The Destiny of Amalah (45 page)

He took hold of her hand and kissed it and then kissed her again before he made his way out of the lake, guiding her along with him. They put their clothes back on and walked back to the beach hand in hand where they had made camp.

They found the large tent that they had made and went straight inside. Ellora rummaged through her things and found a towel and her hairbrush and then she sat on the edge of the makeshift bed and brushed her hair. Kalon came and sat behind her on the bed and as she brushed her hair he massaged her shoulders and she let out a small pleasurable moan.

He continued to massage her neck and shoulders and she leant back on to his chest, and she began to feel aroused as he continued to touch her. She looked up at him and he bent his head down and began kissing her neck, he kissed her neck and shoulders and her throat and Ellora began to feel the heat and passion rise within her once again.

She lifted her hand upwards and began to run her fingers through Kalon’s hair and stroke his thigh with her other hand while he continued to kiss her neck and throat as he felt her body arch and harden with pleasure and then he brought his hands to her waist and began to stroke her curves on both sides and then her flat tummy before bringing his hands up to her breasts and cupped them in his hands.

She placed her hands on top of his and he began to squeeze and massage them at the same time gently at first and then harder and harder: she turned to face him and he met her face with kisses. She turned around to face him swinging her legs astride him as they continued to kiss and touch each other.

‘Ellora, I want you,’ he said urgently. ‘I love you and want you and I want to share my body with you.’

She kissed him passionately, showing him that she wanted the same thing and he pulled her even closer to him and they held on to each other. She reached down to his waist and took hold of the shirt that he was wearing and lifted it up and over his head, she looked lustfully at his bare chest and ran her hands up and down it, feeling the ripples in his stomach and kissing his pectorals.

He undressed her as she continued kissing him, taking her top off hurriedly and then he brought them both down to lie on the bed and there they stayed; kissing each other hungrily, passionately and urgently as the fire and passion within them grew. They removed each others clothing and discovered each others bodies and there, in the paradise of Aradene, Kalon and Ellora made love for the very first time and when they had finished their lovemaking, they wrapped themselves up in each other and shared lingering kisses as they looked into each others eyes as they shared themselves and the bliss that they had given each other.

They stayed in the tent for the rest of the night making love for most of it until they were both spent and then, they fell asleep in each others arms with a feeling of ecstasy and contentment that love making brings. Ellora awoke in the morning to find Kalon watching over her, and when she opened her eyes she looked at him with a coy but sexy look.

‘Good morning,’ he said smiling at her and then he kissed her softly.

‘Good morning,’ she said smiling back at him

‘Before we get up I want you to know something before the day starts,’ he said holding onto her.

‘What do you want me to know?’

‘That I love you. I love everything about you,’ he said as he stroked her shoulders. ‘ Who you are, the woman you are, your body and your mind. I love your hair and your skin and I love watching you sleep.’

‘Kalon…’

‘Ellora, you are everything to me and I want you to know that and I want you to know that I love you now and I will always.’

‘Oh Kalon I love you too. I love you so much,’ she said, as she reached up to kiss him and he, with all of his heart kissed her back and once again they made love with a new level of passion and yearning that brought them even more intimacy and pleasure.

They eventually rose from their makeshift bed and bathed in the sea. They slowly got dressed and enjoyed breakfast on the beach. Later in the day, they packed their things together, stealing kisses and hugs as t hey worked and then they saddled their horses before heading west to Mantor. The two of them travelled onto Mantor for three days and three nights at a leisurely pace. They had spent their nights, holding each other, discovering their bodies and sleeping blissfully entangled after their lovemaking.

The couple found their way back to the Zulu’s who welcomed them back with open arms and once the word spread that they were there, there were many who came rushing to greet the princess and Kalon, “The Little Warrior,” who had survived the mamba bite. Soon, night fell and Kalon and Ellora were enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the Zulus and watching on as the Zulu men and women performed their mighty and rhythmic dances.

‘I always feel alive when I come to Mantor,’ Ellora said happily.

‘As do I, I think it’s the people and the air and everything that surrounds us.’

Kalon took hold of Ellora’s hand and she held onto it and looked at him intently.

‘Mantor does make me feel alive but you make me feel more so and you make me feel like nothing or no one else could.’

‘How is that?’

‘Like a woman.’

Kalon leaned forward and kissed Ellora gently and the two of them then watched the Zulus dance in the dead of night, illuminated by the stars and the fire that was providing heat and light as they sat watching happily, arm in arm.

The time passed by too quickly for them and soon, it was time for the two lovers to leave Southern Mantor and make their way north; they said their farewells and once again vowed to return. They travelled northwards visiting, travelling, sightseeing and making love whenever they could over the coming month a half and soon they were back in Amalah.

By the time they arrived back, Rakan and Rufus had already left for Lansten and Waldon and Kenaz were now fully fledged officers of the guard; they both held the rank of Lieutenant and were carrying out their duties at the palace and when Kalon and Ellora came back to the city; Amara, Waldon and Kenaz made sure that they were welcomed back warmly.

Kalon did not have much time left in Amalah City, in two weeks he would be travelling north to join the guard like Waldon and Kenaz had done before him. He packed and prepared everything he needed and placed it in the storeroom of the house. He had two days left now before he was to depart and he intended to spend much more time with Ellora, his father and his friends – of which he did.

On the eve of his departure Ellora stayed with Kalon at the house, Garrick was at the palace working nights with the guard and Kalon and Ellora spent their last night together, talking and making love and when Garrick returned to the house early in the morning, he found Kalon and Ellora sitting down to breakfast.

