The Destiny of Amalah (61 page)

‘I know this journey is a difficult and dark one Waldon,’ Rufus began.

‘Do you?’ Waldon said bluntly, as he turned his gaze to Rufus.

‘You have been the stalwart in all of our lives; Kalon and Ellora included and what we must do tears you apart.’

‘Does it not you?’

Rufus pursed his lips to suppress a wry smile. ‘It did but I have had longer to deal with it,’ he lied.

‘And how do I do that?’ Waldon asked wearily.

‘Accept your destiny,’ Rufus replied. ‘Know that failure is not an option. Achievement of our aims is all that matters.’

‘And if we fail?’

‘You cannot entertain that thought, or we will be doomed from the start.’

‘I…’

‘I know you do not want that vision to come to fruition.’

‘True.’

‘Then embrace our task my dear friend and know this: no matter what and for all time, I will be your friend. That I promise you, is unchangeable.’

Waldon nodded. I am glad I do not have to do this alone.’

‘As am I,’ Rufus admitted.

‘I also think it will take all of us to keep Rakan grounded and sane.’

‘He is passionate,’ Rufus said diplomatically.

‘I know he is passionate,’ Waldon replied. ‘I have known him all my life but he talks of defying a god, that is just madness!’

Rufus laughed. ‘He can get carried away.’

‘Another of your infamous understatements my friend,’ Waldon said dryly.

Rakan had made his way to the Empress’s study, where he found: Amara, Michael and Garrick waiting for him. Their faces were neutral and he tried to read them but to no avail.

‘Empress, father and Michael, I am truly saddened by the death of Raynor during the celebrations and firstly, I want to express my condolences to you all.’

‘Thank you,’ Amara said flatly and totally unconvinced of Rakan’s words.

‘His death was also untimely and he leaves a large space in the council. What makes matters worse is Häkan’s position at the moment; which is not an enviable one and now – the rumours are circulating and getting out of control. I do not know what role Häkan played in Raynor’s death, but he somehow must be involved.’

‘If he played any role at all,’ Michael said sharply.

‘Indeed, but regardless, Häkan is not – at this moment in time – in any position to sit on the council.’

‘But you are?’ Garrick said looking directly at his son.

‘Yes I am. I am a sorcerer and a warrior, and part of your guard and I am ready to take on such a solemn responsibility where I am needed.’

‘I disagree,’ the Empress said in a matter of fact tone. ‘I disagree completely.’

‘Excuse me, Empress but I think I am,’ Rakan pressed; ‘and I am sure, that deep down you agree with me too,’ he said staring at her.

‘Then you would be wrong,’ the Empress said with a stiff smile.

Rakan was taken aback by her refusal and he held eye contact with Amara, wondering why she was not acquiescing to his will. ‘You wish to give me a seat, do you not?’

‘No,’ she said bluntly as she touched her chest and felt the amulet that Gaerwen had given her vibrate.

‘I am ready for this Empress,’ he said boldly.

‘And I still disagree,’ she told Rakan. ‘It was only days ago that I refused your request to join the council.
Then
I said you were not ready and
then
I said you do not possess the right skills or traits to become a council member – what has changed since then?’

‘The death of Raynor has changed things.’

‘Yes, but what has changed about
you
?’ Amara did not wait for an answer from Rakan. ‘Nothing!’ she said bluntly. ‘Rakan you are still the same man you were days ago, that is a man who pursues self interest, which will no doubt be at the expense of others and that is the last thing we need at this difficult time.’

‘Maybe I am,’ Rakan said, beginning to raise his voice. ‘But you cannot deny that you need me. Look at what is happening, to the guard, to Raynor and to the people who are scared and panicking.’

‘I know what is happening Rakan. I knew very well but that still does not change my decision or your suitability.’

Rakan scowled slightly, wondering why his spell to influence Amara was not working. ‘Empress, look around you,’ he said haughtily. ‘You do want me on the council,’ he told her as his eyes bored into hers.

‘No, I do not,’ Amara replied, raising her voice. ‘Did you think that just because you say it, I would change my mind as if under some spell,’ she mocked.

‘No,’ Rakan replied with hostility. He wondered if she knew what he had done, or if she was being sarcastic; either way, he was growing increasingly irate with the Empress. ‘The world is changing, whether you like it or not and those changes are not all for the good.’

‘Rakan, I have met with you twice now and you have come to me about the same issue, so let me make this clear for you once and for all; I cannot and will not, allow you into the council, for the reasons that I have already explained: this is my final answer and it is no.’

‘You will come to regret this Empress,’ Rakan said, almost spitting his words out as he rose to his feet.

‘Is that a threat?’ the Empress said rising to her feet and clearly irked by Rakan’s words and tone.

‘I do not make threats,’ Rakan said slightly menacingly.

‘Rakan!’ Garrick shouted. ‘Do not forget who you are talking to.’

‘I do not forget,’ Rakan snapped back, raising his voice also. ‘But I still say that you are making a mistake Empress.’

‘Remember, in this place; I am the Guard Commander,’ Garrick barked. ‘Mind your tone, to me and to the Empress.’

‘You dare question me?’ Amara said, after Garrick had spoken, raising her voice. ‘Leave me now before I throw you in the dungeons.’

‘Is that a threat?’ Rakan asked laconically.

‘I too do not make threats Rakan,’ Amara said, staring right back at him. ‘Leave now, or I will call the guard and have you thrown in the dungeon but before I do, I will strip you of your rank.’

Rakan defiantly held the Empress’s gaze for a few seconds before he walked out on her, his father and Michael and the door slammed behind him. The three of them looked on where Rakan had been stood and wondered; they contemplated what had turned Rakan into the man he had become and why.

