The Destiny of Amalah (25 page)

Garrick continued to take them out on adventures and teach them the advanced ways of the guard and advanced field-craft and he began to recognise that they were all talented in one way or another. Ellora stood alone in that she was an excellent archer; she could use a bow and arrow and a crossbow, she had a good eye and never missed her target, and the more she practised, the faster she became and Garrick admired her skill.

Waldon, Kenaz, Rakan and Kalon were outstanding swordsmen; while Waldon and Kenaz had great power, Rakan had great finesse and skill, while Kalon had great skill and even greater speed and both of the brothers were very quick on their feet.

The friends spent much of their time on athletics and ran, swam and did Olympic exercises. As they spent more and more time on athletics, Garrick and some of the guard taught them how to fight; they learnt the ancient martial arts of the east such as Kali and Kung Fu and the aerobic fighting style learnt in the west of Basimine and as they trained, they were having the time of their lives.

Three more months passed and more riders arrived in Amalah but this time, they informed Ellora and everyone in the palace that the Empress would be returning to the palace two nights from now. Ellora was so excited that she jumped up and down and squealed with laughter and giggles for the longest time and when food was served to her she was too excited to eat it.

The palace staff went into overdrive and began preparations to welcome the Empress home; fine china and cutlery were brought out as well as the trestle tables and beautiful linen tablecloths. Butlers and cooks began to arrive and so did the extra workers to make sure that everything would be ready in time. Amalah was going to celebrate the return of its Empress and the celebrations would start in the Great Hall of the palace.

Ellora and her friends noticed the change in the palace, life had been quiet and relaxed in the times when they had been there, but now there was a constant buzz and jostle and noise that came about due to the frantic anticipation of Amara’s arrival. The weather in Amalah was pleasantly hot and so in their spare afternoons, the children retreated to the palace gardens, where they were out of the way of the palace staff and there, they played or sat under the oak tree and talked.

‘You know our time together may not last much longer,’ Rakan said one day, before Amara was to arrive and completely out of the blue, while they were all under the tree.

‘Why not?’ asked Kenaz in a worried tone.

Because you, Waldon, Rufus and I, are seventeen years old and we will want to do something with our lives and we will no longer be taught together at the palace either.’

‘What do you want to do Rakan?’ Ellora asked.

‘I want to go to Lansten, to the school of sorcery. Gaerwen and Thaddeus have taught me so much and I want to continue to learn.’

‘As do I,’ Rufus said with certainty.

‘I will join the guard,’ Kenaz stated confidently.

‘As will I,’ said Waldon.

‘It looks as though you already know what you all want,’ said Ellora

‘You’re going to leave us behind,’ Kalon said, rather emotionally. ‘You’re all going to leave us,’ he said clearly upset.

‘Kalon do not be upset, we are still here,’ Waldon said calmly.

‘Nothing is settled yet and even if it were, we are not leaving you – we have to leave each other. We will all be apart but we will all be with someone. You will be with Ellora; I with Waldon and your brother with Rufus. Besides, if we do join the guard Waldon and I will remain in Amalah, so we will not be that far away. You will be grown up by then anyway, we will all miss each other terribly but all our lives will change.

‘Can I visit?’ Kalon said sullenly.

‘Of course you can Kalon, I expect you to,’ Waldon said emphatically.

‘As long as you’re not leaving yet,’ Kalon said still upset at the thought of the four boys leaving them behind.

‘No one is leaving yet,’ Waldon said reassuringly.

‘The only place I am going right now is back to the palace for some more food,’ Kenaz said. ‘I’m absolutely starving,’ he said rubbing his belly in an exaggerated fashion that made the others laugh.

He continued to do the motions when he saw them laughing and made strange gurgling and rumbling sounds from his throat and his belly that made them burst into fits and giggles and then hysterical laughter. When everyone had finished laughing and wiped the tears from their eyes Kenaz led them back to the palace to get supper and made light banter along the way.

Ellora looked at Kenaz thoughtfully, “he was so clever at what he did,” she thought to herself. He could always change a subject, without getting caught and go on to make everyone laugh. She was so glad that Rufus had been able to unfreeze him she mused, as she couldn’t imagine him not being a part of their group. She thought some more about her friend and she smiled to herself as she followed behind.

Chapter 13

The next two days went by very quickly for the palace staff but seemed like an eternity for Ellora as she grew more excited by the hour about her sister’s return. She had missed her incredibly and could not wait to see her and hug and kiss her. Ellora had so much to tell Amara and she knew that her elder sister would also have much to tell.

While Amara had been away; Ellora had eagerly awaited the riders to deliver her sister’s letters to her and she had read them all at least three times by now. How she wished she could have been there, especially in Mantor and she hoped that one-day, they would be able to undertake the same journey together.

The palace was now decorated with flowers, streamers and ribbons and the Great Hall had been set for yet another grand banquet. Ellora loved those occasions, they were so delightful and special and she fondly remembered when her mother and father used to host them. She thought of her parents for a while and smiled as she remembered the good times and special occasions that had been celebrated over the years. Ellora smiled as she realised that was the first occasion that she had contemplated her parents without feeling any pain.

Ellora’s maids came into dress her and she made her way to the balcony room to find the five boys, Garrick and Thaddeus were already there, sitting and relaxing but they all stood up when she entered the room and they greeted her warmly and she greeted them back with equal warmth. They talked for a while in the balcony lounge before they heard the sounds of the royal trumpeters who signalled that Amara and her entourage were about to reach the gates of the palace and at that moment, Ellora stood up excitedly and smiled.

‘Amara’s home,’ she squealer.

