep well,’ Amara said, as her sister made herself comfortable and got ready to go to sleep.

  Elana bent over her daughter and kissed her again before she rose and left the room with Amara, blowing
out most of the candles in the room. Elana walked Amara to her room and stayed with her until she was in bed. She looked at Amara and found it difficult to reconcile her being an Empress and a child at the same time. She hugged her daughter and kissed her goodnight.

  It had been a long time since she had put her children to bed especially in Amara’s case but it was something that they all needed that night. When she had said goodnight to Ellora and Amara she made her way to her new room and went to bed. Tiredness quickly overcame her and her eyelids became heavy and soon she was sound asleep and in that sleep Elana dreamed of Kai and the happier times that they had shared.

  A new day began in Amalah and it was one that started with a tone of melancholy. Amara called the council to an emergency meeting and told them of what had happened the day before and as expected they were all deeply worried. They were divided as to the identity of the man, but although some took comfort in the fact that the man’s identity had not been confirmed, the worry remained at the back of their minds. The guard had returned in the early hours of the morning and had found no sign of Adriel.

  ‘Let us not take any drastic measures at this stage. We must remain calm and vigilant and above all, do not speak of what has occurred here to anyone,’ the Empress commanded.

  The council adjourned and went about their duties with a heavy heart and troubled mind, for most of them knew of Adriel’s powers and his wicked deeds, and for the rest of the day they – and Amara – had only one question at the forefront of their minds: had the troubles begun again and was Adriel really back?

  Chapter 9

  Many days passed by and there was no sign of Adriel anywhere in the nations. The council begun to relax again but Amara and the five men still felt some unease however, they soon turned their thoughts towards the upcoming coronation.

  Amara hoped that she would rule as wisely as her father, as did the people. Most of them had faith in her and the council who surrounded her for they had surrounded her father and had advised him well.

  On the day of the coronation, the people who lived and stayed in Amalah rose slowly and languidly and began to make their way to the streams to wash and find inns and bakers to have breakfast so that this new and exciting day could truly begin. As the day wore on, Amalah grew more crowded as people from the surrounding nations arrived in the City.

  In the palace the mood was mixed as the staff continued to make the last minute preparations for the coronation. Elana had continued to grieve in private and only her children brought her any kind of comfort but today, her mood lifted as she began to look forward to the day ahead.

  In the early hours, Amara had a final fitting of the dress that she was going to wear, the palace workers decorated the palace and the cooks and bakers began to prepare a feast and as they prepared their foods the palace was soon filling with delicious and tempting aromas that began to waft through the palace.

  The guard had also begun to move out of their sombre mood as they polished their ceremonial dress and boots ready for the big day. The good mood was contagious and soon the city of Amalah was swept out of its grieving lull and the city began to buzz once again as the people milled around in anticipation of the ceremony that would take place.

  That night was special to me, there were other nights in time that were special but that one really was. That’s when I began to realize that I loved humans, I loved your spirit so much, the people had lost their Emperor and they had mourned that loss and now they were doing him the greatest honour by going on with life. It was then I saw your capacity to change and your resilience and how you were determined to go on. I know things got darker for you as time went on but you never ever lost that spirit, no matter what occurred and that night was the first night I really and truly saw it.

  Amara was in fairly joyous mood, it was her day and she was going to enjoy it: more than that, she was going to bask in it. There had been much sadness in Amalah of late but now the tide had turned and although she missed her father dearly, she was now able to take the first step to going on without him and so were the rest of the nations. Miraculously the people’s mood had changed. Within a week, they had gone from sombre and silent to excited and nervous and all of them were curious about their new Empress to be and the day that lay ahead.

  Amara sat bathing in her quarters, thinking of the day ahead. She smiled to herself, wondering what the future held for her, Ellora and her mother. She climbed out of the bath and wrapped herself in a large towel and made her way back to her bedroom where her maids were waiting to help her dress.

  Amara’s had been handmade for her and was exquisitely beautiful. It was brilliant white and made of fine silks and satin and went all the way to the floor, the straps were embroidered with diamonds and in the centre of the bustier was affixed a single solitaire diamond surrounded by sapphires. When the maids had finished dressing her and doing her hair they stood back and looked at the Empress and they smiled and giggled and complimented her.

  ‘Empress you look amazing,’ Daisy exclaimed.

