The Destiny of Amalah (54 page)

‘Empress, Garrick my friend,’ Häkan began; ‘it troubles me to say this but the implications of factions in the guard, could lead to treason if we do not uncover it. It could even lead to further factions and then…’

‘A war,’ Garrick finished.

Häkan nodded, ‘I fear it could be so.’

‘I am truly worried,’ Michael admitted.

‘Garrick,’ Amara said, her face grim. ‘What I am about to tell you changes everything she finished. She looked at him, he face pale and drawn and the she looked down and away from him. Garrick sensed Amara was holding back and he sensed fear in her voice.

‘What is it?’ he simply asked.

I never told you this, I never told anyone this – not even you Michael. Why? Because Garrick, you were a great friend to my father and you are a close friend to me. I myself did not want to believe what I heard, nor did I want to hurt or alienate you.’

‘What do you know?’ Garrick asked.

‘The people that Gaerwen feared, that I mentioned, she told me their names,’ Amara said, her face anxious as she looked at Garrick. ‘Gaerwen said, the people who were causing her foreboding were Rakan and Rufus.’ Garrick’s eyes shone with anger and betrayal and he glared at the Empress. ‘I understand that you may feel let down by me,’ she said scrambling to abate his anger.

‘As commander of the guard, or as a friend?’ he snapped.

‘Both,’ she replied, ‘but understand, I told Gaerwen that I had known Rakan my whole life; that I did not believe that he could have been the cause of her fear. I also did not want to alienate you Garrick. I had no evidence, except for Gaerwen’s fear.’

‘I see,’ said Garrick, staring ahead.

‘I do not want to utter these words, I truly don’t,’ she said anxiously. ‘But there is more.’

Garrick nodded: ‘Then tell us Empress, for we can ill afford anymore secrets.’

Amara nodded: ‘The day Gaerwen came to me, it was not long after Rakan and Rufus returned from magic school.’

‘Hence the warning about dark magic,’ Garrick finished. ‘I understand your reticence Empress,’ Garrick said, as a thousand thoughts crossed his mind. ‘I wish you had told me this though, not just as your friend but as commander of the guard. I am your protector.’

‘I know,’ Amara conceded. ‘But…’

‘No, you don’t know,’ Garrick cut in. ‘If you’d come to me or Häkan at the time of Gaerwen’s death…’ Garrick shook his head and then he looked at Häkan, as did they all.

Häkan nodded. ‘Gaerwen was last seen walking at a distance behind Rakan, who was heading to the north east tower.’

Amara let out an anguished cry and brought her hand to her mouth, which was now wide open in shock, as the realisation dawned on her.

‘I wish you had come to us,’ a solemn faced Garrick said.

‘What can we do?’ Michael asked.

‘Honestly,’ Häkan began; ‘nothing – we need to wait for their next move.’

‘Gaerwen,’ Amara cried.

‘I know you say it is not, but I say, this is Adriel,’ Michael began. It has to be.’

‘We do not know that yet,’ Raynor snapped.

‘Yes we do Raynor,’ Michael said raising his voice. ‘Look around you and listen as the lies and the secrets begin again, look at the splintering of the guard and most obviously, Gaerwen; her fears and then her untimely demise; her fear of dark magic of which I am now sure, was no coincidence or accident.’

‘Perhaps not but it does not necessarily mean that Adriel was or is involved. Rakan and the others may be up to something for their own purposes or for some other reason.’

‘Whatever it is, I fear it is serious and no good will come of it,’ Garrick said with disappointment. ‘I fell ashamed today,’ a distraught Garrick said.

‘No Garrick,’ said Häkan. ‘This is no doing of yours.’

‘He is my son and I raised him,’ Garrick replied dejectedly.

‘We saw you raise him and Kalon,’ said Michael. ‘In no way can any fault be attributed to you.’

‘Whatever it is, I am sure we will not have to wait too long until Rakan and the others reveal what their intentions are,’ said the Empress. ‘For they seem to have been plotting for years; surely their plan should be coming to fruition very soon.’

