The Destiny of Amalah (73 page)

‘Still think you can to kill me?’ Luxor said, smiling and goading Waldon.

‘Of course,’ Waldon replied.

Waldon went for Luxor and the two of them went into a legendary sword fight. Waldon’s five friends and the army watched in awe as the two powerful men clashed swords, fists and kicks. Waldon had skill and power while Luxor had power and speed. As the swords continued to clank and clash, the two men exchanged blows with each other when their fists were in range while the army looked on with bated breath.

The fight was becoming more and more intense with each moment and move that the two men made. Just when the fight looked as though it was going to come to a bloody end – one of them made a clever or daring move, that made the fight that much more interesting. The two men were now caught in a deadlock and Luxor grinned at Waldon.

‘I thought you were going to kill me with that sword,’ he said with a tone of arrogance and mockery, as he smiled flashed a smile.

‘I am,’ replied Waldon, who really wanted to wipe the smile off the blonde man’s face.

‘What’s taking you so long?’ Luxor asked, goading Waldon even more.

Waldon was becoming angry and frustrated and he started to fight with more power than he did skill and before long, Luxor had knocked Waldon’s sword from him within seconds and was at Waldon’s throat with his own sword and a dagger at his chest.

‘Who’s dying today?’ Luxor asked, smiling again.

‘You,’ Waldon said.

Kenaz rushed forward but Luxor quickly placed his dagger in a pouch on his shoulder and with his now free hand, he threw an energy ball at Kenaz sending him flying backwards. Kenaz groaned in agony but was on his feet in no time at all but by that time, Luxor had retrieved his dagger and it was back at Waldon’s chest. Rakan moved towards Waldon and Luxor but Luxor was now behind Waldon, still holding his weapons to his body.

‘Let him go,’ Rufus ordered.

‘Why would I do that?’ Luxor asked.

‘Let him go and you will live,’ Rufus said.

‘No, I will let him go if you let me join you.’

‘And if we don’t let you join?’ Rakan asked.

Luxor looked at Rakan and the others and thought carefully before he spoke:

‘I sense closeness between you all – a brotherhood – yet you are not brothers. Interesting, you are like brothers yet I look in your eyes and see that you will each let the other die and you all know this, you all believe that to be the case. Strange, there is no power over you, none that I can see. So, will you really let your brother die? Yes, wait – except for you,’ Luxor said, looking at Rufus. ‘You are more than a brother, or perhaps you feel more than brotherhood,’ Luxor said, smirking at the increasingly uncomfortable Rufus.

‘And if he dies, you will wish you had too. You will wish for death every day I decide to keep you alive.’

‘I see I clearly hit a nerve,’ Luxor said laconically. ‘I don’t wish to kill him.’

‘What do you wish?’ Rakan asked.

‘Like I said – to join you,’ Luxor answered.

‘And why pray, should we let you join us?’

‘Because you get to keep your brother and gain another; I am a sorcerer and a hunter and clearly – a far better swordsman than your man here,’ Luxor said irreverently. ‘You don’t need me, but I think I can show you I am worthy.’

‘You can join the ranks then,’ Kenaz said superciliously.

‘No, I am my own man. I do not take orders and I am beholden to none.’

‘Why don’t I just kill you where you stand?’ Rakan asked.

‘Because it would kill us both and if you could have, you would have done so already. Besides, you are only halfway around the world and from what I have heard, there are no other warriors like Waldon and Kenaz – you need them.’

‘Really?’ asked Rakan.

‘Yes really,’ replied Luxor. ‘Now I will let him go in good faith if you say yes to my request.’

‘Yes.’ Rakan said simply.

‘Rakan why?’ Rufus asked, objecting to Rakan’s unilateral decision.

‘He is indeed like us: strong, clever and refusing to bow to anyone. He knows that when he lets Waldon go we could kill him, yet I sense no fear in him either – he can be brethren.’

‘How many more can be?’ Kenaz asked dryly.

