The Destiny of Amalah (58 page)

Rakan smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek.

‘Thank you dear princess, Kalon is a very lucky man and I hope he realises that.’

‘I think he does,’ she said smiling again.

‘Ellora I really must go, I have to find Waldon and Kenaz but I hope we will see each other again and soon. I shall be here throughout the celebrations perhaps dinner or a dance.’

‘I shall hold you to that Rakan.’

He bowed slightly and smiled again. ‘Princess,’ he said, before walking away from her.

Rakan went to find his friends, who were now spread throughout Amalah and when he found them, they agreed to meet in the northeast tower. Rakan wandered around the celebrations by himself, he ventured through the city streets; he kept himself to himself throughout his walk, only engaging in conversations when others started one with him and then he returned to the dark dank room where he had previously met Adriel and he sat on one of the crudely made benches and waited for his friends to arrive.

He stared outside of the square window and watched for a few hours as the dark shades of night broke away and he watched as the pink skies and the rising of the sun, gave birth to a new day. It was on the cusp of daylight either, when Waldon and Kenaz entered the room, interrupting Rakan’s thoughts.

Kenaz and Waldon continued to talk among themselves as Rakan continued to stare outwards while he collected his thoughts inwards; a few moments later the three men were joined by Rufus who made his way to the table where the other three men were sat and he sat with them.

‘I have an idea,’ Rakan began; ‘but we will not bring it to fruition unless we all agree.’

‘Then tell us,’ said Waldon.

Rakan nodded and then he laid out his plan for the celebrations and how to get his seat on the council.

‘I wish Salwar had never appeared in our lives,’ Waldon said flatly.

‘Then you are not in agreement?’ Rakan asked.

‘I wish he had never entered our lives,’ Waldon continued; ‘because he showed me the future without intervention. A future so dreadful, that I could not imagine future generations living it. A god approached us to warn us of the consequences. I know that we must stop at nothing to achieve our aims. I know that lives must be sacrificed and what
we
do – give up our lives, our families and friends and work in darkness – is necessary for the greater good. I am loath to carry out your plan Rakan but I will agree to it.

‘Good, because I have spoken with Adriel this very evening,’ Rakan said flatly.

‘What does he say?’ Waldon asked.

‘He expressed that Salwar is impatient with us – me in particular. He requires one of us to gain a seat on the council, as a matter of urgency, so that we may set his plan into motion. Salwar feels and Adriel undoubtedly agrees that the heart of our power will lie in Amalah and at the council table.’

‘I sense you disagree Rakan,’ Rufus said.

‘You sense correctly my brother, our power lies within us; Waldon and Kenaz you are the most powerful and skilled warriors the guard has seen for a very long time. Rufus, you – like I – are a powerful sorcerer; the pair of us have ample power.’

‘What about Adriel and Salwar’s power?’ Rufus asked.

‘I am in no doubt that they are powerful, but Adriel fears Salwar and Salwar – as powerful as he is –
needs us.
’

‘Be careful Rakan, we never know where Salwar is,’ Rufus warned.

‘I can assure you he is not here,’ Rakan replied. ‘On the rare occasions that I have seen him, I have sensed him first.’

‘Why are you telling us this?’ Kenaz asked curiously.

‘Are you planning to defy Salwar?’ Waldon asked.

‘No…’ Rakan began.

‘Really?’ Waldon asked with more askance. ‘Because to me, it sounds as though you are indulging your apparently insatiable quest for power!’

Rakan glared at Waldon. Since Waldon had seen the vision, he had become at times, a humourless zealot. Unlike Rakan, Waldon cared not for the power and position. Salwar’s aim was Waldon’s aim. Rakan wished Salwar had not shown him the future and he was glad he had not seen it. The here and now was all that mattered for Rakan.

‘My motives are irrelevant,’ Rakan said tersely. ‘It is the outcome that matters. I am telling you this because I think we should all be aware of the power we have individually and that as a group – we fear no one – and we need no one. Nothing is out of our grasp but for now, we can follow Salwar and Adriel and for now we should, we do not want to alienate them.’

