The Destiny of Amalah

by Thandi Ryan

  The soldiers continued running, undeterred by the arrows that were flying their way; they only had one objective and that was to defeat the guard. The sorcerers came to their aid and with their magic; they turned dozens of the arrows into harmless pieces of wood or dust that fell from the sky and onto the ground. The guard had to look twice as the sorcerers turned their weapons into nothing and it threw them slightly. As the soldiers drew closer, the swordsmen and fighters stepped to the front and they drew their weapons of choice out and had them at the ready.

  The soldiers grew nearer and nearer and then, seconds later, the swords and axes were clashing with those of the guard. The battle had begun and once again – it was bloody. As swords, battle axes and fists were traded, blood spilt and the blanket of white snow soon became a blanket of red blood as bodies fell onto it and lay still and motionless as they were taken out of the fight.

  The guard fought bravely and skilfully and they drew the soldiers into the forests as quickly as they could. They had not accounted for the sorcerers working in league with the soldiers and together, they were inflicting heavy losses onto the guard. In the forests the guard adopted the tactic of fight and hide, and it was proving effective. To the guard, the fight was proving hard but they were holding their own and that gave them hope, and so they continued to fight through the night and into the next morning.

  The fighting continued and as it went on, the guard wondered why those in the cloaks had not joined their soldiers and fought, and when they were nowhere to be seen; they wondered where they had gone to.

  The Azari had no plans to engage the guard at that time; they had other plans to attend to and they travelled eastwards past their own soldiers and past the guard. They travelled through the night until they arrived in a village that was in the northeast of Parades and had – as yet –remained untouched by the wars that had inflicted itself upon the nation. When they finally arrived at the edge of town, they stopped still and Luxor let out a broad smile.

  ‘Home at last,’ he said happily. ‘Shall we?’ he asked his five brothers.

  ‘Of course,’ said Rakan. ‘Why else would we be here?’

  The six men made their way into the town and as they arrived, Waldon and Kenaz let out war cries that brought the people out into the streets to see what the ungodly noise was and who or what was making it.

  The six men stood at the edge of the main village street, their black cloaks reaching the ground and their hoods over their heads covering their faces. As the villagers came out, they saw the six Azari and stopped dead in their tracks. They had heard of them, they were infamous by now and their name alone instilled fear into all; but to see them standing there, in their village full of evil and power only brought more fear into the hearts and minds of the people and so they froze on the spot, worried that running away would only incur their wrath.

  The villagers came out in ones and twos and groups and after a while, the whole village was stood out on the main village street facing and staring at the six Azari who simply stared back in silence. The silence scared the villagers even more, for it was an eerie silence and it filled many with deep foreboding.

  The villagers wondered who the people were under the cloaks and they were curious as to what they looked like. The Azari soon put them out of their misery and removed their hoods one by one. First Rakan, then Waldon, and then Kenaz; followed by, Bryce and then Rufus. The villagers looked at each and every one of them and no one knew them, or recognised them from anywhere, but then Luxor removed his hood to reveal his face and the villagers gasped in shock and horror and then they were truly afraid.

  Luxor – the one who they had driven out of town on threat of death, or being bound forever had returned as he had promised and they knew each and everyone of them, that he had returned for payback. They looked at the cloaked figures standing before them; they looked powerful and immense and Luxor, he was part of that power and they knew it and they also knew that their power was malevolent. Luxor stepped forward and smiled at the people of the village.

  ‘I told you I would return,’ he said calmly and coolly.

  Luxor stared at those villagers who stood before him and he remembered what they had said and done to him and who had thrown what at him. To him, it mattered not, for they were all going to pay and as he was staring at the villagers, he noticed movement among them and he observed the village elders as they came to the front and faced him.

  ‘We warned you Luxor that if you returned like this, that we would bind your powers forever,’ said a male elder.