  ‘Truly beautiful,’ Faith added.

  ‘So elegant and you look so radiant,’ said Alice.

  ‘Stunning Empress, truly so,’ said Sarah.

  ‘Really? Thank you ladies, for this and for everything,’ Amara said, smiling at the four women who surrounded her.

  The women guided her to the mirror and Amara looked at herself and even she, took in a deep breath at her appearance. She looked at herself and the dress and touched it delicately, and then she looked at her face and hair. She was truly delighted with what they had done for her and she felt beautiful inside and out.

  ‘Ladies thank you,’ she said emotionally. ‘Thank you so much.’

  ‘It was our pleasure Empress,’ Daisy said on behalf of them all. ‘We know what this day means to you.’

  The women left Amara alone and Elana and Ellora entered. Both were excited for Amara and the women talked and laughed about the day ahead.

  ‘Your father would be so proud,’ Elana said, as a tear ran down her face.

  ‘Oh mother,’ Amara said hugging her.

  ‘They are happy tears,’ Elana promised. ‘Not to mention tears of pride.’

  ‘I wish he were here too,’ said Amara.

  ‘I think he’s watching us,’ Ellora said, hugging them both.

  ‘And I think that you are right,’ said Elana.

  ‘And so do I,’ Amara agreed.

  ‘Come now Ellora, let us leave Amara and take our seats in the Great Hall.’

  The three women hugged once again and Elana and Ellora left Amara once again, to wait for Michael. When Michael entered the room a few minutes later, he was speechless. No words could come from his mouth and in a strange way he did not want them to, no words could describe how she looked and no words could describe what was going on in his heart and so he stood there staring at Amara speechless, until she jolted him back to her world.

  ‘Michael say something,’ she said half teasing and half worried that he did not like or approve of what she was wearing.

  ‘Empress.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Michael began shaking his head slowly but surely and when Amara saw his head shake, her heart sank and Michael caught the expression on her face.

  ‘I am shaking my head because I did not think it was possible for you to be any more beautiful Empress, but yet here you are and I am silent because you took my breath away,’ he said tenderly and as he looked at her, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. Amara looked back at him and into his eyes and she was sure of him and his sincerity and she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again.

  ‘Thank you Michael,’ she said keeping the eye contact between them.

  ‘I came to tell you that it is time Empress, everything is ready and everyone is waiting.’

  ‘I am ready now.’

  ‘Then may I escort you to the Great Hall where you may take your rightful place and be crowned Empress of all the nations.’

  ‘You
may, and I thank you.’

  ‘What for Empress?’

  ‘For being by my side when it truly matters.’

  ‘I am honoured to be.’

  The two of them walked through the palace arm in arm, they strode through the arcade until they were at the centre of the palace and then they came to the entrance of the Great Hall. Amara looked inside to see over a thousand people sitting quietly and waiting for her. She looked down the centre aisle and saw the guard lining each side of it and then she strained to see her mother and sister but they were so far away in the front row and blocked from her vision by the many heads in between them. Amara looked at the crowds of people in front of her and thought of the crowds of people outside and then of all of the people in all of the nations and suddenly, she became overwhelmed by the sight and thought of them all. She stepped back suddenly and looked at Michael, the panic clearly visible on her face.

  ‘What is it Empress?’

  ‘I am not ready Michael,’ she said in a panicked voice. ‘I cannot rule over all of the people of the nine nations, how can I? I have experienced little of this world,’ she said the panic beginning to increase by the second.

  ‘This is your time Empress, it is true that you have not ventured far from Amalah but you have been taught and you have experienced much in your lifetime. The people are now looking to you and rightly so.’

  ‘But Michael I do not know if I will be good enough.’

  ‘I do – you will. Empress you are ready you have long been prepared for this role and you have already accepted it. We have all seen in the last few weeks that you are ready to take your fathers place, this is only a formality, you have yet to prove yourself, but given how you have handled things so far I know that you will.’

  ‘It just seems so permanent and so irrevocable. Once I go through with this they will always look to me,’ she said looking back into the Great Hall at the masses of people.

  ‘Yes they will but you are your fathers’ daughter and you have been taught well. Also remember, that I am at your side and so are your mother and sister as well as: Häkan, Garrick, Raynor and Thaddeus not to mention the council who have always helped to guide your father and the nations forward.’