‘Nor should we defy Salwar,’ Waldon said raising his voice. ‘We are fighting to save the future remember.’

‘I know,’ Rakan said testily.

‘You have set out your plan, who did you have in mind?’ Rufus asked, changing the subject.

‘I said by dispensing of two members of the council, one a warrior and one a sorcerer. I believe it should be Raynor and Häkan,’ Rakan answered. ‘By killing Raynor and making it appear that he died by Häkan’s hand.’

Rakan looked at his three friends slowly and carefully, he made eye contact with each one, keeping his expression blank and unreadable; waiting for one of them to speak.

‘Rakan no!’ Waldon objected. ‘Raynor has been a lifelong friend of your fathers and ours.’

‘I thought you would stop at nothing?’ Rakan asked.

‘I just did not expect it to be so close to home and so soon,’ said Waldon.

‘I know but Waldon, we cannot achieve our aim if we hesitate, or if we are reluctant or unwilling to what needs to be done. So I will ask you now, are you with us or not?’

‘You know I am,’ said Waldon.

‘It must be fore everything and anything – and to the end,’ Rakan warned.

‘This is beyond anything we have ever done Rakan,’ Rufus said.

‘Are you unwilling to go that far?’ Rakan asked.

‘I did not say that friend, I am simply making an observation; all of us have lied and deceived, killed animals and cajoled people and you and I have engaged in dark magic’s for our own end, but none of us have ever taken a human life before and I note that if we do, it will be a line that we have not yet crossed.’

‘I have crossed it,’ Rakan admitted. ‘How do you think Gaerwen’s demise occurred? But you are right Rufus it is a line, but to me the line is already a blur. What Salwar is asking of us will undoubtedly involve bloodshed – I can see no other way. I for one knew in my heart and in my mind that a time like this would come and I’m sure, that you all knew that sometime in the future, that this line would come too. Perhaps you wish it had come later but still – you knew it was inevitable.’

‘You killed Gaerwen?’ Rufus said in complete surprise.

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’ Kenaz asked.

‘Because she caught me using dark magic’s in the tower and I was not ready to be exposed.’

‘You never said,’ Rufus said slightly offended.

‘It was safer that way,’ Rakan replied. ‘If you do not want to go this far, say so now,’ Rakan said looking at the others.

‘I knew it was inevitable,’ Waldon said sadly, answering Rakan’s previous question.

‘As did I,’ Kenaz said.

‘I do not know if it is because the warrior within me possesses the desire to fight, or if it is simply who I am and it is because of what Salwar has shown us and how he has influenced us.’ Waldon continued. ‘But I did know this was inevitable.’

‘Do you care?’ Rakan asked.

‘Caring is not a luxury I can afford,’ said Waldon.

‘I too share the same thoughts as Waldon,’ said Kenaz.

‘I too knew this day would come,’ Rufus said. ‘But while I have no desire to kill, I will when necessary.’

‘I too have no desire for it,’ Rakan lied; ‘but I will do what needs to be done.’

‘Then we are agreed and ready?’ Kenaz said, half asking and half stating.

‘Yes, it is agreed,’ Rufus said.

Another day of the celebrations began in earnest: Michael, Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor attended to their duties and as requested by the Empress, listened for anything that might have brought them closer to finding out what had been affecting the people of Amalah and the eastern nations.

As night fell; Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz went about putting their plan into effect. Kenaz and Waldon spent a short time at Häkan’s side and unbeknown to Häkan; Kenaz skilfully picked his belt and removed his dagger while Waldon distracted him. The two officers left Häkan’s side and met Rakan among the crowded scenes of Amalah City; from there, they went their separate ways and mingled among the crowds, making them selves seen and heard by everyone.

When the time was right they all disappeared from sight and Rufus, who had began talking with Raynor

‘As a fellow sorcerer Raynor, can I confide in you?’ Rufus asked, with his head bowed. ‘I am deeply troubled and I know not what to do.’

Raynor looked at Rufus and nodded once; ‘of course,’ he replied.