  ‘Yes, you did,’ Luxor said, in a mockingly thoughtful tone. ‘And as I remember, if I use magic in the village or on any of you or harm you in any way I would be bound forever – yes.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But – if you all die the spell is lifted – because the power maintaining it dies with you,’ Luxor said, using the same mocking tones.

  ‘Leave now Luxor – or we will bind you now, regardless of whether or not you use your magic or harm us,’ an elder woman said.

  ‘Now!’ Luxor said, facetiously. ‘No – not now – only when I am ready and when I decide, not you,’ he told them.

  Luxor looked at Rakan and Rufus and nodded and then he looked at the elders who were all present and stood before him and smiled. The elders looked at Luxor unafraid of confrontation and one was about to speak when Rakan and Rufus threw four fireballs, which hit four of the elders and turned them into a fireball before they turned into dust. The remaining two elders tried to attack Luxor with their powers but he leaped into the air avoiding whatever it was that was meant for him. The magic travelled to Rufus and Rakan and they deflected it easily, before they both sent a fireball to an elder killing them instantly.

  The villagers screamed while some groaned and cried; most of them remained rooted to the spot but a few ran as soon as they saw the elders fate, as they knew the elders were their only hope against Luxor’s magic. They knew they were doomed and the only thing left for them to do was fight or run. Luxor was once again standing in front of the village people and he eyed them all before he spoke.

  ‘Where are my siblings?’ he asked the people.

  The villagers shifted uncomfortably and made murmurs and whispers and coughs but not one of them was forthcoming with an answer.

  ‘Well,’ he said raising his voice.

  ‘They perished,’ A woman said softly.

  ‘Then so will you all,’ Luxor said as he drew his sword and launched into the crowd, not waiting to hear anymore about the fate of his siblings.

  Luxor used his sword and his magic to despatch of the villagers and any that tried to flee, were cut down by the swords of Waldon, Kenaz or by the dark magic of Rakan, Rufus and Bryce. Less than an hour later, the village was silent and the six Azari men moved onto the next one and they too suffered the same fate.

  When they were done they headed back to the battle scene where they had left their soldiers fighting the guard. It was night time again and the battle was still raging; both sides were suffering heavy losses, but with the arrival of: Rakan, Rufus, Waldon, Kenaz, Luxor and Bryce – the balance once again tipped in favour of the Azari and the dark army.

  The guard fought hard, even though they had feelings of fear but when the Azari joined the dark army again and fought, those feelings of fear turned into absolute terror. Rakan, Rufus and Luxor reigned fire down upon them and struck them with energy balls that killed most; whenever the guard were able to attack them, the cloaks made them impervious to harm and any one who got close to them, died trying to stop them.

  Waldon and Kenaz fought among the soldiers taking on five to ten guards at a time; and to the guard, they seemed invincible. Their sheer strength and skill were already legendary and now, they were seeing first hand just how strong and able the two men were. To make matters worse, they wore their cloaks behind which made attacking them from there impossible. The dark army had managed to inflict losses on the guard only after sustaining losses of t
heir own but now Rakan and the others had arrived, the losses were all on the side of the guard.

  In the forest, the guard had managed to communicate through runners; they would have liked to have used the sounds that they had used for so long but Rakan, Waldon and Kenaz knew them too and so they were of no use to them anymore.

  The major saw what was happening and he knew that his guard would be defeated; now he had to make hard choices in those last few hours and it pained him to do so. He had to choose who would stay and ultimately die and who would retreat to Amalah and live another day. He gave orders to his runners to tell which groups could go and which would stay and when they had fulfilled their duties, he told them to return to Amalah. He gave one runner a hand written message and told him to return to Amalah and hand the note to Garrick the guard commander.

  ‘Are you coming with us sir?’ the teenage boy asked.

  ‘No, I am not young man. I shall remain here and try to hold the army from descending on Amalah,’ he said, with a mixture of resolve and sadness.

