The Destiny of Amalah (24 page)

‘Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggghhhhh.’

His arms and legs flailed about in the air and it took him a few seconds to realise that he was already on the ground; he wondered why he was not in pain and why he had not hit the ground with a bone crunching thud and then he looked up to see his four friends staring at him, all of them highly amused by his screams and flailing body.

‘What happened?’ he asked urgently and then when he had taken in his surroundings and realised he was not by the tree, or even in the forest, or in the vicinity of the tree – he spoke again. ‘Where am I?’ he asked, extremely dazed and confused.

‘At the palace,’ Rakan said softly.

‘How did I get here?’ he said, in surprise and with a tone of disbelief. ‘One minute I was falling out of the tree I was playing in and the next, I’m on the floor in the palace.’

‘I froze you,’ Rufus said in a matter of fact tone.

‘You froze me?’ he said, repeating what Rufus had said.

‘Yes, I froze you.’

‘Unfortunately,’ Waldon began; ‘it took him a while to figure out how to unfreeze you.’

‘How long is a while?’ Kenaz asked cautiously.

‘Four days.’

‘Four days!’ Kenaz shouted. ‘Four days,’ he said again in complete and utter surprise and disbelief.

‘Yes four days,’ Rakan said calmly. ‘We tried everything to unfreeze you but nothing worked until now.’

‘Thanks to Ellora,’ Kalon piped up.

‘Yes, thanks to Ellora,’ Waldon said.

‘And Rufus – he did unfreeze you after all,’ Rakan said.

‘Four days!
Really?
Has it really been that long?’ Kenaz asked again with tones of disbelief and bewilderment in his voice.

‘Yes it really has been four days,’ Waldon said to his friend. ‘Were you aware of anything?’

‘No,’ Kenaz said scratching his head. ‘One moment I was falling out of a tree screaming and the next, I was lying on the floor in the palace screaming.’

‘How do you feel?’ Ellora asked.

‘Scared, confused, amazed – glad I didn’t hit the floor.’

‘As are we,’ Rakan said smiling. ‘Waldon will you run and tell my father that Kenaz is no longer frozen.’

‘Of course,’ Waldon said, dashing out of the room at great speed.

‘I also feel very cramped and very stiff,’ Kenaz said, grimacing after he had tried to move his legs and then his arms.

‘I am not surprised,’ Rakan said. ‘You have been in that position for four days, even though you were not aware of it.’

‘I’m glad you are back Kenaz,’ Kalon said sweetly.

‘As am I Kalon,’ Kenaz said grinning at his young friend.

‘As am I,’ Ellora said weakly.

All three boys turned to look at Ellora, something in her voice did not seem quite right to them and they turned to her out of concern and alarm.

‘Ellora, are you alright?’ Kalon asked.

‘I feel a bit weak that’s all,’ she said quietly.

‘Come and sit down,’ Rakan said as he took hold of her arm and led her towards a settee in the study.

Rakan sat her down and then sat down beside her; Kalon followed and sat down next to Ellora on her other side. Kenaz looked on with concern, he would have gone to her but he was still unable to move very well so he remained on the floor.

‘Princess can I get you anything?’ Rakan asked.

‘No, thank you, I think I just need to rest for a while, it was a lot to feel what everyone else was feeling and channel it to Rufus. I’ve done this before with Amara but this time there were so many of you.’

‘I will go and find a healer for Kenaz and when he comes, he can look at you too,’ Kalon said standing up and looking to his brother for approval. Rakan nodded and Kalon went in search of a healer, leaving Ellora, Kenaz and Rakan in the study.

A few minutes later Garrick rushed into the study with Waldon at his side and a feeling of joy and complete and utter relief came over him when he saw that Kenaz was no longer frozen.

‘Kenaz my boy, how good it is to have you back,’ Garrick said, going over to him and kneeling down by his side. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m alright, I was scared and confused and it still hasn’t sunk in that I lost the last four days of my life, but I think I’m alright.’

‘Good,’ Garrick said genuinely pleased.

‘I do have cramps and aching bones and muscles though.’

‘It is to be expected.’

‘I guess, I don’t ever want to be frozen again though,’ he said reflectively.

‘I’m sure you don’t,’ Garrick said in agreement. He looked around the room and saw that Kalon was not with them. ‘Where is Kalon?’

‘He has gone to fetch a healer,’ Rakan said.

‘Ah yes, it is wise to get Kenaz checked out.’

‘Ellora is feeling unwell also,’ Rufus said.

Garrick turned and looked with concern at Ellora. ‘Princess, what is the matter?’ Garrick asked.

‘I am fine Garrick. I just felt a bit weak.’

‘She helped Rufus find his power so that he could free Kenaz,’ Rakan told his father.

‘Saving the day again,’ Garrick said walking over to where the princess was.

Ellora smiled weakly at Garrick. ‘I will be fine Garrick; I just need some time to gather my strength.’

‘I’m sure you will princess but still, it would be wise to let the healer look at you.’

‘Very well,’ she said conceding to him.

Garrick went over to Kenaz again ‘Let’s see if we can make you a bit more comfortable until the healer arrives.’

He picked Kenaz up from the floor as though he were a feather and carried him to another chaise lunge that was in the study. He placed him on the chaise on his side and took the blankets that were on the floor and placed them over him.

‘The healers will have you back to your normal self in no time,’ Garrick said reassuringly.

Garrick and the children waited for a healer to arrive and about half an hour later, Kalon appeared with Dariel. Dariel appeared at the doorway and surveyed the situation. He entered the room and greeted Garrick and then the rest of the children. He went to Kenaz and examined him.

‘You will be fine Kenaz;’ Dariel told him; ‘you need to spend time in the spas morning and evening for the next seven days. I will give you some oils when I have mixed them together, apply them to your joints and they will soothe you.’