‘I need your promise to not tell anyone; especially Garrick or Häkan.’

‘May I ask why?’

‘It involves Rakan and given that Garrick is his father and Häkan and Garrick are close friends…’

‘I am sure,’ Raynor began, trying to reassure Rufus.

‘No!’ Rufus said sharply. ‘They cannot know, not yet, not until – well at least one of you have seen,’ Rufus said, feigning panic.

‘Alright,’ Raynor said quickly. ‘You have my word.’

‘Thank you,’ Rufus said visibly relieved.

‘What is going on?’

‘Rakan, he is creating a secret order within the Guard. He claims to have seen a prophecy. One where humans become immortal.’ Raynor looked on in disbelief. ‘I swear to you now Raynor, what I speak of is true. He claims to converse with the gods.’

‘Surely not,’ and incredulous Rufus answered.

‘Tis true and his most trusted are meeting this very hour.’

‘Where?’

‘In a palace room; I can take you there, we can listen in and you will have proof to take to the Guard Commanders and the Empress. Please,’ Rufus implored. ‘They must be stopped.’

Raynor wanted to fetch Michael or Häkan but he did not want to scare Rufus away and they needed to know what was transpiring with Rakan and the guard, he reasoned to himself.

‘Very well,’ he said, nodding in agreement. ‘Lead the way.’

Rufus nodded, turned on his hell and Raynor followed.

Rufus led Raynor to follow Rufus back into the palace and into one of the many rooms and out onto the balcony of that room. It was on the east side of the palace; where nothing ever really happened and so, no one saw Rufus lead the unsuspecting Raynor to his fate. When they got there, Raynor was surprised to see Rakan standing on the balcony looking out.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Raynor asked, indignantly.

‘You wanted to know who or what is the root cause of what is going on,’ Rufus said in a mocking tone. ‘Oh dear, did I not mention that
I
am one of those most trusted?’

‘You!’ Raynor said, looking at Rakan and Rufus with disgust.

‘Yes,’ Rakan said simply; ‘and Rufus, and Waldon and Kenaz.’

‘Why?’

‘Destiny, power – and – a much better offer,’ Rakan informed Raynor. ‘Adriel…’

‘Adriel,’ Raynor spat with disgust and his heart sank as the men before him had confirmed Michael’s worst fears.

‘Yes Adriel,’ Rakan replied calmly.

‘He’s using you;’ Raynor said with disdain. ‘Can you not see that?’ he shouted. ‘He only wants you for his own ends.’

‘Perhaps, but we too have our own plans,’ Rakan said smoothly.

‘And you will fail,’ Raynor said defiantly. ‘Adriel tried these tactics before and he failed.’

‘That was then, things are different now,’ Rakan said flippantly; ‘we will succeed this time around, as soon as I get my seat on the council.’

‘Ha!’ Raynor snorted. ‘Are you mad? The Empress will never put you on the council Rakan. She suspects that you are at the root of all of this, so if your plan depends on that, then you surely will fail.’

‘I disagree,’ Rakan said calmly and coldly

‘Really, once I tell her what has transpired this day, you will never sit. Even if the Empress would let you in of her own volition – which she won’t – she cannot in any event, for the council is full and will be for years to come.’

‘Now that is where we disagree,’ Rakan said slowly. ‘You see, there are two seats available, or rather, there will be two seats available.’

‘Whose?’

‘Why yours Raynor,’ Rakan said, with a sadistic smile, as he pulled out Häkan’s dagger from inside of his cloak. ‘And – of course – Häkan’s,’ he continued, as he flashed the dagger of Häkan’s at him. ‘You see you will be dead and Häkan, Häkan will be in a dungeon somewhere at the bottom of the palace for killing you.

‘No!’ Raynor gasped in horror.

‘Oh yes.’

Raynor knew when he looked in Rakan’s eyes that Rakan was going to kill him. He knew there could be no reasoning or talking to him and he knew that there would be no mercy, so he attempted to flee. He lashed out, with magic at first, but he was no match for either Rakan or Rufus and they easily defended themselves, so he attempted to fight back physically.