  The young boy looked at the major with uncertainty and fear and he did not want to leave the major just yet, for he knew what it meant for the major and his men and women, to be staying.

  ‘Go!’ the Major told him. ‘Fight another day; you will certainly be needed, of that you can be sure,’ the Major said to him. He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder and gripped it firmly. ‘GO NOW – ensure that the Guard Commanders get that letter and when you turn around run from here, do not look back until you reach Amalah.’ The young teenager stood still on the spot and simply stared at the Major – he did not want to move and his feet would not turn on their heel either. ‘Go!’ the major ordered him and with that, the young boy turned on his heels and fled.

  He ran as fast as he could and he did not look back as the major had ordered. The major watched the young runner flee and he watched until he was out of sight and returned to the battle.

  The guard held Parades for as long as they could; which was another night and another day. It gave those who were fleeing enough time to leave the beleaguered nation and get to Amalah so that they could make the last stand there. The major fought with his men and died with them and before the full moon were to appear over Parades; the last remaining guard were slain and Parades fell into the hands of the Azari and the dark army.

  As the soldiers of Rakan’s army tended to the wounded once again, they prepared to settle in for the night. They secured the forests, organised food and drink, and made sleeping and guard arrangements. As the soldiers organised themselves with the help of the officers and sergeants: the Azari looked upon them and talked amongst themselves.

  ‘They served us well,’ Waldon said.

  ‘Indeed,’ agreed Rufus.

  ‘I know that Lansten is falling as we speak,’ said Rakan.

  ‘Most there were ready to join Cador and although Lansten is vast, only a minute proportion is inhabited by people – those that do not join, stand no chance.’

  ‘Then we are only left with Amalah,’ said Bryce.

  ‘When do we take it?’ Luxor asked.

  ‘Five nights and a day from now,’ Kenaz said.

  ‘Why wait?’ Luxor asked.

  ‘The soldiers have been fighting non–stop for days, give them time to rest and recover. They need to eat, sleep, drink and re-arm themselves,’ Kenaz answered.

  ‘Kenaz is right,’ said Waldon. ‘They cannot fight now – it would only lower morale and perhaps invite defeat, which we do not want, having come so far. Furthermore that is the time that we agreed with Cador.’

  ‘Very well,’ Rakan said. ‘In five nights and a day we take Amalah,’ he said looking around and waiting for an answer.

  ‘Agreed,’ said Waldon, Kenaz and Rufus simultaneously.

  ‘Agreed,’ said Luxor.

  ‘I too am in agreement,’ said Bryce.

  ‘Good,’ said Rakan. ‘Five nights and a day it is. That is all the time Amalah has left – I hope they are making the most of it,’ he said to the five men.

  Chapter 31

  The nation of Amalah and the people in it were the last hope. It was the place that was destined to make the final stand against the Azari and their dark army who had now spun the nations into darkness in such a short time. In the time that Rakan and the others had spent in Equer, Amalah had transformed itself, and was now unrecognisable to all who had lived there.

  Garrick, Häkan and the guard had been busy in the last few months, they had set to work making the necessary changes so that they could defend their nation and hopefully – defeat their enemy. The palace was one of the first things to be changed; all of the towers were now guarded, all day every day and through the night. Each guard in the tower was armed with a bow and arrow and each guard carried a looking glass, which they would use often to survey the land for as far as they could see.

  The roof was now reinforced and had barbed wire running throughout the perimeter and it too was guarded day and night. Any vulnerable windows or spaces were boarded up and guards patrolled the grounds at all times and now, there were two walls standing at least twenty feet high, built within feet of each other and they encircled the palace.

  ‘My home has become a prison,’ Amara said sadly to Michael one day.

  ‘I know Amara, but it is for your protection and the protection of all those who remain here,’ Michael said, trying to sooth her.

  ‘I know Michael,’ she said softly. ‘But still, it saddens me deeply.’

