The Destiny of Amalah (9 page)

Once again, Michael felt desolate and he felt like a lost child like he had so many years ago. Michael bit his lip, trying to hold onto the anguish that he felt at that moment and when he thought he had his feelings under control, he knocked on the bedroom door, not waiting for an answer before he went in.

A nursemaid rose from her chair that was located in the corner and Michael and gestured for her to remain seated, as he walked over to Kai’s bed.

‘Emperor,’ Michael said, his emotions immediately getting the better of him once again.

‘Kai,’ the emperor said, gently chastising Michael.

‘Kai,’ Kai corrected him.

‘Kai,’ Michael said nodding slowly.

‘Where is Elana?’

‘Häkan took her to Amara’s room. Garrick has gone in search of Amara and Ellora and he will take them to Elana. She will, they will…’

‘It’s ok; I think it is best that way.’

‘Kai, my lifelong friend, how it pains me to see you like this,’ Michael said emotionally.

‘Do not be pained Michael I had a good life,’ Kai said rather weakly. ‘I was truly blessed I was surrounded by good people. I had great friends. I loved, I was loved and I got see my children grow. I saw peacetime too, something that I had never dared to dream about in the war years. I could not have asked the gods for more.’

‘I owe you a great debt Kai. For being a father, a protector and a friend to me. The world also owes you a great debt.’

‘Michael, I do not have much time left now, you know it and I know it and so does Elana. Promise me that you will look after Elana, Amara and Ellora when I am gone. Guide Amara through the difficult days that lay ahead, I trust you with my family and my legacy, you are my trusted friend, confidante, and adviser and I thank you for being at my side for all of these years.’

‘It was my honour,’ Michael said, holding back the tears, his voice slightly choking. ‘I swore allegiance to you once and I swear to you now that I will carry my allegiance to your daughter Amara, now and when she becomes the Empress. I swear that I will guide and protect her always.’

‘Thank you my friend,’ Kai said, grasping Michael’s hand and squeezing it firmly. ‘Stay awhile Michael the others will be here shortly.’

A few minutes passed by and Garrick quietly entered the room. His face was drawn and tired and Michael knew that he had been present when Elana had told her children. Michael rose to his feet as Garrick approached. Kai was sleeping now and he only stirred when Garrick asked Michael about his condition.

‘I have seen better days my friend,’ said Kai as he opened his eyes. ‘Michael please leave us alone for a short while.’

‘Certainly,’ said Michael as he grasped Garrick’s forearm to comfort him, before leaving the two men. Garrick sat down on Kai’s bed and looked at his friend, even now; his weak frame still shocked him.

‘Can I get you anything?’ Garrick asked.

‘No, thank you. Do the children know?’

‘Yes,’ said Garrick.

‘How are they?’

‘Distraught. Amara is strong but she is still pained and Ellora is inconsolable. She was still crying when I left.’

‘They will need you in the coming months,’ said Kai. ‘You must be strong for them all; not just for Elana and my children but for the others.’

‘Look after my children Garrick.’

‘I will. I will protect them and lay down my life for them if need be,’ Garrick said vehemently. ‘This I promise, for I know you would do the same if our positions were reversed.’

‘Thank you Garrick,’ said Kai. ‘May I speak with Häkan now?’

‘Of course, I will fetch him.’

Garrick rose to his feet and went to fetch Häkan, who was waiting outside the door. A distraught Häkan walked slowly to Kai’s bed and bowed his head slightly. Kai smiled, no matter how informal things were, Häkan always made a gesture of respect before dispensing with formalities.

‘Häkan mighty warrior, my dearest friend and my protector. A thousand words cannot express how grateful I am to have been your friend.’

‘It was I, who was honoured, truly so.’

‘Elana will need you in the coming months, as will my children and our friends. The Guard will look to you and Garrick and I trust you both to continue to command them. Protect Amara like you have protected me and her mother dear friend.’

‘Without hesitation and to my dying day, my friend.’

Thaddeus, Raynor, Michael and Garrick joined Häkan and gathered around Kai’s bed; knowing that this would probably be the last time that they would all be together.

‘I am happy we all found peace and joy and I would not change a single second of my life, if it meant never crossing paths with any one of you. Peace is upon us now and it has been for a long while. But friends, you were all present when Adriel disappeared from our very eyes and evaded capture. I ask you therefore to be forever vigilant. Our children were born after the war and they know of it only through books and our teachings – but we remember, we remember the horrors that it brought, so my friends,
you
can never forget.’

‘You know I never will,’ Michael said gravely.

‘Protect Elana and the princesses, protect Amalah and everything that we have sworn to protect,’ Kai implored. ‘When Amara becomes Empress, guard her and above all – help her to keep the nations at peace.’

‘You have my word,’ said Garrick; ‘and as I promised, I will lay down my life if necessary.’

‘You have my solemn promise,’ said Thaddeus.

‘And mine,’ said Raynor.

‘Always,’ said Häkan.

‘For all time,’ said Michael, as he looked at the Emperor and then at his friends, who nodded in agreement.

‘Each of you I trust with my life and with your promises, I now know that I can leave the world a happy man.’

The five men swore their allegiance to the Emperor, Kai’s family and the nations, and they swore to carry their allegiance to the future Empress. When they had given their allegiance, the six men talked and reminisced for a while before each one rose in turn and left the Emperor to rest – each one of them not knowing if that would be the last time that they saw their Emperor and friend.

In the coming hours; Rakan, Kalon, Kenaz, Rufus and Waldon also spoke with the Emperor, they too were taken aback and distressed to see Kai so vulnerable and weak and after they had left his room they spent their time comforting Ellora, Amara and each other, as they knew that the death of the Emperor was soon approaching.