‘None,’ Rakan replied. ‘I sense that we are now complete – just the six of us.’

Luxor released Waldon and Waldon turned and glared at him before he walked back to his friends.

‘Do we let him live?’ Waldon asked.

‘Yes,’ Rakan said.

‘He also joins us,’ Rufus said disapprovingly.

‘What!’ Waldon said in disgust.

‘Oh come now,’ Luxor said, clearly amused by their ire. ‘Once you get to know me I’m…’

‘Still an arrogant and insufferable brat,’ Rufus finished.

‘Exactly,’ said Luxor, as he turned his gaze to Rufus. ‘But surely, since I didn’t kill your
closest
brother, I get a special place in your heart,’ Luxor said, still looking at Rufus before he smiled and winked at him.

Rufus shuffled uncomfortably and for once he was silent; much to the surprise of Waldon, Kenaz and Rakan. Rakan eyed his friend and then quickly broke the silence and stepped forward to greet Luxor.

‘Well young man, welcome, I am Rakan,’ Rakan said, as he extended his hand out to Luxor.

‘And I am Luxor of Parades,’ Luxor said, taking hold of Rakan’s hand and shaking it firmly.

‘And this is Bryce,’ the two men shook hands on introduction and Rakan continued; ‘and Kenaz.’

‘Pleased to meet you,’ Luxor said.

‘I wish I could say the same,’ Kenaz said.

‘Perhaps you will one day,’ Luxor retorted facetiously.

‘And Waldon,’ Rakan continued.

‘Pleasure,’ said Luxor.

Waldon took Luxor’s hand, shook it and grunted.

‘And last but by no means least, Rufus,’ finished Rakan.

Luxor smiled that wide smile again as the two men shook hands, and when they were all acquainted, Rakan welcomed Luxor to the group once again.

The six men and their army rode it through the dense jungle and settled in the village of the Incas. They rested, feasted, made weapons and practised their fighting skills and when night came, they slept until the early morning. Life had been hard for them over the last months and now they enjoyed the few days’ rest that they were given.

Before a week had passed; they were joined by the Hittites: a fierce and savage group who loved nothing better than to terrorise the people of Filine. When it was offered to them, they jumped at the chance to terrorise the world along with Rakan and his army. Their leader, Cador, met with Rakan and the others and when the deal was done, they were welcomed into their army and then Rakan’s army became seven thousand strong and at that time, they had conquered half the world.

‘The whole world will be ours soon,’ Kenaz said.

‘Yes it will and the people will not stand a chance,’ Rakan said.

Chapter 27

Häkan had returned to Parades once again with some of the guard. He had wanted to try and get more people to join the guard, or at least evacuate them to Amalah, or close by so that they could be ready when Rakan and his army arrived. Häkan was surprised at how stubborn the people of Parades were and he was a Paradean himself. He wondered how the people would cope if they had to face Rakan and his army alone. The Guard had a presence but it was not enough to withstand the army that Rakan had raised.

Häkan had returned to Parades for another reason though; while he was there, he sensed that something was deeply wrong and he wondered what was causing the trouble in Parades, for Rakan and his army had not ventured that far. Häkan did not know what had afflicted his home nation but he vowed to return to get to the bottom of things.

Häkan and the guard spent their time walking among the people of Parades, gathering intelligence and observing things or people that were out of the ordinary – but they found nothing. It was only by pure chance that Häkan spotted Adriel one night as he walked under the dark skies. Häkan had decided to take a walk in the cold but crisp fresh air and it was there he saw Adriel – but Adriel did not see Häkan. Häkan had experienced a number of emotions when he saw the old man but he had remained still and silent and he observed Adriel closely and when Adriel moved, he followed him. Luckily for Häkan, Adriel was going to the place that he had set up as home, and the next day, Häkan and the guard lay in wait for Adriel.

