The Destiny of Amalah (97 page)

The guard held Parades for as long as they could; which was another night and another day. It gave those who were fleeing enough time to leave the beleaguered nation and get to Amalah so that they could make the last stand there. The major fought with his men and died with them and before the full moon were to appear over Parades; the last remaining guard were slain and Parades fell into the hands of the Azari and the dark army.

As the soldiers of Rakan’s army tended to the wounded once again, they prepared to settle in for the night. They secured the forests, organised food and drink, and made sleeping and guard arrangements. As the soldiers organised themselves with the help of the officers and sergeants: the Azari looked upon them and talked amongst themselves.

‘They served us well,’ Waldon said.

‘Indeed,’ agreed Rufus.

‘I know that Lansten is falling as we speak,’ said Rakan.

‘Most there were ready to join Cador and although Lansten is vast, only a minute proportion is inhabited by people – those that do not join, stand no chance.’

‘Then we are only left with Amalah,’ said Bryce.

‘When do we take it?’ Luxor asked.

‘Five nights and a day from now,’ Kenaz said.

‘Why wait?’ Luxor asked.

‘The soldiers have been fighting non–stop for days, give them time to rest and recover. They need to eat, sleep, drink and re-arm themselves,’ Kenaz answered.

‘Kenaz is right,’ said Waldon. ‘They cannot fight now – it would only lower morale and perhaps invite defeat, which we do not want, having come so far. Furthermore that is the time that we agreed with Cador.’

‘Very well,’ Rakan said. ‘In five nights and a day we take Amalah,’ he said looking around and waiting for an answer.

‘Agreed,’ said Waldon, Kenaz and Rufus simultaneously.

‘Agreed,’ said Luxor.

‘I too am in agreement,’ said Bryce.

‘Good,’ said Rakan. ‘Five nights and a day it is. That is all the time Amalah has left – I hope they are making the most of it,’ he said to the five men.

Chapter 31

The nation of Amalah and the people in it were the last hope. It was the place that was destined to make the final stand against the Azari and their dark army who had now spun the nations into darkness in such a short time. In the time that Rakan and the others had spent in Equer, Amalah had transformed itself, and was now unrecognisable to all who had lived there.

Garrick, Häkan and the guard had been busy in the last few months, they had set to work making the necessary changes so that they could defend their nation and hopefully – defeat their enemy. The palace was one of the first things to be changed; all of the towers were now guarded, all day every day and through the night. Each guard in the tower was armed with a bow and arrow and each guard carried a looking glass, which they would use often to survey the land for as far as they could see.

The roof was now reinforced and had barbed wire running throughout the perimeter and it too was guarded day and night. Any vulnerable windows or spaces were boarded up and guards patrolled the grounds at all times and now, there were two walls standing at least twenty feet high, built within feet of each other and they encircled the palace.

‘My home has become a prison,’ Amara said sadly to Michael one day.

‘I know Amara, but it is for your protection and the protection of all those who remain here,’ Michael said, trying to sooth her.

‘I know Michael,’ she said softly. ‘But still, it saddens me deeply.’

Michael took Amara in his arms and held her, she held onto him and rested her head on his chest.

‘The palace will not remain this way forever Amara, I promise, but it is our last defence. The council, the soldiers and guard, you and me – we all work and plan from here – it must remain heavily defended.’

‘I see that Michael – I do,’ she said looking up at him. ‘But this place, it has so many happy memories and was filled with so much love and laughter – but that has gone now.’

‘The love has not.’

‘Perhaps not, but the laughter certainly has. These are dark days Michael – truly dark days indeed. I know that to think of things such as how the palace has changed is truly selfish of me. Selfish, because I know terrible things have happened to so many good people and that terrible things are still happening and are going to happen – and yet – I think of this,’ she said unhappily; ‘at a time when I should be leading the nations and the people.’

‘You are leading the people. You have led them this far and they are right to still look to you.’

