The Destiny of Amalah (47 page)

Rakan and Rufus wanted to be sick and Adriel’s screams invoked a sickening fear, and although things had suddenly turned hostile between the three of them, Adriel’s suffering invoked sympathy from the two young men.

‘Alright!’ Rakan shouted. ‘We understand,’ he finished.

Adriel’s body quickly returned to normal and he stood shuddering and whimpering.

‘Stand up!’ Salwar barked.

Adriel did as Salwar commanded but he was still shuddering and sniffing, his eyes, red from the crying.

‘Now,’ Salwar said, as he separated himself from Adriel. ‘You all swore your allegiance to me. You are human, so you do not understand the universal implications of your actions – but you will. I promised you the world in return for your success. Burning and blistering skin will be the least of your problems if you fail me,’ he said coldly and then he was gone.

Adriel’s eyes began darting around, trying to work out where Salwar had gone. He moved his head from side to side and began looking around and it was Rufus who was the first to realise that Salwar had truly gone from them.

‘He’s not in you?’ Rufus asked. ‘Adriel, Salwar is not in you is he?’

Adriel turned and stared balefully at Rakan and Rufus.

‘Do you see what you did?’ he snarled.

It was Rakan’s turn to adopt the whining mocking tone that Adriel had taunted them with. ‘Hmmm,’ he said nonchalantly. ‘I think so,’ he said slowly. ‘If my memory serves me correctly, we upset Salwar and Salwar punished you,’ he said, creasing his brow in mock contemplation. ‘Rufus brother, what does this mean?’

‘I think it means Adriel should be nicer to us in the future, because it seems as though, he will be responsible for
our
actions.’

‘I do like the sound of that,’ Rakan said, smiling sweetly at Adriel.

‘As do I,’ Rufus agreed.

‘It could easily be your body he jumps into,’ said Adriel, knowing it would only happen if they gave their consent.

‘But he chose not to,’ Rufus said pointedly.

‘It looks like a lose-lose situation for you Adriel,’ Rakan teased. ‘You fail, he punishes you. We fail, he still punishes you.’

‘You’ll pay for this,’ Adriel promised. ‘After everything I taught you and did for you…’ he began.

‘It’s not that we are ungrateful,’ Rakan began, as Adriel nodded. ‘We will still do Salwar’s bidding Adriel but you clearly need to be a bit more respectful to us.’

Adriel’s eyes, shone with contempt and anger but he knew that Rakan had a point and he nodded slightly.

‘In that case, I think we might all get along swimmingly,’ Rufus added facetiously. ‘Are there anymore lies and secrets you wish to disclose before we begin?’

‘No!’ Adriel said angrily.

‘Are you sure Adriel?’ because red and blistered did not appear to suit your facial features.

‘No,’ Adriel said in a surly tone.

‘Good, then let us begin our destiny,’ Rakan finished.

Chapter 20

The end came for Rakan and Rufus at the Lansten School of sorcery and when they had graduated, it was with the highest honours. Many of the teachers and students congratulated them on their success those who were aware of what had been occurring in the last two years, avoided them or cautioned them.

They spent their last days with Adriel and Salwar, perfecting the nefarious scheme that Salwar had instructed them to carry out and they spent their last night in the sixth tower, discussing their envisaged future.

‘A new world,’ Adriel said excitedly.

‘If you succeed, you will be granted immortality,’ Salwar promised Rakan and Rufus. ‘The world will be
your
kingdom and you may do with it what you wish.’

‘And I?’ Adriel questioned, failing to hide his envy.

‘You too will be rewarded Adriel,’ said Salwar. ‘Highly so may I add. I know you wish to be free of your humanity and I promise that you will.’

Adriel’s mood had changed since the blistering incident; now he was talking to Rakan and Rufus in a conciliatory tone.

‘I still have much to teach you,’ he told them. ‘The road ahead will be extremely difficult and you will find yourself making impossible decisions. We can only achieve our aims if we are united,’ he told them.