When Elana had told her children the news about their father, she returned to Kai’s side and refused to leave him. She smiled weakly when Ellora entered their room and Ellora kissed her mother on the cheek and then sat beside her father, kissing him on the cheek also.

‘Daddy,’ Ellora said, stroking her fathers face.

‘Ellora – my beautiful daughter, my baby, how I love you so.’

‘I love you too Daddy.’

‘My child, I do not have much time left but I wanted you to know how much I love you and how proud of you I am. Look after your mother and your sister – look after each other. Your sister now has much responsibility to bear and when you grow older – you must help her bear it.’

‘I will daddy.’

‘Good girl,’ Kai said, as he hugged his daughter tightly and kissed her before letting her go. ‘Go now Ellora, I must speak with your sister too.’

‘Yes Daddy, I love you,’ the young princess said as she climbed down off the bed and left her mother and father alone again.

Kai looked at Elana and reached out for her hand, she put her hand in his and they held onto each other, gazing at each other, as unspoken words passed between them.

‘Elana, you are everything to me; you gave me your love, yourself and two beautiful children. You made me feel like a man and an emperor, my love.’

‘Kai don’t leave me,’ she said beginning to cry.

‘This death is only physical; I will always be with you my love. Live here, look after our children and I will wait for you.’

‘Kai,’ Elana said, as the tears ran down her face.

‘I love you,’ he said as he pulled her closer towards him and she rested her head on his chest.

Elana was about to speak again but the bedroom door opened and Amara entered and went straight to her father’s bedside. Elana kissed her daughter and then rose gracefully to let Amara sit in her place, so that Kai could talk to his eldest daughter.

‘Amara, I do not have much time left in this world,’ the Emperor began. ‘We both know that. I love you and I am proud of you and I always will be. Look after your mother and your sister. I know you are young and this is a great burden for you to bear but you will bear it.

I have seen you grow over the last few years and turn into a beautiful, strong and intelligent young woman. If anyone can handle the days ahead you can my child. I want you to carry on learning and doing what you are doing, for when I am gone, the people will look to you for leadership and you
must
lead them. I know you can and you will, I also want you to make me another promise.’

‘Anything father.’

‘Promise me that you will keep the nations united, promise me that you will rule wisely and fairly, that you will temper justice with mercy and that you will listen to those around you but ultimately – you must listen to yourself to do what is right.’

‘But what if I am wrong father?’

‘As I have said to you before; do things with a good heart and learn to listen to your instincts; follow them and you will learn to trust yourself and you will not go far wrong dear child.’

‘I don’t know if I can.’

‘You can and you must,’ he said firmly; ‘and I trust that you will. Promise me this Amara.’

‘I promise father.’

‘Good, now remember, never forget…’ Kai began as he took a few deep breaths and took hold of his daughters hand and squeezed it; ‘…I love you,’ and then Kai’s eyes widened suddenly and he clutched his chest with his other hand.

‘DADDY!’ Amara screamed.

Elana rushed over to her husband who was still clutching onto his chest for dear life but when she reached him, his hear was no longer beating. Elana desperately put her ear to his chest and even though she knew that Kai had gone, she listened nonetheless, hoping beyond hope that somehow, he would come back to life.

Elana still held onto Kai even though she knew he was gone. She stared at him for the longest time as a thousand thoughts went through her head, none of which she could comprehend and so, she just remained there in silence looking at her husband as the tears began streaming down her face.

Daddy,’ Amara whispered as the tears began to fall from her face.

Amara turned and wondered where her sister had gone. She stood up to leave and find her sister to tell her about their father but as she opened her father’s door, she was caught off guard as she saw Ellora standing there with her hand on the door handle. Ellora stopped in her tracks as she saw her sisters’ ashen and distressed face and Ellora knew immediately that something had happened to her father. She looked at Amara, hoping it wasn’t so but Amara’s slow and unmistakable nod, confirmed her worst fears.

‘No,’ she cried. ‘No,’ she whispered as she stepped back, not wanting any of this terrible moment to be real. Amara rushed forward and enveloped her baby sister in her arms and Ellora cried for her father.

‘Come now Ellora,’ Amara said gently. ‘We must say goodbye to our father.’

Ellora, who was still crying and resting her head on her sister’s shoulder, nodded.

‘Alright,’ she said quietly, the tears still running down her face.

Amara led her sister into their parents’ room and Ellora ran to her mother, whose arms were open and once Ellora reached them, she began sobbing anew. Elana kissed her daughter’s head and tried to soothe her but Ellora was inconsolable. Eventually, Ellora let go of her mother and went to her father and held his hand and stroked his face.

‘Daddy,’ she whispered.

Elana and Ellora wept openly as they clung desperately to Kai. The two were beyond distraught and in that moment, Amara knew it was she who had to be the strong one. It was she who Ellora and her mother would turn to for solace and support and in that moment, for the first time, the Empress felt truly alone.

Amara sent the guard who had been stationed outside her father’s room, to call for: Michael, Häkan, Garrick, Thaddeus and Raynor and all five men arrived promptly. When they entered they room they remained by the door, waiting for news of their friend. Amara, who was comforting her sister and mother turned and nodded and then made her way to the five men.

‘Amara, what is it?’ Michael asked.

‘My father, he has…he’s gone,’ she said blankly.

It was Häkan who let out a short cry as the news was relayed to him. He had been strong for Elana and the children up to now but when the moment came, and he realised that his friend of twenty-four years was gone; it was his emotions that got the better of him.

The men had been expecting the news but when they received it, it still hit them hard and they struggled to keep their tears and anguish at bay, for the sake of Kai, his wife and children.