When Dariel had finished tending to Kenaz he stood up and when Kenaz acknowledged and thanked him, he walked to Ellora and knelt down beside her.

‘Princess you got in the middle of something powerful again,’ he said in a disapproving tone.

‘Yes,’ Ellora said sheepishly.

‘Well once again you are very lucky,’ Dariel said, as he was checking her pulses and her eyes. ‘You too will be fine, I will make you a tonic to drink, and it will rejuvenate you. In the meantime get some rest.’ Ellora thanked him and Dariel stood up and looked at Garrick. ‘They will both be fine Garrick, but please may I speak with you outside?’

‘Of course.’ Garrick said following Dariel out of the study. When they were both outside Garrick closed the door behind him and faced Dariel and waited for him to speak.

‘Between the seven children there is a lot of power, perhaps more power than I have see in a long time. The Empress, Rakan and Rufus possess the gift of sorcery and they can harness power that is way beyond their years and experience and that troubles me.’

‘But Dariel they are good children.’

‘I know,’ Dariel said quickly. ‘But as we both know, power can be a drug and it corrupts.’

‘Dariel, they are very young and they are in good hands.’

‘I know that Garrick, but nonetheless I see great power in all of the children. Ellora is an empath and I do not know what powers Kalon, Waldon and Kenaz possess, but I know that they do, even if it is not magical.’

‘What do you suggest?’ Garrick said.

‘Do not let them use their powers unsupervised, they must learn to use them properly and wisely and for good – even Ellora.’

‘I will see that it is done.’

‘For safety’s sake too, these past incidents have been serious, only luck and intervention from the gods prevented them from being seriously hurt or worse.’

‘I know Dariel; it was my own son who was injured,’ Garrick said rather sharply. ‘I remember it well and I do not underestimate the gravity of the situation for one moment. I hear what you say and for the most part – I agree. They should be supervised and taught how to use their magic, but I also know that they are responsible children.’

‘But they are children all the same.’

‘I am aware of that, yes, they who possess the gift of magic should be supervised but I am not sure supervision is necessary, or even possible in Ellora’s case.’

‘Garrick…’ Dariel began.

‘Yes Dariel, I understand the situation completely. I will agree to them not being able to use their magic but only for a short period of time.’

‘For how long?’ Dariel enquired.

‘A few months,’ Garrick replied in a clipped tone.

‘Garrick, I do not wish to interfere in the raising of the children, especially your children but I cannot remain silent on this issue; it is one of great importance and potentially one of great peril. Forgive me if you think I am being impertinent in speaking out of turn but I must speak.’

Garrick softened slightly after hearing Dariel’s words and the conviction behind them.

‘Very well Dariel, I will speak with all of the children and I respect your courage and conviction.’

‘Thank you, I will return shortly with the oils for Kenaz and the tonic for Ellora.’

‘Until then,’ Garrick said, before returning to the study.

He sat at the table in the centre and called the children around him.

‘I understand that you are growing up and that you have new powers to deal with, but I am also aware of the dangers that you may inevitably place yourselves, or each other in. Therefore, from this moment onwards you are not to use your powers unless you are supervised.’

‘But father,’ Rakan said.

‘No buts Rakan, you all seem to possess an incredible amount of power and until you learn how to harness it and utilise it properly you should not –
no – you cannot
use it, without supervision. Rufus I will speak with your parents.’

‘What about me?’ Ellora asked. ‘My power is not magical.’

‘Ellora I understand that you cannot control your empathy but please do not do such things as you did today, or that which you did with Amara and Rakan beforehand. We will find someone to help you understand and utilise your gift – all of you need time,’ Garrick said seriously. ‘You need time to understand your powers and you need time to grow and learn, not just about your powers but about yourselves.’

‘I understand that,’ Rufus said. ‘After the event of the last four days I completely understand that. I for one promise not to use my magic unsupervised, but it should be no surprise for you to hear that I really don’t want to anyway.’

‘I understand that,’ Garrick said.

‘Very well,’ Rakan said dejectedly.

‘I promise not to try anything like I did today again,’ Ellora said simply.

‘Very well, I do trust you; I trust all of you, that is not an issue. The issue is your using magic that you know nothing about. As of yet, none of you know what your powers are exactly, or how to utilise them properly or if you will develop any more and on the two occasions you have discovered them you have been in real danger.’

‘I understand father,’ Rakan said.

‘I know you do Rakan,’ Garrick answered. ‘I’m going to leave you now to have the rest of the day to yourselves. Ellora get some rest and don’t do anything too strenuous, the same goes for you Kenaz. I’m sure you all have lots to tell Kenaz about the last four days and lots to talk about in general. If you need me I will be in the east tower working.’

Garrick rose and left his sons and their friends in the study. The six of them waited until Dariel came back to them and administered the tonic to Ellora and the lotion to Kenaz.

‘Ellora I hope I don’t have to see you in a healing capacity again. In fact I don’t want to see any of you in a healing capacity again,’ he said amicably, before departing from their company.

In the afternoon the six went in search of Garrick and ate lunch with him, and after lunch, the rest of the day went smoothly and quietly for Garrick and the six children – as did the rest of their time in the palace. Garrick was thankful that life, from then on in remained uneventful: at least in the troublesome way.

Months passed and the children were still growing in body, mind and spirit. They continued to go to school and Thaddeus took Gaerwen’s place and taught Rakan and Rufus sorcery. Rakan and Rufus both had the power to throw energy balls and streams, but Rufus’ energy streams were a rich orange. Both of them could levitate and Thaddeus taught them how to levitate under control.

As with everyone who had been a witness to their power; he was surprised by it, slightly in awe of them and even a little afraid – but he never showed it.