‘What do you suggest?’ Rufus asked.

‘A truce,’ said Adriel. ‘I am willing to put the incidents of the last few days behind us, if you will.’

Rakan and Rufus both nodded.

‘I am agreeable to that,’ said Rakan.

‘As am I,’ said Rufus.

‘Good,’ Adriel replied curtly. ‘My work here is done,’ he said, staring out of the bricked window.

‘I will leave Lansten at the same time as you do.’

‘Where will you go?’

‘Everywhere,’ Adriel replied grinning?

‘What will you do?’

‘What I am supposed to.’

Rakan laughed slightly as he looked at the old man who stared back at him with glinting eyes.

‘Will you not tell me?’ Rakan asked.

‘I shall be playing on the discontent of others?’

‘There is discontent?’ Rakan said quite surprised.

‘Just because discontent is silent young Rakan, it does not mean that it is not there,’ Adriel replied.

‘I see,’ Rakan said thoughtfully.

‘Rakan and Rufus,’ Adriel began again; ‘I shall be doing what I am destined to do, ensure you do that which you are destined for.’

‘We will,’ Rakan promised.

‘Ensure that you do,’ Adriel said tartly. ‘You have made promises to Salwar, do not break them.’

‘We will not,’ Rufus added.

‘Good,’ Adriel said. ‘Now I will leave you princes of darkness. Good journey back to Amalah and you will hear from me soon.’

‘Good journey to where ever it is you are going,’ Rufus said.

Adriel looked out of the brick window one last time and gazed up at the stars before he turned to Rakan and Rufus and gave a thin smile to them, before he disappeared into thin air and left the two of them in the dark dank room to talk to each other.

‘What do you think Adriel will be doing?’ Rakan asked curiously.

‘Anything, I would not hazard a guess, for his mind seems infinitely complex not to mention devious.’

‘Very true.’

‘Perhaps he has gone to find more like us.’

‘There are none like us.’

‘Very true.’

‘Tomorrow we return to Amalah.’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you feel about that?’

‘I feel as though things in Amalah will get
very
interesting over time.’

‘Yes they will,’ Rakan said adamantly, as the two of them broke out into a malevolent smile that would have chilled anyone’s spine.

The next day the two young men packed their belongings and emptied out their room for the last time. They made their way to the snow field and embarked on their journey back home to Amalah.

Although the two young men had been corrupted to the side of evil by the dastardly Adriel, the transition was not complete. They still felt love for their family, friends and home and they looked forward to seeing.

They rode hard for three days and three nights and on the fourth day they reached the outskirts of Amalah city and by mid morning, they had reached the palace gates. They dismounted and made their way into the palace where they were welcomed warmly and ushered to the Guard Commander’s room where Garrick and Kalon were.

‘Am I interrupting?’ Rakan asked mischievously.

Garrick and Kalon turned around to see Rakan at the door and both broke into wide smiles.

‘Rakan, Brother,’ Kalon said excitedly, as he rushed to where his brother was and hugged him. Rakan hugged his brother back tightly and ruffled his hair.

‘It’s good to see you little brother. Although I see that from now on I can no longer call you little,’ Rakan said, as he stepped back to take a good look at his brother. ‘My, how you have grown,’ he said proudly, looking at Kalon who was now six feet and one inch tall and only two inches smaller than Rakan. ‘I think you may even reach me or even surpass me.’

‘I don’t know,’ Kalon said, still holding onto his brother’s upper arms. ‘I know I am so very glad to see you though,’ he said.

‘As am I,’ Garrick said looking at his eldest son.

‘Father,’ Rakan said letting go of Kalon and going to hug Garrick. The two men hugged tightly and for a good few seconds before Rakan stepped back from him. ‘I missed you too.’

‘And I you son,’ Garrick said, almost overcome with emotion at seeing his son again.

