The Destiny of Amalah (57 page)

The crowd continued to cheer and clap for a few more minutes until Amara brought them to silence and then there were murmurs and hushes, and eventually – silence fell throughout the city.

‘Truly, deeply and from the bottom of my heart, I gladly welcome you all to the nation of Amalah; to every person, from every nation, I welcome you here, as do we all.’

The crowd began clapping and cheering again and after a few moments, it died down as Amara continued to speak.

‘Some of you may remember my father Emperor Kai and remember when the celebrations began; it is then, my absolute honour to continue the celebrations in his name.

It is a testament to his character and a testament to the people that you are, that these celebrations go on, for we are a peaceful people; thankful to the gods and each other, thankful for the lives we have and the love that fills them.

As people from all nations, I honour and respect you and I thank you for making our world the way it is and I thank you for coming to Amalah to join in the celebrations. Thank you for contributing towards them and participating in them, and so, once again; people of the nine nations, it is a great privilege for me to declare that the celebrations can now begin.’

The crowd of people burst into thunderous applause once again and while they were clapping, Amara closed her eyes and brought her hands together. “Bring forth the light,” she said to herself. “Bring forth the light,” she said again. As she said the words, she felt her hands buzz and when the feeling intensified, she separated them and a white glow began to emanate from them.

Two white balls of luminescent white light appeared and began to grow, she gently brought her hands upwards and tapped white lights, sending them into the air, the two white globes floated higher and higher through the air and when they were in mid air, above the crowds, they burst into what seemed like glittering stars that hovered around spreading into the sky and then disappearing into thin air afterwards.

The guards, who had been waiting for the signal, lit the fireworks that were placed on the outskirts of the city and the firework display began and was, once again, a splendid affair; as they flew into the air making different colours and patterns and illuminating the people down below as well as the night skies.

Once the first round of fireworks had finished the people began to move around more quickly, they either made their way to the palace to attend one of the balls, or to see one of the many shows that were on; while many more made their way to the food stalls and the inns. The adults walked at a leisurely pace while the children ran around excitedly, often, they were screaming and squealing or laughing and teasing each other as they played games and amused themselves.

The first night of the celebrations was absolutely amazing; the people laughed, danced, ate and drank until the early hours of the morning and it wasn’t until just before sunrise that Amalah went quiet again. The stalls had started to shut down in the early hours of the morning and children began to grow tired and wanted to go to bed, and by sunrise; even the most party going revellers grew tired and their beds called out to them.

By sunrise most of Amalah was asleep, with the exception of a few guardsmen who were on duty and Rakan; who was at the rear of the castle in an inhabited wing, looking out of the window of the northeast tower. Rakan wasn’t alone though, he was in the company of Adriel who was staring distantly into the city.

‘You failed to get the power and position that you needed,’ Adriel said to Rakan, still looking into the distance.

‘I will not fail again Adriel, but I will bide my time and wait for the right opportunity.’

‘Really Rakan, I do not see how, you have clearly offended the Empress and she will not now look upon you for a council seat, nor do you have the time to bide young man.’

‘Then I shall take my place on the council by force, whether they like it or not,’ he snapped

‘No Rakan, that is not the way, you know that; they will simply remove you anyway. Salwar wants you to gain your position, most people do not respond well to darkness and tyranny in the first instance. They need to be influenced and given choices and changes need to be made gradually, or they need to be seduced; that is how Salwar will win this fight, with freewill and influence.’

‘Salwar has not been living on this earth or among the people, he certainly doesn’t know them well enough; for force, fear and tyranny could achieve what he wanted just as well.’

‘You dare to question Salwar’s plans?’ Adriel asked, in slight disbelief.

‘Yes,’ Rakan said plainly, as a taken aback Adriel stared at the brazen young man. ‘Salwar has not lived among us for the longest time and since he has chosen us to do his will, he must need us, if not us someone else. He cannot do this alone; he only has a vague idea of us.’

‘You are young Rakan, but I warn you it is not wise to question Salwar.’

‘Why?’

‘I have seen what happened to people who questioned him or failed him, so have you. You say he has no idea of humans as he does not live among us, but you should remember that he is not human either, he does not know mercy, or compassion, or humanity – so be careful.’

‘You are human Adriel and you do not know these traits that Salwar supposedly lacks.’

‘True but I do not have nearly as much power as Salwar does.’

‘Why did you agree to serve Salwar?’ Rakan asked, his curiosity piqued by Adriel’s motives.

‘Unlike you Rakan, I despise humanity,’ Adriel said bluntly. ‘When Salwar asked me, I was only too happy to wreak havoc on human kind and I cared not for the outcome or the future.’

‘Why do you hate your own kind so much Adriel?’

‘Because all I ever saw was weakness, bullying, lying and self deception,’ he said balefully.

‘What about love?’

‘What about it?’

‘Did you ever experience it?’

‘Gladly not,’ Adriel said with contempt. ‘That’s when I saw people at their weakest.’

Rakan raised an eyebrow in response to Adriel’s answers.

‘The more I spend time with you Adriel, the less I know you.’

‘As it should be,’ Adriel said. ‘Take my advice Rakan, humanity makes you weak,’ he said with disdain. ‘If you want to succeed, you will have to abandon yours – sooner rather than later would be preferable.’

‘How can I abandon a trait that is quintessentially human?’

‘Easily,’ Adriel replied. ‘According to Salwar though, if you win, you’ll get it back,’ Adriel said slyly.

‘Adriel I will have a seat on the council,’ Rakan said vehemently; ‘of that you can be sure. After the celebrations I will work alongside the Empress.’

