The Destiny of Amalah (51 page)

‘What did Rakan say to you?’

‘When?’

‘The night you were in the dorm.’

‘I didn’t see him.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes I’m sure, I stayed in the dorm all night and I never saw anyone until much, much later when they were finishing duty.’

‘I must be mistaken,’ Kalon said thoughtfully. ‘So you never saw a soul before then?’

‘No Kalon.’

‘My mistake,’ Kalon said again.

The two men continued to chat and when they had talked about the morning’s duties; they went back to their more general chat before they parted company.

Kalon went in search of Ellora and the two of them spent the night in each others company; talking, laughing and making love until Ellora fell asleep in Kalon’s arms. Kalon lay awake watching over Ellora, but then his thoughts drifted to his conversation with Drew Taylor and he thought of Rakan. “Someone is mistaken,” he thought to himself.

He had known Rakan all his life and known that Rakan was an honest man but so was Drew. Drew was an honest man, in fact Lieutenant Taylor had owned up to things that he would never have been caught for and so his coming clean showed just how honest he was. Kalon felt perplexed and a little treacherous for doubting his brother’s words and so he resolved to speak with Rakan in the morning. He slid down into the bed and moved closer to Ellora, he held on to her tightly, and then he kissed her shoulder before he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

In the morning Kalon went in search of Rakan and when he found him; they talked for a while before Kalon brought up the subject of Rakan’s whereabouts on the night of Gaerwen’s death.

‘Brother I am troubled by something I heard the other night; I do not mean to doubt you but I am troubled nonetheless, so please, could you tell me where you were on the night of Gaerwen’s demise?’ Kalon said frankly.

‘Brother?’ Rakan said surprised.

‘I know that this is unexpected but please, it is important.’

‘Very well, after the days work I had supper and then I walked from the south building to the north building via the east and north east tower. From there I went to Lancey’s barrack but he was not there, so I returned the same way I came and then went home.’

‘Did you see anyone in Lancey’s barrack?’

‘No.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, it was empty.’

‘I am confused brother, Lieutenant Taylor says he remained in the barrack all night and never saw a soul until the guard finished shift and came back to their beds.’

‘He is wrong or confused, trust me brother, when I went to the barrack there was no one in sight.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I am positive.’

‘Very well,’ Kalon said. ‘I am sorry to question you brother but I had to know, it was on my mind.’

‘Do not apologise Kalon; firstly you are my brother and you can ask me anything, secondly, you are right to question me if you are troubled; you are a member of the Empresses’ guard and you are also a good man – if something troubles you, you should seek the answer.’

‘Thank you brother,’ Kalon said, looking at Rakan with relief.

‘Not at all.’

The two men entered the palace and when they were inside the corridor they went their separate ways. Kalon went in search of Garrick and Rakan went in search of Taylor.

‘Perhaps I can change Taylor’s mind with a little magic,’ Rakan said aloud, as he laughed to himself.

Chapter 21

Since Adriel had left the school in Lansten, he had been far from idle. He had travelled the nations living in communities, where he took pleasure in stirring discord and discontent among the people. Once close-knit communities became factious and hostile.

When Adriel really wanted to stir things up he would transmogrify into someone, knowing they were in the company of family and friends. Once had assumed their identity, he would then teleport to another village nearby. Once there, he would publicly commit an assault, or publicly insult someone in front of the village people. When the inevitable confrontation came, the unsuspecting person would vehemently deny the accusations and stand supported, but the pleas of innocence and denials, would further anger the hostile crowd.

On he went, from one town and village to another; he didn’t create all out war, it was not time yet, he simply started the simmering and when he was satisfied that his work was done, he would move on – for Lansten was not the only place where he had work to do.

***

The gods and I can see everything – well almost everything. When you are looking down from on high you get a better picture; but when you are a part of everything you only get a limited view. You don’t always notice things until they are upon you – just as it was in Amalah.

Now though, some two years after Rakan’s and Rufus’ return the people of the City began to notice, small things at first; things that niggled and nagged and then there were things that they felt were not quite right but they weren’t wrong either.