‘Do I get a warm welcome?’ Rufus asked, as he turned the corner and made himself visible to Kalon and Garrick.

‘Rufus!’ Kalon said. ‘How glad I am to see you my friend,’ Kalon said, as he rushed towards Rufus and hugged him.

When the greetings were over and done with, the four men stood in the room talking and laughing and Rakan and Rufus began telling them the most salient parts of what had taken place in the school of Lansten but making absolutely no mention of Adriel or Salwar.

After a while, the two of them went in search of Waldon, Kenaz, and Ellora and Amara, who were all so glad and excited to see them and they too, spent much time talking and catching up. They promised to meet and catch up over many dinners and that they did, over the coming weeks. Soon all six friends were back together like old times and they were all living and working in Amalah and spending whatever spare time that they had together.

Once again, Amalah was back to normal and everyone felt happy – except for Gaerwen. She was not sure why, but she had developed a feeling of foreboding that seemed to grow worse as each day passed. She could not understand why she had suddenly started to feel this way and the more she thought about where her feelings came from, the more perplexed she became.

She thought hard and tried to remember when she first began to feel this way; it was the day she returned from South Amalah, “the day Rakan and Rufus returned,” she thought to herself. She wondered if they had anything to do with her feeling this way but for the time being, she could not fathom why they would. She hoped that they did not and she hoped that her feelings did not mean that they would come to any harm or trouble. Gaerwen tried hard to not think about the bad tidings that she felt were impending and so she relaxed in a bath and then meditated before she went to bed.

The next day she rose and as usual, rode to the palace for Amara’s lesson. Gaerwen loved her job and she loved Amara, for she was like the daughter she never had. To Gaerwen, Amara possessed a kindness and innocence that made her feel protective of the Empress.

When Gaerwen arrived at the palace, she dismounted in the court yard and a horse hand took her horse away from her and to the stables and she thanked him and turned to enter the palace. She had only taken a few steps when she heard the sound of men’s voices and horses steps, and when she turned around, she saw Rakan and Kalon riding towards her. She waited in order to greet them as the two young men dismounted and also gave their horses to the stable boy.

‘Good morning Kalon and Rakan,’ Gaerwen said brightly.

Good morning Gaerwen,’ Kalon said pleasantly.

‘Hello Gaerwen,’ Rakan said.

The three of them made small talk and as they engaged in conversation, the feeling of foreboding that had left Gaerwen last night returned almost instantly. As the three of them continued to talk, so her feelings grew and as they intensified once again; her heart began to pound in her chest. “What is this?” she asked herself, beginning to be afraid.

‘Gaerwen are you alright?’ Kalon asked, deeply concerned for her. ‘Gaerwen you have become terribly pale.’

‘Yes, I’m fine thank you Kalon, I just felt a bit strange but it has passed now.’

‘Let me take you inside,’ Rakan said.

‘No!’ Gaerwen replied sharply, much to the brother’s surprise.

‘I mean no thank you,’ she said, adjusting her tone so it became much softer. ‘I’m fine really,’ she insisted.

The two brothers looked at each other, each of them looking as puzzled and quizzical as the other. They were about to say something more when they heard a horse galloping towards them. The three of them looked outward to see Rufus galloping towards them and once again, they stood still until Rufus was in the courtyard dismounting.

Rufus was clearly in good cheer and he bade them all good morning. As he drew closer, Gaerwen’s feeling of foreboding increased. She stepped back from the three young men unable to discern why she was feeling that way.

The three men now stood side by side and Gaerwen stood opposite them and then suddenly, Kalon stepped forward to where she was, leaving Rakan and Rufus shoulder to shoulder and then she saw it; a black aura cloud that covered them both and the more she stared at them, the thicker and darker the black aura cloud got: she stepped back quickly, horrified and scared at what she saw. The emerald ring that she had worn as an amulet began to vibrate and glow, and as she felt and saw it, she quickly hid her hand from Rakan and Rufus.