The Destiny of Amalah (43 page)

‘It’s not that surprising if you think about it, they were the only two left in Amalah City,’ said Waldon.

‘That’s not the reason they are together,’ said Rakan.

‘No it is not,’ Kalon replied. ‘But it helped,’ he said impishly.

They all laughed and after a few moments of talking about Kalon and Ellora, the young men began to tell of their news and how they had been while living in Lansten and North Amalah.

Eventually they sat down to eat and their reunion dinner went a lot smoother than the last one. They ended the evening in good spirits and went home to sleep in their beds, something they had not done in a long time. They all slept soundly and with the exception of Kalon and Ellora, they awoke, not quite believing that they were home in Amalah with their friends and family.

They all had plenty of time and they decided to make the most of the three months that they had together and that they did. The six friends spent much time together and once again it was like old times. They spent their days talking, or sitting under the old oak tree, or playing games, or hunting and exploring; and at night they would dine with each other either at the palace or at one of their houses.

Rufus, Rakan, Waldon and Kenaz spent much time talking of their times at Lansten or in the guard and the others listened in awe of what they had been doing.

Soon, life in Amalah settled down again and although Rakan and Rufus did not take kindly to not being allowed to use their magic unsupervised, they did not argue. Rakan felt especially aggrieved but he did not want to fight with his father or upset Kalon with creating a tense time and so he acquiesced to his father’s rules.

Each time he wanted to use his magic it irked him more than the last time and he began to remember Adriel’s words. ‘They are scared, “fear” “Resentment”. That is why you cannot use your magic unguided.’

‘When I return to Lansten I will use all the magic I want,’ he said resentfully to himself.

The weeks went by and soon everyone was making their way to north Amalah to watch the passing out ceremony for the officers of the guard. Amara was there in her official capacity, as was Michael, Garrick and Häkan. When they arrived, Kenaz and Waldon took their four friends around the school, showing them where they had classes, played sport and trained in the massive gymnasium. They took them out into the school fields and showed them the view that they had seen for the last nine months.

‘It’s just as you described it,’ enthused Kalon.

‘I can’t imagine what life was like here,’ added Ellora.

‘Hard work – but fun,’ replied Waldon.

The four joined the other guests who were friends and relatives of the guard and Waldon and Kenaz went and changed into their ceremonial dress and prepared for the days events. The guards put on a display for the guests and they showed their physical skill and prowess by engaging in various sports and games of which the guests were enthralled and impressed by.

At the end of the day’s events, some of the guests participated in some of the games and skills that the guard had learned and the games they had played during their time in training.

The guests visited the stalls and the guard members coached them in the activities that they had laid on and by early evening, the award ceremonies began. Rakan, Rufus, Kalon and Ellora watched as the guards were called individually and given their medals and welcomed officially to the guard as officers. They watched as Kenaz and Waldon received their medals from Amara and then shook hands with Garrick, Häkan and the teachers who had taught them; then Garrick made a speech and the Guard leader of the school joined Garrick and addressed the guests.

‘Each year, we award one trainee guard the honour of being the trainee guard of the year. It is one of the hardest things to achieve, for they are scrutinised in everything they do and the competition is fierce. They are not assessed on strength only; for brute force alone, will not make a successful officer or guardsman or woman.

What we look for, is great physical ability, exceptional skills when living in the fields and off the land, intelligence, spirit and a sense of leadership. All of these qualities will make a great officer. This year however, something happened that has never happened before.’

The guard leader paused and the guests watched him intently, waiting for him to go on.

‘There were two exceptional guardsmen. Both of them displayed admirable qualities and worked exceptionally well throughout their time here. They showed they had more than the requisite skills, such as: field craft, leadership, humour, compassion and above all a great team spirit.

It was impossible to choose one without choosing the other, for they were equally as good as the other and so, it is with great pride, that I present the awards of best guardsmen of the year to Waldon Blake and Kenaz Omiyemi.’

Kenaz and Waldon stood up and walked back to the stage and as they rose, thunderous applause broke out from the guests, the guard and the teachers. They joined the guard leader at the pulpit and shook his hand and then they turned to face Amara, Michael, Garrick and Häkan and Amara handed them their medals and shook their hands.

‘Well done to both of you,’ she said proudly. ‘I can’t tell you how proud this makes me and how proud I am of you.’

‘Thank you,’ they replied.

‘I would hug and kiss you both but I think we would both be in trouble , if we broke protocol,’ she whispered.

Once again the two men shook hands with Michael, Garrick and then Häkan; who all congratulated them on their achievements. Waldon and Kenaz then left the stage and returned to their chairs and when they were seated, the guard leader spoke again briefly, before he invited everyone to join him in the officers’ mess for evening meal.

Everyone rose and began to file into the dining room and Waldon and Kenaz, who had been seated at the front row waited for their friends to catch up with them before they made their way in. The four friends walked steadily forward among the guests until they saw Waldon and Kenaz and then they broke out from the crowd and walked towards them.

‘Well done,’ Ellora said beaming at the two boys before she hugged and kissed them both.

‘Congratulations,’ Kalon said, as he shook their hands and hugged both of them.

‘Amazing,’ said Rakan, following Kalon in turn.

‘I’m proud of you,’ Rufus said lastly.

The two young men led their friends into the dining room and talked merrily as they walked, and once there, they all joined: Amara, Michael, Garrick, Häkan, Raynor and Thaddeus on the top table along with the guard leader and the other senior teachers of the guard. The evening went well and when it came to an end in the early hours of the morning, the families and friends remained in the schools accommodation and when the morning came they returned to Amalah City.