‘I am not so sure.’

‘I am, you have worked tirelessly and you have led and given people hope. You are not selfish to take a moment and mourn for the loss of the home that you have spent your whole life in, I know I certainly would.’

‘I love you Michael,’ Amara said passionately, as she held him tighter. ‘And I love you,’ he said, kissing the top of her head.

The palace was not the only thing to change in that time, the north of Amalah was evacuated of all civilians and they were placed south of the city. The north of Amalah was now deadly silent and the only people to walk through it were the guard. The once lively towns were now deserted and the houses and inns were now home to guards, weapons, supplies and defence posts.

That is how Joaquin found Amalah when he rode into it – deserted yet somehow possessing presence. By the time he had arrived in Amalah, he was exhausted, hungry and thirsty. He was stopped by the guard and after he explained to them what had taken place in Equer, some of them mounted their horses and rode with him all the way to Amalah City and to the palace.

When Joaquin arrived at the palace, he dismounted his horse and fell to the floor as his legs buckled from under him. He had become so weak on his journey, not stopping to eat or drink and although he was still conscious and could speak; his limbs would no longer support him. The guard quickly dismounted and rushed to his aid. One of the guards drew his water bottle from his belt and opened it before he helped Joaquin to drink. Joaquin gulped quickly and greedily as the water slid down his gullet and began instantly re-hydrating and revitalising him. When he had drunk all that he could drink, he pulled the bottle away from his lips and wiped his mouth before he turned to the guard and looked at them with real gratitude.

‘Thank you,’ Joaquin said nodding his head.

‘Think nothing of it,’ the guard said as he nodded slowly at Joaquin. ‘Do you think you can stand?’ the guard asked.

‘With some help,’ Joaquin replied.

The two guards helped Joaquin to his feet while the other three who had travelled with him entered the palace and went in search of the Empress and the guard commanders. The two guards helped Joaquin into the palace and led him to the Great Hall. One of them found a maid and arranged for food and drink to be brought to Joaquin; the maid nodded her head and left the three men alone.

A short time later, Amara entered the Great Hall and she introduced herself to the stranger, who was now eating and drinking that which the maid had brought him. As Amara introduced herself, Joaquin rose to his feet and as the introduction took place, Garrick and Häkan entered the room. Amara explained who they were and in that moment, Joaquin blurted out that they were under attack in Equer; Garrick, Häkan and Amara looked at each other and then at Joaquin.

‘Tell us,’ Amara said.

‘It was night time and many people were in their caves, some were still awake but many were asleep. The soldiers had been living in the caves for many months now and there had not been any trouble from them whatsoever – the opposite in fact. But this night, this night was different. At first there was a lot of noise, much cheering but we thought nothing of it. We just thought that they would be leaving in the morning.’

‘Why did you think they would be leaving?’ Garrick asked.

‘Because many of their soldiers had left before and on the eve of their departure, there was much cheering; like the cheering we were hearing on that night.’

‘Do you know where they went?’ Häkan asked.

‘No. I only know that they were heading north.’

‘North – are you sure?’ Häkan asked.

‘Yes I am. They marched north that day and I wondered why,’ Joaquin said. ‘There is only snow and ice in the north of Equer, well as far north as they were going anyway. I also remember some of the soldiers who had left to go north – I remember so well.’

‘When did they leave?’ Häkan asked.

‘Weeks ago now,’ Joaquin replied. ‘Even months, it was quite a while ago.’

‘Joaquin…’ Amara said interrupting him. ‘I think that there are other people in the palace who should here what you have to say,’ Amara told him. ‘Would you please wait while we fetch them and then we shall reconvene,’ she said.

‘I will wait,’ he told her and then a thought crossed his mind. ‘I noticed Amalah was deserted with the exception of the presence of the guard. I take it Equer was not the only nation to come under attack?’ he asked. ‘No – it was not,’ Amara replied evenly.