‘Let us go to meet her then,’ Garrick said, smiling as he stood up to take everyone downstairs to the palace gates.

‘I can’t wait, I can’t wait,’ Ellora said excitedly.

‘You only have seconds to wait now,’ Garrick said to her pleasantly. ‘You’ve waited so long Ellora, it’s nearly over.’

Garrick and Thaddeus led the children downstairs to the front palace gates where they met with the council and some of the guard who were already there waiting. They made small talk as they waited for Amara’s carriage to arrive and when they saw it approach, Ellora began to jump with joy and squeal and shout to the point where Garrick had to calm her down.

The carriage had made its way through Amalah and had been met with well wishers who had turned out to welcome the Empress back home. They clapped and cheered and waived and threw roses and petals at the carriage and when the carriage passed them by, they too made small talk and then left to go home. The carriage continued all the way to the palace gates and when they got there Amara looked to see her sister Ellora standing in front of everyone waiting to see her.

“Dear, sweet Ellora,” she thought to herself. “How I have missed you, I have so much to tell you.”

The carriage eventually came to a standstill and Amara waited patiently as the guard stepped down and opened the carriage door for her. She made her way to the carriage door and the guardsman put out his hand for Amara to take and when she took it, he helped her down the makeshift box of steps and onto the ground. As soon as her two feet were on the ground, Ellora was running towards her and calling her name excitedly.

‘Amara Amara!’ she squealed in a high pitched tone.

Amara smiled at Ellora as she ran towards her and held her arms out wide. Ellora ran into them and Amara closed her arms around her sister hugging her tightly and then the two of them held on to each other tightly in a loving embrace.

‘Ellora, how I missed you,’ Amara said holding onto her.

‘I missed you too Amara, I missed you so much.’

‘Well I am back now,’ Amara said reassuringly.

‘And I am so happy that you are,’ Ellora said elatedly.

Ellora saw Michael step out of the carriage and once again her eyes widened and she smiled a wide smile.

‘Michael,’ she said clearly delighted to see him. ‘I am so happy to see you,’ she said as she rushed towards him.

‘And I am always happy to see you Ellora,’ Michael said warmly, as he smiled back at her before hugging her.

Gaerwen and Häkan stepped out of the carriage and Ellora greeted them too and when Ellora had greeted everyone she went back to her sister’s side to see Garrick and Thaddeus approaching her, the two men bowed slightly and greeted the Empress and she greeted them back.

‘Garrick, Thaddeus how good it is to see you again. I see that everyone remains well and in good spirits and that Amalah was safe in your hands. Thank you.’

‘It was our honour Empress,’ Garrick replied.

They led her to the council and to where the five boys and the guard were stood and Amara greeted them all individually, while Garrick and Thaddeus each greeted Michael, Raynor and Häkan and then Gaerwen with a handshake and hug. Gaerwen made her way to the Empress’s side and the five men talked among themselves for a while promising to meet in the guards bar later in the evening, to catch up with each other and to tell of the events that had occurred over the last few months. The men turned their attention back to the Empress and stood by her side as she continued to greet those who were at the palace gates. Garrick then led her inside and there the staff were lining one side of the wall ready to greet her and welcome her home.

‘Garrick?’ she said enquiringly.

‘They too wished for your speedy return Empress.’

Amara smiled and was taken aback by the actions of her staff and then she looked at Garrick. ‘It is good to be home,’ she said softly.

The Empress spoke to all of the staff and each and every one of them welcomed her back home and then, they waited until she had left the hall, before they dispersed to go their own separate ways.

‘Empress a banquet has been prepared for you, in honour of your return,’ said Garrick.

‘I am flattered Garrick, really I am.’

‘I also understand that you have travelled far today Empress; therefore the banquet is not for a few hours, so please retire if you wish to do so. I will send staff to attend to your every need.’

‘Thank you Garrick,’ Amara said appreciatively. She was clearly grateful that he had anticipated her needs. ‘I shall retire for now, please make sure that I am not disturbed for the next two hours.’

‘Of course Empress,’ Garrick said pleasantly.

‘Thank you,’ she said simply.

‘I bid you good day for now then,’ Garrick said as he bowed his head.

‘As do I,’ Häkan, Raynor and Thaddeus said in turn.

‘Good day gentlemen,’ Amara said, before she turned and made her way to her room with Michael and Ellora following.

When they reached her room Ellora was the first to speak:

‘Amara I will come for you before we go to the banquet. I hope you have a good sleep.’

‘As do I,’ Amara replied.

Ellora left the room and then it was just Amara and Michael alone in her room.

‘What will you do between now and the banquet Michael?’ Amara asked.

‘Meet with Garrick and Thaddeus; see if there are any pressing matters, and if there are, lend a hand.’

‘Very well but please do not work too hard.’

‘Empress why ever not?’

‘Because Michael you always work – above and beyond the call of duty. You work harder than anyone I know and I am thankful that you are here by my side but Michael, you
must
take some time to rest too.’

‘I will Empress, when this day is surely over, I will rest.’

‘I have something for your Michael,’ Amara said looking at him before she went to her bags and pulled something out of them that was wrapped in a sash cloth.

‘For me?’ Michael said surprised. ‘Empress you shouldn’t have.’

‘Yes I should have and I wanted to.’

She walked toward him and handed him the cloth, he took it from her and looked at her searchingly. He reached into the cloth and pulled out a marble tablet that had his name ornately carved into it, along with the symbols of his star sign and three intertwined circles underneath.

‘The circles mean friendship, loyalty and love,’ she said. Michael continued to stare at it for a while. ‘I hope you like it,’ she said nervously.