‘How can you be so sure?’ Adriel asked curiously.

‘Perhaps a council member will be removed.’

‘How?’

‘By killing them.’

Adriel raised his eyebrows in surprise: ‘Are you ready for that Rakan?’

‘Is this concern for my humanity?’ Rakan countered.

‘Not at all,’ Adriel replied evenly.

Rakan smiled: ‘Well I’m sure you will agree that they have had a long life, it is now time for them to move onto another one and perhaps it is time for me to discover if I am really the man suitable to carry out Salwar’s work, and to see, if this truly is my destiny.’

‘Very well, although I am somewhat surprised that you doubt your destiny Rakan.’

‘Adriel you of all people must surely know that fate, the future and destiny, is not a sure thing; regardless of how powerful Salwar is, even he cannot be assured of destiny, for – if he was – he would not be in the position that he is in now.’

‘You are wise for your years Rakan and we can discuss destiny another time but for now, it is time for me to leave. I cannot be seen by anyone in the palace, especially not the old guard, ensure that you have the position that you need soon after the celebrations.’

‘I will.’

‘Excellent!’ And with that Adriel picked up his cloak, fastened it and pulled the large hood over his head, which obscured his face. He placed an old and weathered hand on Rakan’s shoulder ‘Do not fail Rakan,’ he warned before he stepped out of the room and made his way out of the palace at an incredibly agile pace for someone of his age.

Rakan was left alone in the dark and dank indecorous concrete room, pondering about Adriel and the world during Kai’s time. He thought about the fate that had befallen Adriel and the others that had started the war before.

“That same fate will not befall me,’ Rakan promised himself.

Rakan decided that he would show no mercy and he would outsmart all of those around him. He decided that his rise to power would be swift and soon he would dominate all the nations, and then his thoughts came back to Adriel. Rakan wasn’t fooled by Adriel’s old and fragile frame; he had seen first hand how skilled and powerful a sorcerer Adriel was. Adriel had felled Rakan and Rufus astonishingly quickly in Lansten. Years of dark magic had made Adriel so powerful but Rakan was not content to rise to power only to let Adriel take his reigns; so for now, he would play understudy to him “but not for long,” he told himself. Rakan had a destiny, he knew that in his own heart and mind but it was a destiny that
he
was going to shape.

The next day Amalah was awakening, those who had been awake early to prepare for the day ahead, were soon joined by others and once again in Amalah city the festivities began. Amara spent her time wandering throughout the city, meeting the people, experiencing the stalls and taking in the entertainment and in the later evening, she would attend the official ball.

Firstly, one of the nations would lay on their entertainments in the massive grounds of the palace; tonight it was the turn of Santeb, who would be showing their marital arts display. The martial arts on show were the beginning of Kali and Kung Fu, and the martial artists would show their amazing speed, skill and flexibility, and an ability to use any weapon.

That evening, the show was breathtaking and often drew gasps of breath from the crowd as they performed incredibly fast fights, stunts and bodily feats that seemed impossible. When the performance was finished it drew in thunderous applause and the fighters of Santeb bowed, and the people of Santeb who were in the audience looked on in pride at their contribution. Rakan looked on at the display in deep interest before he made his way away from the show.

‘Rakan are you not staying for the ball?’ a female voice called after him.

He turned and saw Ellora standing there.

‘Princess,’ he said genuinely pleased to see her. ‘How nice it is to see you’ he said walking back towards her.

‘Rakan,’ Ellora smiled warmly. ‘It’s good to see you too and please, you know me better than that, call me Ellora,’ she said holding out her hands. Rakan took her hands in his and kissed her on both cheeks.

‘Ellora, how have you been?’

‘I have been very well thank you, although I do wish I had more to do, a woman can only play princess for so long and then you need a purpose in life,’ she said mockingly, before she let out a small laugh and a smile.

‘I know exactly what you mean, not about playing princess,’ he said smiling and winking at her as they both laughed; ‘but I do understand about having a purpose in life.’

‘Rakan if anyone is going to have a calling in life it’s you,’ she said seriously.

‘Why do you say that Princess?’

‘Look at you, you can master anything you turn to, you did so well in Lansten and when you came back you joined the guard and you seemed to do it so effortlessly; you have a purpose I know that, you might not know what it is yet but it will find you and you will meet it.’

‘Princess I think you have found your calling.’

‘Dear Rakan, thank you,’ she said touching his cheek softly. ‘Have patience my dear friend and everything will come into place.’

‘Not in Amalah they won’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I asked to be on the council and your sister refused, and to make matters worse – I was rude to her, and I haven’t been able to apologise to her.’

‘Rakan why?’ Ellora said surprised.

‘I don’t know. I think I could sense that she was already going to say no and the more I tried, the more she dug her heels and in the more I lost patience.’

‘I am surprised, you, losing patience, I remember when you helped to teach me how to hunt and track. I remember the infinite patience you showed me, you had more time for me than I did for myself,’ she said recalling the old times.

‘I thought I was too but then I just felt passionate about it and then her refusal was making me more passionate.’

‘Rakan listen to me. Amara is my sister and I cannot, nor will I, go against her. I do not know why she refused you but perhaps I can ask her to grant you another audience and consider what you have achieved over the years and you can perhaps apologise to her and smooth things over and starting from the beginning, convince her otherwise.’

‘Ellora, sweet Ellora thank you but I...’

‘I know you couldn’t possibly ask me to do this on your behalf, I’m not -I’m doing it on mine – I want to help my friend. I won’t tell Amara you sent me because you didn’t.’