‘Where else?’ he asked.

‘First Santeb and then Aradene,’ Amara began; ‘next was Mantor, Filine, Basimine and now Equer.’

‘All of those,’ Joaquin said incredulously.

‘Yes.’ Amara replied grimly.

‘So you knew Equer would be next,’ Joaquin said, as the realisation dawned on him.

‘Yes,’ Amara said slowly as she held his gaze. She could see the anger alight in his eyes.

‘We knew.’

‘Yet you did nothing,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘You knew and you did nothing?’

‘There was nothing we could do,’ Häkan said. ‘Equer was snowed in for months – inaccessible to us.’

‘What about the nations?’ Joaquin said, in an accusing tone.

‘We were cut off from them,’ Garrick replied.

‘Equer has fallen,’ Joaquin said bitterly. ‘All that remains is Parades and Lansten. Will you do nothing until Amalah is attacked?’

‘No, there are guards in Parades. We will be ready for them when they leave Equer.’

‘There will be people entering Amalah very soon,’ Joaquin said. ‘They fled to Parades mostly and some fled to Basimine but they will undoubtedly make their way here – those that survived anyway. Maddox!’ Joaquin said suddenly. ‘Oh dear god no, Maddox,’ he said again.

‘Who is Maddox?’ Garrick asked.

‘Maddox was like a father to me,’ Joaquin answered in a distant tone. ‘But he was even more of a father to…’ he said, before he stopped himself. ‘There are six young friends; they were travelling through the nations. They were Seth, Zach and…’

‘They are all here,’ Amara said hoping that she was reassuring the young man who stood before her.

‘Thank the gods,’ he said emotionally. ‘Maddox was like a father to Seth,’ said Joaquin.

‘Was?’ Häkan asked.

‘Was!’ Joaquin replied, before he bowed his head and remained silent. ‘I must speak with Seth,’ Joaquin said solemnly.

‘We will bring Seth here,’ Amara said. ‘Please Joaquin, wait here and we shall return shortly.’

Amara looked at Häkan and Garrick and they stared back at her; their faces said everything that needed to be said and they looked at Joaquin and left the Great Hall. The two guards remained with Joaquin as the other three went about getting everyone to the meeting. They called on the guards and maids and got them to help find: Ellora, Michael, all of the council members, the six friends, Callan Knight, Hassan and Hemi. It took less than twenty minutes for them all to be gathered in the Empresses study and when they were, the Empress addressed them.

‘There is yet more disturbing news, this time it involves Equer. Please sit down and I will return shortly, Seth,’ Amara said, looking through the people until she saw him. ‘Please will you come with me?’ Amara said. ‘Yes of course. What is it?’ Seth asked.

‘I shall explain,’ Amara said gently.

She walked towards him and took hold of his arm gently and the two of them made their way out of the room. As soon as they had left the room, Seth looked at Amara intensely before he spoke.

‘It’s Maddox,’ he said simply. ‘Is he alive?’ Seth asked, deeply worried. Amara did not reply, she looked at him sympathetically but did not reply. ‘Tell me,’ he said desperately.

‘Seth, I…’ she said hesitating.

‘Please tell me,’ he said emotionally. ‘Is Maddox alive?’

‘No, he is not,’ she said slowly and softly. ‘I am so sorry Seth,’ Amara said, genuinely sorry for the young man.

‘I knew, I just knew,’ he said tearfully and in a choked voice. ‘I knew when you mentioned Equer and told me to come with you that something had happened to Maddox.’

‘I know he meant a lot to you.’

‘He meant the world to me. When my parents died, Maddox took me into his home and raised me as his own son; he was a father to me. He loved me dearly – I know it and I…I loved him so dearly too,’ Seth said as his voice continued to crack with emotion and the tears ran down his face.

‘I am so sorry Seth,’ Amara said once again. ‘Truly I am and, if there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to call on me,’ she told him as she held into his arm.