Now at this time, the six friends were fully fledged adults: Amara, Rakan, Rufus, Waldon and Kenaz were now twenty five years old and Kalon and Ellora were twenty two and they were all following the paths that they had wanted to follow.

On the surface everything was fine, but let me tell you – they were not. Since Gaerwen had died, Rakan and Rufus endeavoured to corrupt Waldon and Kenaz.

Kenaz had lost his father in a tragic riding accident and his mother, had lost her mind before she passed on. The loss had devastated Kenaz and he struggled with his grief for a number of months. Kenaz’ friends had rallied around him for support but Rakan took the opportunity to begin turning his friends over to his side.

‘Can you imagine a world where loved ones never die?’ Rakan asked Waldon and Kenaz, as the four of them were sat in the northeast tower.

‘I wish for that world,’ Kenaz said vehemently.

‘A world there is no pain and no grief.’

‘Wishful thinking,’ said Waldon; ‘but our world is not so,’ he finished.

‘What if we could make it so?’ Rakan asked. Waldon and Kenaz looked at each other, clearly puzzled by Rakan’s words. They looked at Rufus, who stared at them and nodded once. ‘What if I told you that there was a higher power and that power wanted to make our world that way?’

‘Then I would say you had selected the wrong mushrooms on your field trip,’ Waldon said, laughing slightly.

Kenaz also laughed but Rakan shook his head and stared at them, he was unimpressed by Waldon’s joke and he stared at them with his intense blue eyes.

‘I’m serious,’ Rakan said, raising his voice. ‘We could live in a world where we would be immortal. Our loved ones would be immortal.’

‘What you speak of is the power of a god,’ Waldon said warily.

‘I know,’ Rakan replied, holding Waldon’s gaze. ‘Rufus also knows.’

Waldon and Kenaz looked at Rufus and he nodded once more: ‘It is true what Rakan speaks of,’ Rufus told them. ‘I have witnessed it too.’

‘Speak!’ Waldon said simply.

‘It may involve a war,’ Rakan began; ‘one right here in Amalah,’ he finished.

‘Then tell me no more,’ said Waldon. ‘We are at peace now and I would like it to stay that way.’

‘What about immortality?’ Kenaz asked Waldon. ‘No pain and no grief. A world where our parents…’ he trailed off.

‘If a god deemed fit to make us immortal, they would have done so,’ said Waldon, eyeing Rakan and Rufus with askance. ‘Why would a god approach two mortal beings and ask them to create a world in such a way, when they have the power to make the world?’

‘There is more than one god,’ Rakan said simply; ‘and they are not all in agreement.’

‘And you wish to take on the gods’ do you?’ Waldon asked, incredulously. ‘I know you like danger Rakan but this time, you have surpassed the wildest thing I could have ever imagined. I will hear no more of this,’ Waldon said, as he stood up to leave.

‘Then grant me one favour,’ Rakan requested.

‘What may that be?’

‘Say nothing of what we have spoken about.’

‘Then do nothing of what we have spoken about,’ Waldon warned.

The three men watched after Waldon as he left and they sat silently for a while.

‘I do not think we will convince Waldon,’ a pessimistic Rufus said.

‘He just needs time,’ Rakan told his friend.

‘You have not yet convinced me,’ Kenaz told them.

‘But I thought you were with us?’ said Rufus.

‘I am intrigued – yes,’ said Kenaz; ‘and I am willing to listen to what you have to say but still – I will need convincing,’ he said, as he stood up to leave. ‘You have my word, that I will not divulge what was said here today.’

‘Thank you,’ Rakan replied.

‘What now?’ Rufus asked when only he and Rakan remained in the room.

‘Give them time,’ Rakan said calmly. ‘They will come around.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘I know Kenaz is tempted and Waldon, well, we will just have to convince him.’

Rakan and Rufus were relentless in turning their friends. They employed the same tactics as Adriel had done with them; telling half truths and using their strengths against them and playing on their friendships and to their strongest desires, so they were blinded but still, they were not completely sold.