They saw him enter his home and waited until the early hours of the morning when they were sure he was fast asleep. On Häkan’s orders, they crept in and bound and gagged him quickly and forcefully and as they pounced on him; Adriel awoke protesting and screaming but his screams did him no good. He wanted to use magic but Häkan had forewarned his men and the first thing they had taken hold of, was his hands. They took each one and bound them in silk and cotton before they tied them together and then they gagged him. When he was secured, Häkan entered the room and looked down at the gagged Adriel.

‘Adriel you’re alive I see. Adriel simply looked at Häkan in a hateful manner. ‘Once again our world is in chaos and once again, we find you.’ Häkan crouched down so that he was face to face with the old man. ‘I am taking you back to Amalah; once there, you will stand before the Empress and council and explain yourself.’ Adriel smiled underneath the gagging tape and let out a short laugh. ‘Yes it is funny,’ Häkan said calmly. ‘But do you know what will be even funnier; when we bind your powers for all eternity and throw you in a dark dungeon for the rest of your unnatural life.’

Adriel lost the sparkle in his eyes and for the first time in a long time, he became afraid. Häkan saw his expression change and nodded. He looked at Adriel for a while and wondered; he wondered what had turned him into what he had become.

‘Pick him up,’ he ordered the guard and they did as they were told on his command. ‘We leave for Amalah now before the people of Parades awake.’

Häkan and the guard left the house with a bound and gagged Adriel; they made their way to the horses, saddled up and left for Amalah.

***

Häkan was not the only one leaving for Amalah; John of Equer had parted with Imogen and Seth in order to warn Amalah about the army that was moving and growing faster than any of them could anticipate. John had set off for Amalah in the dead of night and he rode and walked, keeping out of sight from the soldiers.

Ellora was also heading back to Amalah, she had just left Filine and she rode hard all the way back to Amalah City. She rode all day for two days, only stopping to eat and rest once in each day. She arrived back at the palace in the late evening and when she entered, she was surprised to see Amara, Michael, Garrick and Kalon waiting for her.

‘How did you know I arrived?’ she asked.

‘We have watch tower men in each of the four towers now,’ answered Garrick.

‘What I want to know is why you defied us all and went to Filine to see Rakan?’ Amara asked.

Ellora looked at Kalon but she could see that he too was angry at her; the only person, who she sensed was not, was Garrick.

‘I had to,’ she answered simply.

‘You could have been killed,’ Michael said.

‘I can say no more to you Ellora,’ Amara said, looking at her sister, her expression one of utter disappointment. ‘When you returned from your trip with the others we talked about you risking your life for no good reason. I see you completely ignored or forgot that,’ Amara said coolly before she turned from her sister and walked away. She stopped after three paces. ‘I am glad that you are safe and well and above all – alive but I am not pleased at all at what you have done.’ Amara said, as she continued to walk away and Michael spoke next.

‘Ellora I just don’t think I can express how disappointed I am in you. I too will not say anymore but will bid you goodnight,’ he said, before he turned and walked in the same direction as Amara.

Ellora was hurt and upset that Amara and Michael felt that way; she had expected this reaction but did not expect to be made to feel so bad. What was worse was that she knew Kalon felt exactly the same way. She looked at him and then at Garrick and Garrick placed his hand on her shoulder.

‘Did you reach them?’ he asked slightly hopeful.

‘I only saw Rakan; we met for a short while. I tried Garrick, I really tried,’ she said becoming upset.

‘I know you did Ellora,’ he said gently.

‘I do not know what happened to him but I felt great darkness within him, although his humanity was not all gone. All I know is that they were offered absolute power and they took it. That is what Rakan told me. I begged him to come back to Amalah with me; to let me and everyone here help him but he would not. He knew it would mean an eternity in a dungeon. I am sorry I could not do more,’ she said to him.

‘You did more than enough Ellora. I know you tried and I thank you for it,’ Garrick said, he looked at Ellora and smiled a warm smile and bid her and Kalon good night, not wanting to get involved in what he knew was going to be an inevitable argument between the couple.

Ellora looked up at Kalon but his eyes were still shining with anger and she felt worse by the moment; she touched his arm and she could feel him tense.