Rakan on the other hand, was incensed by the Empress’s refusal once again and he was further incensed by her threat to remove his rank. He sped up to the tower where his friends were waiting for him and seeing the look on his face, they knew that he had not received the seat that he so desired.

‘I take it things did not go well,’ Kenaz said.

‘No they did not,’ Rakan seethed

‘What happened?’

‘Amara, she was determined that I not sit on the council and she would not listen to what I had to say.’

‘Or she didn’t care,’ Rufus added.

‘What now?’ Waldon asked.

‘How can we implement Salwar’s plan?’ said Kenaz.

Rakan thought for a few moments and then he looked at all of his friends.

‘Forget Salwar’s plan,’ he said forcefully. ‘Rufus you are right – we don’t get power by waiting for someone to give it to us – we take it and I have a plan of my own.’

‘You mean defy Salwar?’ Rufus asked incredulously.

‘Yes I do.’

‘Rakan have you gone mad?’ asked Rufus

‘No, I’ve just decided that we should do things differently – but in the end – the result will be the same.’

‘You mean do it your way?’ Waldon said gruffly.

‘Well yes, but at least my way we won’t have to wait around for a seat on the stupid council. This way – well – this way will be much better and far more fun.’ Waldon scowled. ‘And this way, the result Salwar ultimately desires will be achieved.

‘What do you suggest?’ Kenaz said.

‘I thought you would never ask,’ Rakan said sitting down at the table with his friends. ‘Firstly I want to deal with the council,’ he said, sneering at the thought of them all.

Rakan went through his plan in detail and the others listened closely as he said so, and added their thoughts as they went along and when he had finished, Kenaz sat back and gave a low whistle.

‘If we do it there’s no going back,’ Rakan said.

‘I know,’ said Kenaz

‘Can we pull it off?’ Waldon asked.

‘It’s certainly bold,’ Rufus added. ‘And it certainly involves bloodshed.’

‘Yes – but will you do it?’ Rakan asked.

‘Yes I will,’ Rufus said with conviction. ‘Amalah was boring me anyway, and I am most curious to see what Salwar and Adriel will do or say when we next encounter them.’

‘Is that the only reason?’ Kenaz asked.

‘No, there are many more but they are the two I’m putting forward,’ Rufus said sarcastically.

‘I am in,’ Waldon simply said.

‘As am I,’ agreed Kenaz.

‘Good, then be ready the day after tomorrow for that is when we begin.’

The four men remained in the northeast tower for a while, drinking whisky and talking; while elsewhere in the palace, Garrick sat with Häkan and kept him company.

Häkan was starting to recover now and even though he could not remember everything that had happened, he had small flashes that came into his head. Now he could also talk, but when he did, his voice was filled with sadness and any mention of Raynor brought tears to his eyes every time.

‘I know how this looks,’ he said suddenly to Garrick.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Me – being found next to Raynor – the way I was. I know how it looks. He was found with my dagger…in his chest,’ Häkan said, clearly distressed.

‘Häkan we will work this out, I promise, do not upset yourself.’

‘I didn’t do it though Garrick. I swear to you, I did not do this. Parts or rather a part of what happened is coming back to me. I see it in my head, often I see Raynor already dead on the floor, my dagger in his chest, I’m crying and then it disappears that is all I see.’

‘It will come back to you in time my friend.’

‘Will it? Garrick I know that I did not kill Raynor but as long as I can not remember, then there will always be that nagging doubt.’

‘Häkan I believe that you did not kill Raynor and I can only say that I believe you and that I believe that your memory will return.’

‘Let’s hope it is soon. I cannot stand to be a prisoner here in this room for much longer.’

‘It is for your own protection. If you did not kill Raynor, then someone else did and they know, that somewhere in your mind, you know who they are.’

‘So until I remember and tell you, or Thaddeus, or the Empress then I remain here?’

‘I am afraid so.’

A look of frustration came over Häkan and he sighed heavily before he sat back in his chair and pondered. He and Garrick spoke for a while longer, before Garrick rose and left Häkan alone. Garrick spoke to the two guardsmen before he made his way back to his office. He worked until the late evening and took dinner while he was there and when it was dark, he returned home to find that neither of his sons was there. He made himself a hot drink and relaxed for a while until he retired to bed, worrying about his son and Häkan in equal measure.

The next day passed quite uneventfully and everyone in the palace was rather glad that it did. The day after began equally uneventfully; the morning passed by and in the afternoon Amara made her way to another council meeting that was to take place. When she got there she was surprised to see that she was the first to arrive, she worked for a few minutes on the documents she had and in that time, Garrick arrived and he too was surprised to see that the Empress was the only one there. Shortly afterwards Michael and Thaddeus arrived but no one else.

They waited patiently and then wondered what had happened to the rest of the council. Michael was about to leave the room to make enquiries, when Rakan walked in, carrying a large black metal box under his arm.’

‘Good afternoon,’ he said confidently.

‘This is a council meeting,’ Amara said in a raised and irritated voice.

‘I’m sure it was,’ Rakan said smoothly. ‘But I thought it would be wise if we changed the agenda today.’

‘What is the meaning of this?’ the Empress asked, even more irked by Rakan’s impudence and presence.

‘Make your way to my office second Captain and I will deal with you there,’ Garrick snapped at his son.

‘If you would all be so kind as to go to the other end of the table and take your seats, it would be appreciated,’ he said, ignoring Amara’s question and his father’s orders.

‘No we will not,’ she said defiantly.

‘If you want to know what really happened to Raynor, then I would, if I were you.’

The four of them exchanged anxious glances and Michael nodded after which they all sat down.

‘To put you all out of your misery, it was I who killed Raynor,’ Rakan said simply. ‘With a little help from my friends of course.’