The Destiny of Amalah (78 page)

Amara urgently patted her sister and felt that she was still warm and breathing. She rested her head on her sister for a moment and then lifted it back up. Michael was at her side and he lifted the bloodstained princess off the horse and carried her in his arms. Both Michael and Amara were horrified to see that Ellora’s clothes were covered in blood.

‘Michael!’ Amara screamed.

‘It’s not hers,’ the guardsmen answered. ‘She is unhurt, Kalon…Kalon was not so lucky,’ the guardsman said to Amara and Michael.

The two of them turned to look where Garrick was and saw him crying over his son.

‘Oh no,’ said Amara, who went from being happy that her sister was alive, to crestfallen at the news of Kalon.

‘Kalon,’ Michael said sadly. ‘Oh no, please no,’ he cried as he looked down on Garrick’s slain son.

Michael handed Ellora to the guardsman and he ran to Garrick’s side, followed by Amara; the two of them tried to console him but he was inconsolable and so they stayed by his side for a while. Michael looked at Kalon and he felt an indescribable pain that ran deep, Kalon had been like a son to him and seeing his lifeless body before him, saddened him more than he could ever have imagined possible.

Thaddeus came out of the palace doors, he too was devastated by the horrific sight before him. He went to Garrick’s side and tried to comfort him but like many in those situations, there were no words in that moment and he did the only thing he could do; he placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder to let him know he was at his side.

‘Thaddeus, please, fetch four of the guard and a stretcher,’ Michael said.

Thaddeus nodded and went to find four guards. They were back in minutes and Michael spoke again.

‘Garrick please, let me help you. You have to come with me now,’ Michael said gently.

‘I don’t want to leave him,’ shouted Garrick, through his cries.

‘Garrick – you must,’ said Michael. ‘We will take care of Kalon.’

‘I will stay by his side until you ask me not to,’ Thaddeus said solemnly.

Garrick turned to look at Thaddeus, he stared wild eyed and then nodded slowly before he turned back to his son.

‘Here, let me help you,’ Michael said again.

He gently lifted Kalon from Garrick and placed him gently on the ground and then he took hold of Garrick and helped him to his feet. When Garrick rose and was on his feet, he looked down at his son and as he stared downwards, his heartbreak and pain intensified.

‘Come with me,’ Michael said softly, as he led his friend to the palace door.

‘I shall stay with him,’ Thaddeus said solemnly. ‘I promise I will stay with him.’

Michael led Garrick to the palace doors and then he stopped and looked at Amara.

‘Amara please, the guard will take Ellora to her room, will you follow her there and wait with her?’

‘Of course,’ replied Amara.

The guardsman led Amara and carried Ellora inside, while Michael helped Garrick. Garrick took one last look at his son and watched, as Thaddeus sat with him. He turned back and let Michael lead him; he stepped up the wide step and his legs buckled beneath him but Michael had a firm hold of him and helped him to stand upright, before he tried to help him inside again.

As the guard stepped inside the palace, Rakan’s spell wore off and Ellora awoke and when she opened her eyes, Amara and the guard who was carrying her, stood still. She opened her eyes quickly and was startled to find that a guardsman was carrying her and that she was in the palace, and for a few seconds, she was confused; she looked around and saw Amara.

‘Amara, what…’ and then she saw the blood on her dress and then Garrick and it all came flooding back. ‘Kalon,’ she screamed. ‘Kalon, Kalon,’ she shouted. ‘Let me go,’ she ordered the guard, who put her down on the floor. She ran to Garrick and Michael and looked at them. ‘Oh Garrick!’ she said, crying as the memory of what happened came flooding back.

Garrick used his free hand and hugged Ellora and she hugged him back as she began to sob on his chest.

‘He’s gone, he’s really gone,’ she said, wailing so hard that it was heart wrenching for all of those who watched.

Garrick pulled back slightly and he bent his head to look at Ellora and when she looked back he spoke.

‘What happened to my son Ellora?’ Garrick asked, unable to hold back his tears.