The six friends continued to spend as much time together as they could, and the days went by quickly. All too soon it was time for Waldon and Kenaz to return to north Amalah to receive their assignments; then the day finally came when Kalon and Ellora had to say their farewells to Rakan and Rufus as they headed back east to Lansten.

‘Take care of Ellora little brother,’ Rakan said to Kalon.

‘I will,’ he said warmly. ‘I promise.’

‘I’m glad you found each other,’ Rakan said to the two of them.

‘As am I,’ Ellora said holding onto Kalon.

They said their farewells and once again, Kalon and Ellora were left in Amalah City by themselves.

Rakan and Rufus headed back to Lansten once again. Rakan would miss Amalah and everyone in it but at the same time, he was missing his magic a great deal and he was eager to return to the school and to Rail, who had guided him so well and taught them so much.

They arrived in the east and this time they were the last to arrive. They stepped onto the green field and waited for the teachers to work their magic and make the pink bubble appear that would take them back to Lansten. The students, new and returning, watched in awe as the teachers worked their magic and the bubble ascended from the ground and encircled them and when it was sealed, it began moving southwards to the school and Rakan and Rufus talked and watched the scenery as they were transported back.

They arrived in the late evening and went straight to their room to unpack their things and when they had, they joined the others for a late supper and then retired to their rooms.

‘Here we are again,’ said Rakan.

‘Indeed,’ replied Rufus.

‘Are you not happy to be here?’ Rakan asked.

‘I am ambivalent.’

‘Why?’

‘Because here I get to learn and practise magic and find out what my power is, where it came from and what I am supposed to do with it.’

‘But?’

‘But Amalah, Amalah is my home; it is where I was born and raised. Where my family and friends are and what I know. I did not realise how much I had missed our friends until my return – I missed them dearly.’

‘As did I.’

‘I like the school and what we learn and Rail and the students – I do.’

‘But?’

‘But home is home and it is where I wish to be and besides in Amalah there is so much to do and so many places to go. Here we have six towers and are surrounded by snow.’

‘Rufus, do you want to return to Amalah?’ Rakan asked, quite concerned by his friends revelation.

‘Yes I do,’ Rufus said bluntly.

‘Oh,’ Rakan said, taken aback by Rufus’ reply.

‘But I will not. Not yet anyway. I will finish my time in Lansten, that I promise, but I am not as glad to have returned as you are.’

‘I miss them too you know.’

‘I know.’

‘I Miss Kalon and Ellora, father and Waldon and Kenaz, and I miss not being in their lives when things happen, good or bad. I miss father and his friends and the Empress.’

‘But you love it here too.’

‘Yes I do but it would not be the same at all if you were not here.’

‘I will be,’ Rufus promised.

The two of them retired to bed early that night, knowing that from tomorrow, their holiday would be over and they would return to their gruelling schedule. The new day for Rakan and Rufus began how the year was going to be; frantic and relentless, but they took it in their stride and were glad when the day was finally over. At the end of the evening, Rail came to see them to welcome them back; when he reached their room, he knocked on their door and Rakan invited him in.

‘Rakan, Rufus, how good to see you and welcome back.’ The two young men thanked him and Rail continued: ‘the next two years are going to be gruelling. Do you still want me to guide you and teach you as well?’

‘I do,’ Rakan said.

‘And I do too,’ Rufus added.

‘Good I am so very pleased, I will give you one weeks grace and then next week we shall pick up where we left off.

‘Thank you,’ Rakan said.

Rail nodded and smiled. ‘Good night young sirs I will see you in my class two days from now,’ he said, before he bowed his head slightly and exited their room.

The next day Rakan and Rufus attended all of their classes again but this time they were set work to complete and that day onwards, it was the same every day of the week until the weekends. On Saturdays they took time out of their busy studies and relaxed and had fun but by Sunday night they would be working hard to prepare for the next day. The next week they began their classes with Rail and soon they were fighting hard to find spare time to relax.

They continued to grow in both their knowledge and power as the weeks passed and as the months went by, they learned more herbs and spices and trees, and potions and lotions and spells; and then, they moved onto rocks and stones and gems, and discovered their magical properties. Rail took their knowledge and showed them how to use it but after a while he began to teach them other magic’s and spells – magic that was forbidden by the school.

Adriel was good at scheming – he gained their trust week by week and taught them well and slowly but surely, in his own devious way, he introduced them to dark magic, piece by piece. Small things at first; things that seemed insignificant: he allowed them to conjure and take things for personal gain. Then he moved onto transmogrifying animals. The magical feats that Adriel allowed Rakan and Rufus to perform grew in size and gravity.

Adriel played mind games with the two men and artfully manipulated them. Subtly labelling those in Amalah as jealous and scared or resentful and as he taught them more and baited them to darkness, he swore them to secrecy about some of the things he was teaching them. Rakan and Rufus were not stupid though, they had questioned Adriel at first but then, as they grew more powerful and Adriel continued to teach them, they stopped asking questions, they turned a blind eye and they began to wilfully ignore the ever present danger that Adriel posed to them, and so the manipulations and mind games continued.

‘The others here would not understand,’ he told them on some occasions. ‘They don’t have your skill or your talent or your power,’ he would constantly say, massaging their egos.

He would tell them whatever he could to twist their minds and in secret, he continued to show them the darkest of magic’s and give them a free reign of it; allowing them to use magic for personal gain and as he taught them, the two became corrupted and seduced by their own power as it grew day by day.