  Michael took Amara in his arms and held her, she held onto him and rested her head on his chest.

  ‘The palace will not remain this way forever Amara, I promise, but it is our last defence. The council, the soldiers and guard, you and me – we all work and plan from here – it must remain heavily defended.’

  ‘I see that Michael – I do,’ she said looking up at him. ‘But this place, it has so many happy memories and was filled with so much love and laughter – but that has gone now.’

  ‘The love has not.’

  ‘Perhaps not, but the laughter certainly has. These are dark days Michael – truly dark days indeed. I know that to think of things such as how the palace has changed is truly selfish of me. Selfish, because I know terrible things have happened to so many good people and that terrible things are still happening and are going to happen – and yet – I think of this,’ she said unhappily; ‘at a time when I should be leading the nations and the people.’

  ‘You are leading the people. You have led them this far and they are right to still look to you.’

  ‘I am not so sure.’

  ‘I am, you have worked tirelessly and you have led and given people hope. You are not selfish to take a moment and mourn for the loss of the home that you have spent your whole life in, I know I certainly would.’

  ‘I love you Michael,’ Amara said passionately, as she held him tighter. ‘And I love you,’ he said, kissing the top of her head.

  The palace was not the only thing to change in that time, the north of Amalah was evacuated of all civilians and they were placed south of the city. The north of Amalah was now deadly silent and the only people to walk through it were the guard. The once lively towns were now deserted and the houses and inns were now home to guards, weapons, supplies and defence posts.

  That is how Joaquin found Amalah when he rode into it – deserted yet somehow possessing presence. By the time he had arrived in Amalah, he was exhausted, hungry and thirsty. He was stopped by the guard and after he explained to them what had taken place in Equer, some of them mounted their horses and rode with him all the way to Amalah City and to the palace.

  When Joaquin arrived at the palace, he dismounted his horse and fell to the floor as his legs buckled from under him. He had become so weak on his journey, not stopping to eat or drink and although he was still conscious and could speak; his limbs would no longer support him. The guard quickly dismounted and rushed to his aid. One of the guards drew his water bottle from his belt
and opened it before he helped Joaquin to drink. Joaquin gulped quickly and greedily as the water slid down his gullet and began instantly re-hydrating and revitalising him. When he had drunk all that he could drink, he pulled the bottle away from his lips and wiped his mouth before he turned to the guard and looked at them with real gratitude.

  ‘Thank you,’ Joaquin said nodding his head.

  ‘Think nothing of it,’ the guard said as he nodded slowly at Joaquin. ‘Do you think you can stand?’ the guard asked.

  ‘With some help,’ Joaquin replied.

  The two guards helped Joaquin to his feet while the other three who had travelled with him entered the palace and went in search of the Empress and the guard commanders. The two guards helped Joaquin into the palace and led him to the Great Hall. One of them found a maid and arranged for food and drink to be brought to Joaquin; the maid nodded her head and left the three men alone.

  A short time later, Amara entered the Great Hall and she introduced herself to the stranger, who was now eating and drinking that which the maid had brought him. As Amara introduced herself, Joaquin rose to his feet and as the introduction took place, Garrick and Häkan entered the room. Amara explained who they were and in that moment, Joaquin blurted out that they were under attack in Equer; Garrick, Häkan and Amara looked at each other and then at Joaquin.

  ‘Tell us,’ Amara said.

  ‘It was night time and many people were in their caves, some were still awake but many were asleep. The soldiers had been living in the caves for many months now and there had not been any trouble from them whatsoever – the opposite in fact. But this night, this night was different. At first there was a lot of noise, much cheering but we thought nothing of it. We just thought that they would be leaving in the morning.’

  ‘Why did you think they would be leaving?’ Garrick asked.

  ‘Because many of their soldiers had left before and on the eve of their departure, there was much cheering; like the cheering we were hearing on that night.’

  ‘Do you know where they went?’ Häkan asked.