‘He died by Rakan’s hand and his sword,’ she said slowly. ‘They fought and Rakan he ... he…’ And then she began to cry all over again.

‘Rakan!’ Garrick said aghast. ‘My son died at the hands of my...’ and then his legs buckled again as the shock and horror of learning that one son had killed another. Michael grabbed hold of Garrick before he hit the ground and helped him back up again.

‘Come Garrick; let me take you away from here. Ellora go with your sister please. Let her help you,’ Michael said to her.

Michael took Garrick to his room and Amara and the guard took Ellora to hers. Michael tried to comfort Garrick but it was to no avail, Garrick simply lay on his bed and cried for his son and upstairs in the palace, when Amara tried to comfort her sister, it was to no avail either and Ellora lay on her bed and cried for Kalon; her lover, her love and her soul mate and Michael and Amara could only watch as the two who loved him most wept uncontrollably.

The two stayed with them until they fell asleep and then they left the room and checked on them every so often. Thaddeus had stayed with Kalon throughout, he was there when the guard picked him up and carried him to his room and he was there when the maids came and cleaned him up, dressed him and combed his hair. When they had finished, the guard came and carried him to the chapel in the palace and laid him there and Thaddeus sat with Kalon, lost in his own thoughts and his own pain.

Thaddeus looked at the young man who he had known all of his life and he thought of how cruel the world could for be taking one so young and who was so full of love and life, and one who was a good man in all ways.

‘Rest easy Kalon,’ Thaddeus said gently. ‘You will be missed my young friend,’ he said, as he patted him on the chest and sat besides him.

Hours had passed when Garrick and Ellora finally awoke and when they did, everything came flooding back to them and with their memories came fresh tears. Amara and Michael were back by their side when they awoke and they both sat on the bed to comfort the other.

Garrick and Ellora wanted to be with Kalon and Amara and Michael did as they requested and took them to the Chapel where he was resting. They met in the hallway leading to the chapel and Ellora ran to Garrick, who opened his arms and hugged Ellora. He let go and took hold of her hand and the two of them walked to the chapel hand in hand; holding onto each other and united in their grief.

They walked into the chapel and saw Kalon lying on the stone plinth, still and silent and no longer with them. They let go of each others hands and walked towards him and Thaddeus came towards them.

‘Garrick…’ Thaddeus began but his voice cracked with emotion and he could say no more.

‘No need for words Thaddeus my friend,’ Garrick replied. ‘Thank you for staying with him.’

‘It was my honour,’ Thaddeus said, as he leaned forward and hugged his friend.

Garrick hugged him back and then Thaddeus hugged Ellora and left them alone. Thaddeus walked out of the chapel and stood with Amara and Michael at the entrance.

‘Should we join them?’ Amara asked.

‘No I don’t think so,’ replied Michael. ‘I think they need to be with Kalon and each other.’

Ellora and Garrick stood either side of Kalon’s body and looked at each other and then at him. Garrick placed his hand on Kalon’s forehead and was surprised at how cold and smooth it was. He stroked his forehead and then his hair and looked at his son’s face, whose expression was peaceful and that gave Garrick some peace. Ellora held onto Kalon’s arm and placed one hand on his chest and looked at him. Seeing him like this was killing her, yet she could not bring herself to leave him and so she remained; holding onto him, willing and wishing for him to come back to her and then in those moments, she knew how her mother had felt when she had lost her father.

The two of them remained with Kalon for hours, they sat by his side staring at him and each other and at space and then they both rose and left Kalon to rest alone in the chapel. Ellora ran to her room and stayed there and Garrick – well Garrick roamed the palace until day break; he could not return home and he could not return to his room and so he paced and paced until daybreak and when he could not pace anymore he returned to his room where he lay on the bed and fell asleep. The sleep blotted out the anguish that consumed him, but when he awoke a few hours later the anguish returned.

Those following days and nights were dark days indeed for Garrick and Ellora, and for everyone who was trying to stop Rakan and his army.