‘Perhaps,’ Häkan said quietly.

‘Perhaps they do not have a plan,’ Raynor said. ‘Perhaps they have simply lost their way and are engaging in high jinks.’

‘How can you say that?’ Michael asked, raising his voice again. ‘Have you not been listening?’

‘Yes I have, very closely and I have heard that Rakan has been telling lies and the guard are not getting along as much as they used to. I’ve also heard that Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were inseparable to the exclusion of Kalon and Ellora, not to mention that Rakan may have had something to do with Gaerwen’s death because Taylor never saw him in the barrack and he changed his story.’

‘You’re point Raynor,’ Michael said sharply.

‘My point is, we know of nothing concrete; all we have, mostly, is speculation. My point is, that these events may have been bound to happen, it does not mean that Adriel is involved in any way.’

‘You do have a point Raynor,’ the Empress said, looking at him. ‘It could be all speculation or even coincidence but then again it might not. It may be what we all fear and it could, as Michael says, be Adriel. Regardless, we would be fools to stand idly by and not heed these warnings.’

‘What do we do?’ Raynor asked.

‘For now we watch, listen and learn,’ the Empress said flatly. ‘Garrick and Häkan keep an eye on Rakan, Kenaz and Waldon, listen to what is going on within the guard and let Kalon continue to do as he has been doing. Raynor and Thaddeus, keep a close watch on Rufus and when you can, on Rakan. For now, this meeting will stay between us and if you wish to tell Kalon, Garrick that is entirely up to you; when we meet with the council tomorrow say nothing of this.’

‘I agree,’ said Häkan. ‘Once again Empress, I think you need to have a guard constantly by your side.’

‘Perhaps Häkan but will that not show our hand too soon?’

‘Yes but our duty is to protect you,’ Häkan countered and Garrick nodded in agreement.

‘I know but for now, I wish everything to remain the same,’ said Amara.

‘What do we say to Ellora?’ Garrick asked.

‘At this stage, nothing,’ Amara said. ‘I hate to keep this from my sister but she and Rakan are close. She may not believe us, or she may and wish to confront him, or protect him; either scenario could stop us from uncovering the truth.’

‘Agreed,’ said Häkan.

The meeting came to an end and the four men left Michael and Amara alone in the study. Thaddeus and Raynor parted company with Garrick and Häkan and the two guard commanders walked along the corridors of the palace in silence; each of them lost in their own thoughts and each of them not wanting to speak of what was really on their minds in those open corridors.

They went back to their offices and Garrick pulled out a bottle of whisky and poured some for Häkan and himself; he gave his friend the glass and sat down opposite him.

‘I think this is the beginning of the end of the good times,’ Garrick said, still troubled.

‘Maybe not my friend, have heart and hope that this will all be resolved.’

‘All I have is fear Häkan,’ Garrick said, his face pensive once again. ‘I Fear a return to the dark days that we had, the ones that we fought through, so that we could spare our children from them. I feel anger too, but mostly it is fear that I feel; fear that I cannot trust my own son.’

The two men continued to drink their whisky and talk, and at the opposite end of the palace, high up in the north east tower four other men were talking: Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were making plans.

‘Everything is in place,’ Rakan said happily. ‘All that is needed is for me to be given a seat on the council.’

‘Do you think you will get one?’ Waldon asked.

‘Yes I do,’ Rakan said confidently. ‘I am a second captain of the guard and a sorcerer; I have done very well here over the years.’

‘Do not be so sure,’ Rufus said. ‘The council members rarely leave their position and when they do select a member – well...’

‘I don’t expect anyone to leave I expect to be given an extra seat; they can add another member to the council.

‘But Rakan, why is it so important that you become a member of the council?’ Kenaz said in a slightly tiresome tone. ‘You do not need to be there surely.’