‘When you climbed Qomo, the odds seemed insurmountable, did they not?’ Rakan asked his friends one evening.

‘This is true,’ Waldon agreed.

‘Yet we did it,’ Rakan said passionately. ‘
We
did the impossible.’

‘But this…Rakan, what you ask of us…’ Waldon began, bowing his head and shaking it.

‘I ask you to do the impossible,’ Rakan said. ‘You are both warriors are you not?’

‘Yes,’ Kenaz answered.

‘That is your purpose in life; you know that to be true, do you not?’

‘Yes,’ Waldon said, nodding his head in agreement.

‘Then why would the world create great warriors like you, if there was never going to be a war; if you were never going to fight? Answer me this?’ Waldon and Kenaz looked at each other and then back at Rakan. ‘You will be fighting for the world,’ Rakan said passionately. ‘You will fight for a higher power and for a world where there will be no pain and no grief,’ said Rakan, as he turned to Kenaz. ‘I know you both want that.’

‘But Rakan, what you speak of, it sounds so…’ Kenaz said.

‘Impossible?’ Rakan cut in.

‘Yes,’ Kenaz answered, nodding his head in recognition of Rakan’s point.

‘So did Qomo,’ Rakan countered; ‘and look what happened there.’

‘And if we fail, all of our actions will stand for all time?’ Waldon enquired.

‘Yes,’ Rakan said. ‘But we will not fail.’

‘I don’t know,’ Waldon said, clearly disturbed by what Rakan was saying. ‘I promised to protect the Empress and the nations and all that they stand for – we all did! Now you, my lifelong friends, tell me I should tear asunder, everything I hold dear. And for what – a chance at something that we perhaps were not destined to have in any event? I cannot believe that that is my destiny.’

‘Then believe what you see in the future,’ Salwar said, as he appeared from thin air.

‘My Lord!’ Rakan and Rufus said in surprise as they instantly dropped to their knees.

Waldon and Kenaz gaped at the colourless giant entity that stood before them and Salwar smiled at their stunned faces.

‘What are you?’ Waldon asked in a hushed tone.

‘I am what Rakan has told you to be,’ Salwar said softly, as he lay a hand on Waldon’s shoulder. ‘I know you’re afraid of what Rakan speaks – rightly so! What mortal would want to get involved in a – shall we say – dispute between the gods? None I would wager,’ Salwar said, answering Waldon’s question. ‘But, this is your fight too,’ he lied. ‘Let me show you what your fate – the fate of humanity will be if you are not made immortal. Let me show your the world as it will be if pain and suffering are allowed to go on,’ Salwar said, looking at Waldon and Kenaz.

Waldon and Kenaz instinctively stepped back from Salwar as he went to touch them, afraid of being touched by a being that they knew was not of their world.

‘It’s alright,’ Salwar said nodding to reassure them. ‘I just ask that you see what I see before you decide,’ he said holding out his hands. ‘Let me show you what is to come in your world, if you are not made immortal and if you are made to suffer and grieve,’ Salwar lied

Waldon stepped forward slowly, as did Kenaz and Salwar placed a hand on Waldon and Kenaz’ head.

‘Relax,’ he told them. ‘Clear your mind,’ he commanded. ‘That’s good, now, let go,’ he said softly, as he sent the first image of the future world to their minds.

The first image was a woman screaming for her lost child, her anguish was felt by Waldon and Kenaz but Salwar held them fast as they tried to pull away from him.

‘Don’t fight me,’ he said firmly.

Then, the images came, one after another, seamless in their minds; grief, pain and despair and Kenaz and Waldon felt it all. Then the images went by faster and faster; Salwar showed grief turn to anger and anger to vengeance. He showed a future of murders’, crucifixions’ and executions’. Waldon and Kenaz desperately wanted to pull away but Salwar still held them firm. He then showed them wars: the crusades, the two world wars and all the other wars before that.