***

By now Häkan and the guard were in Basimine and they marched towards war. Häkan was accompanied by: Callan Knight, Zach and the sorcerers who had agreed to come and fight. They marched and rode for two days on end and still there was still no sign of Rakan and his army.

Rakan and his five friends had no intention of making their last stand in Basimine and so they remained in the west, away from and out of sight of Häkan and the guard.

‘Why don’t we face them?’ Cador of the Hittites, asked Rakan and the other five.

‘Because there is a time for everything Cador,’ Luxor replied.

‘Indeed,’ said Rakan. ‘Basimine is sparsely populated and has much land, but it has much cattle and animal life, so we can get everything we need.’

‘A mass hunt,’ said Kenaz.

‘So every single soldier, will be fed and clothed, and have enough raw materials to make their weapons of choice.’

‘We need time to do all that,’ Cador said. ‘And the guard of Amalah are approaching fast.’

‘Yes they are,’ said Rakan, clearly unperturbed. ‘But we will make our way into Equer and stay north for the winter,’ Rakan smiled.

‘Equer?’ Cador said shocked. ‘That is nothing but snow and ice and uninhabitable for people and the further north you go, the more uninhabitable it becomes.’

‘For them maybe, but not for us.’

‘But how?’

‘It will be done Cador.’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Cador,’ Rakan began; ‘you were leader of the Hittites and when you joined us you relinquished your power and your leadership – why?’

‘I saw you, Waldon, Kenaz and Rufus. I see your strengths and I see that you were destined for more; you were meant to lead and in any event, no good could come from a factioned army.

‘How very astute.’

‘I observe carefully when I can.’

‘I want you to take back that leadership. Not just of the Hittites but of the whole army. I Waldon, Kenaz, Luxor, Rufus and Bryce are the only people you will ever answer to and we will always speak as one. The army will answer to you. You lead them and teach them and with the help of the officers, turn them into the fiercest army ever known – the role is yours if you want it.’

‘And if I don’t?’

Rakan remained silent and looked at Cador and raised his eyebrows.

‘Why would you not?’

‘I would, if I was sure that this role was a real option and that there would be no pitfalls I would suffer were I to refuse.’

‘The only fall you would suffer would be if we were defeated. It would be the downfall of us all and one we would have to accept and yes; you do have a real option.’

‘Then I will take it.’

‘Good,’ said Rakan.

Rakan gathered his army and named Cador as their second in command and gave him the rank of General and then Cador stepped forward and after a few words he organised the army that was now ten thousand strong. He set about organising ranks of officers that were on par with the guard, and then he gave the other soldiers who he saw fit to lead their respective ranks.

Now the army had structure; those at the bottom were soldiers, then came; first corporal, corporal, sergeant and sergeant-major, as were the ranks of the guard. Now there were to be two thousand to stand against the guard of Amalah, six thousand to march ahead to Equer and one thousand to hunt food and the remainder were to gather metal and wood and take it to Equer.

The army wasted no time when they were dismissed, two thousand strong marched east with Waldon and Kenaz to face the guard of Amalah. Bryce took the six thousand to Equer; Rufus took his men to get the materials for weapons and Rakan and Cador stayed behind to organise the hunt.

Those on the hunt divided themselves into groups, the group with Rakan tracked a herd of cattle and then, while on their horses – they forced them westwards. They drove the cattle on and on and gave them no room to run until they created a stampede; the cattle ran so fast and so blindly that they did not see or sense the edge of the cliff that Rakan and the others had driven them to and they carried on running, until they ran off it and plummeted to their deaths.

The cattle fell en-masse and landed with heavy thunderous thuds on the ground and when all the cattle had gone over the cliff, Cador wasted no time in organising the men. The cattle were taken away from the drop point, skinned and then broken down into meat pieces before they were wrapped and stacked on the waiting horses. When ten horses were fully loaded, they were taken to Equer and unloaded, where they were to be packed in ice and then Rufus returned the horses to Basimine using his magic.