‘I need to be there because Salwar says I need to be there, and as he explained, the council is the root to all power over the people. The council represents all of the people in all of the nations; and if we are to begin to gain any power, then we must acquire a seat on that council. It is Salwar’s plan and he wishes for me to be on the council and as such, that is what I will do.’

‘Why?’ Kenaz asked.

‘Because it is the heart of Amalah,’ Rakan said patiently. ‘It is more than that. It is the mind body and soul of Amalah and to a large extent – the rest of the nations.’

‘So if
he
is at the heart and mind of the nations…’ Rufus said and then broke into a smile and as he smiled, the others smiled and nodded.

The four men stayed in the tower for a while longer and in the early hours of the morning, they left to go to their homes or rooms at the palace.

The next day, Amara rose early as she had much to do; she took breakfast with Kalon and Ellora and then she went about her work. She held meetings from time to time and when she wasn’t needed anywhere; she worked at her desk in her study. She had a short lunch alone and then she made her way back to her room to have a short rest before she met with the council again.

The council had changed a few times since her father’s day and Michael and his friends were now the only original members left. Compared to them, even Amara felt like a newcomer and she had been there for ten years now.

Amara walked though the corridors gracefully and when she turned a corner, she saw Ellora walking towards her, clearly in a dreamy and happy state. Amara smiled to herself as she walked closer and closer to her sister who had still not noticed her. It was only when they were less than two feet apart that Ellora noticed her sister.

‘Amara!’ Ellora exclaimed, jumping slightly. ‘I didn’t see you there.’ Ellora said.

‘I know you didn’t,’ Amara said highly amused. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To see Kalon.’

‘Well give him my regards.’

‘I will. Where are you going?’

‘To my room, for a short rest before I meet with the council.’

‘Oh Amara, you are always so busy.’

‘That’s because there is always something to do and have you not forgotten that the celebrations will be in a few weeks?’

‘No I had not and thanks to you, we have something to celebrate.’

‘That was our father and as for now, I do not do it all alone.’

‘Maybe but you are largely responsible for it.’

‘It was our father who made this world the way it is, along with Michael, Garrick and their friends.’

‘Yes they did and you have kept it that way.’

‘I made him a promise,’ Amara said sentimentally.

‘And you kept it well.’

Ellora squeezed her sister’s arm gently and Amara reached for her hand and held it for a few moments.

‘Make sure Kalon looks after you,’ she said thoughtfully.

‘He will.’

‘Yes he will. I think, I already knew that on some level and I can see how much he adores you.’

‘And I adore him,’ Ellora said passionately. ‘There is someone for everyone Amara,’ Ellora said knowingly.

Amara smiled a nervous smile and squeezed her sister’s hand one more time before she made her excuses and left. The two women went their separate ways and Amara continued to walk to her room; when she got there she took off her shoes, sat on the large settee, put her head back and relaxed. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander in her mind and eventually, she let them all out and emptied her mind so that it was completely blank and peaceful and she remained like that until she fell into a deep sleep.

She stayed in her deep slumber for a while and then – as though she had set an alarm in her body clock – she awoke. She looked around and it took her a few seconds to gather herself together and when she did, she stood up and began to get ready for the meeting with the council and a few minutes later, Michael knocked on her door and she welcomed him in.

‘Good afternoon Empress. I came to see if I could walk with you to the meeting?’

‘Good afternoon Michael, and yes you may, I am always glad to have you at my side. But tell me, is this Häkan’s idea of him indirectly guarding me?’

Michael laughed softly: ‘I told him you would not be fooled but I would have walked you anyway.

She looked at him and smiled, she loved Michael dearly, he was still her closest friend and ally, and in the ten years that she had been Empress, their friendship had grown closer and she trusted him with her innermost secrets and her life.

The Empress finished getting ready and moments later, the two left her room and made their way to the Crest Room where the council always held their meetings. The two of them reached the north side of the palace and entered a sombrely lit room to find that most of the council members were already there. Those present stood up and bowed deferentially to the Empress and then acknowledged Michael as he and Amara greeted them all.