‘Do you wish to join us father?’

‘Yes thank you,’ Garrick said as he sat down at the table. ‘I would love to have one last meal with my son before he leaves for the guard.’

‘And I with you.’

‘I cannot believe that you are young man,’ Garrick said looking at his son with pride. ‘It seems like yesterday when you were an infant running around this house and you were not even at my knees.’

‘And now, he is to become an officer in the Empresses’ Guard,’ Ellora said proudly.

‘Indeed,’ said Garrick.

The three of them sat eating breakfast, talking happily and not long after it was over, Waldon and Kenaz arrived to say farewell to their friend. Everyone left the house and made their way to where Kalon’s horse was. They helped load it up and then they stood there not quite knowing what to say, so Kalon said it first. He went to Kenaz and Waldon first.

‘It seems one of us is always leaving,’ he said ruefully. ‘Take good care my friends,’ he said as he hugged them. ‘And please, look after Ellora.’

‘We promise,’ Kenaz answered.

‘Good journey Kalon,’ Waldon added.

‘Thank you.’

‘I know you will do well at the guard.’

‘I will give it my best.’

Kalon then went to his father and looked at him for a while: ‘Father, I don’t know what to say.’

‘Say what your heart tells you son.’

‘Thank you. It tells me thank you for raising me to be the man I am. Thank you for loving me and Rakan and it tells me that I love you so father.’

‘And you know that I love you Kalon,’ Garrick said, with such feeling. ‘I love you and I’m proud of you.’ Garrick let go of his son and looked him in the eye. ‘Take care of yourself.’

‘I will, will you take care of Ellora?’

‘I promise.’

Kalon then turned to Ellora and took her in his arms, they held onto each other for a while before he spoke to her.

‘I love you,’ he said simply.

‘I miss you already,’ she said as her eyes began to fill with water.

‘And I will miss you more than you know.’

‘I love you Kalon,’ she said softly, trying to stifle her sobs.

‘Ellora I will come to you whenever I can and I, in some way, will always be with you. Do not cry my sweet princess, for it is hard enough as it is for me to leave you.’

‘I’m trying,’ she said, fighting back the tears.

‘Waldon, Kenaz and my father will look after you. They have promised, and when I return, we will be together forever.’

Ellora held onto Kalon and stroked his hair and his face.

‘Promise.’

‘I promise,’ he said, as he pulled her closer to him and they kissed one last time and when it ended they hugged tightly once again before Kalon stepped back and went to mount his horse. Kalon then turned to the four who were watching him and spoke one last time.

‘I love you all. Ellora I will return,’ he said, before he turned the horse around and rode out of the field that belonged to Garrick.

The four of them watched him go and shouted their farewells and well wishes until he was out of sight and clearly out of earshot and when he was gone – Ellora burst into tears and Garrick took hold of her and hugged her as if she were his own child and tried to console her.

The three men and Ellora went back into the house and Garrick made them all supper; they tried to cheer Ellora up and for a while, it worked but then the thought of Kalon being so far away from her for so long would not leave her and after a while she decided to go back to the palace and be alone so that she could think of her beloved Kalon.

She knew she had to let him go, to do what he needed to do but it still did not make their separation any easier. When she arrived back at the palace, she went straight to her room and asked not to be disturbed. She lay on her bed and at times she cried at the thought of not being with him and at other times, she smiled as she brought the memories of the times they had spent together to the forefront of her mind and shortly afterwards, she fell into a fitful sleep.

Time passed slowly for Ellora once Kalon had gone, so she threw herself into palace life. She attended functions and dinners and travelled even more on behalf of the palace and Amara. In her spare time she spent time with Amara and Michael, or Garrick, or Waldon and Kenaz. Sometimes, the three of them would go travelling and live off the land like they used to and whilst they were away, Waldon and Kenaz taught her some of the ways of the guard.

Although Kalon was missing his beloved Ellora, he was still enjoying his time at guard school; he too had thrown himself into his work and like Waldon and Kenaz before him, he excelled at all that he did. Unlike Waldon and Kenaz, what Kalon lacked in their sheer strength he made up for with lightening speed and agility.

For Kalon though, the pressure was placed upon him more, for his father was joint head of the guard and Garrick had his own legendary reputation, but it was no more than Kalon could take and he rose to the challenge with great skill and aplomb and his teachers were expecting nothing less.

The year passed by and soon Kalon had completed his time at guard school and returned to Amalah and Ellora. Once again all the family and friends flocked to the north to see Kalon at the passing out ceremony of the guard and to everyone’s pride and joy he was named as guardsman of the year and his father was overcome with pride for his youngest son.

Kalon returned to Amalah and the young couple and their two friends, soon returned to normal and began to live the good life. Kalon lived at the palace mostly while he was carrying out his duties and often; he worked alongside his father, who was only too happy to have him there. He and Ellora would spend nights in each other’s rooms together and for them, life with each other saw them become increasingly happy as their love for each other deepened.

Chapter 19

Life for Rakan and Rufus on the other hand was getting darker and darker, or rather they were getting darker and darker in their magic’s and in their spirit, as Rail continued to corrupt them as each week went by. They had gotten through their second year and even though they had returned home for the holidays, at the end of it, they returned to Lansten early so that Rail could teach them and they could continue to stay on at the school practising their powers until their third and final year began.

Adriel also taught the two young men how to use herbs, for good and for bad. When he was sure that he had turned them and he had their trust, he introduced them to the black stones, diamonds, obsidian, and the most powerful and darkest of all – jet. They used the stones to conjure and to settle scores with students that they perceived had wronged them.