The Destiny of Amalah Read online

  ‘Power!’ Adriel answered without hesitation.

  ‘A curious choice: why?’

  ‘I have travelled this world and seen the experiences of my fellow humans – most of whom, I believe to be weak; most of whom I believe to be stupid,’ he said with disdain. ‘I choose power because unlike a lover, it will not wane, abandon or betray me,’ He said decisively. ‘It will not make ignore glaring truths, or make me sacrifice all that I am for another; as I have seen many do.’

  The man laughed quietly to himself: ‘Dear Adriel, I do not think the gods ever envisaged a misanthrope such as you, walking their beloved earth.’ Adriel scrutinised the man carefully but the more he observed, the less he could see. He looked into his eyes but could not say what colour they were, he looked at his face but he could not estimate the age of the strange man who stood before him.

  ‘Oh the gods do love you for your free will,’ he said, clearly amused. ‘Am I right to say that you would choose to terrorise other humans into submission to get them to do your bidding?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Very well Adriel, return to Amalah as you were going to plan. If you show promise; I will have a very interesting proposition for you. If you accept my offer, you will have power beyond your wildest dreams.’

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘Long ago, the name Salwar was accorded to me but you may not speak of that name, nor shall you remember it.’

  ‘How will I…’ but Salwar was gone, leaving Adriel alone, to wonder about whom the strange being was.

  Chapter 2

  It was two years since Adriel had seen the curious man on the hill and ten years since he had left Amalah. As he stood on the outskirts of Amalah, his plans raced through his mind and he looked at the four men beside him, who he believed were going to help him achieve his aims.

  First, there was Sarid, a feared assassin born of the Hittite people. Sarid had never failed in a mission and he was revered and feared in his nation of Filine. Then there was Titus; a mighty warrior who had infamously slain ten men in a brawl on the outskirts of Basimine that he had deliberately started. Inn brawls were Titus’ introduction to every village he ventured into and it made his job of extortionist relatively easy from those days onwards.

  Then there was Probus, a thief of legend. No item was too big or too small, or too secure for Probus to appropriate. Last but by no means least, was Urien, a seer whose power was thus far unparalleled in all of the nations.

  In the coming days, Adriel returned to the village where he had grown up. The villagers had promptly informed him of his father’s death but Adriel was indifferent to the news. He had not forgotten the children who had taunted him, even though they had all grown into adulthood, and as he introduced himself to Amalah and settled in, of those who remained; he had them sacked from their jobs, beaten up by his new found friends or turned out of their home and that, was Adriel’s reintroduction to Amalah.

  Adriel and his men then ventured to Amalah City and within six months, he had overtaken the town. He initially installed himself as Councillor of the City with Urien as his chief adviser and the remaining men as his Generals. Then Adriel created the Amalayan Order, the Order was to be Adriel’s army, police force and personal guard.

  The Order consisted of: minions, soldiers and seers who he had coerced and cajoled into doing his bidding, as well as citizens who could see where the new power was going to lie. As Adriel’s power grew, so did his following and he encouraged ruthless ambition and brutality among his men and women. He rewarded success handsomely but punished failure severely.

  As the Order grew in number, they quickly became intoxicated by their own power and relished the fact that there was strength in numbers. They terrorised the people of the City and they began to believe Adriel’s words that promised power, invincibility and immortality.

  Within ten years, Adriel had most of the nation of Amalah under his control. As Adriel’s power grew, he set his sights on the other eight nations. The eight nations, like Amalah were divided into six regions and governed by a variety of: royals, regents, councillors and aldermen and alderwomen. Some leaders in regions of Amalah, had tried to stand up to Adriel and his Order but most were exiled, executed or deposed. As Adriel encroached into the regions of some of the other nations’, some of those leaders suffered the same fate as their Amalayan counterparts. Unlike Amalah, Adriel’s control was not pervasive enough and new leaders simply sprang up in place of their fallen ones. Adriel’s hopes were not dashed though, for some leaders simply gave in to his might and resigned, or held onto what little power they had.

  Adriel’s reach soon spread through the other nations but as with all repressed people and nations’ rebellions soon began; even in Amalah, the place he considered to be his territory. As the rebellions stirred and became troublesome, the leaders and people of the free regions began to organise and make demands on Adriel and his newly formed Order.

  ‘Galen in the region of Halimaya - in Amalah no less - has sought fit to appoint himself as the voice of the people,’ Adriel seethed to his council. ‘He makes demands and informs me of the people’s discontent. Tobiah of Mantor grows stronger with each passing day, pushing my Order out. And, Princess Rana of Filine defies her mother, the Queen and raises a rebellion. Everyday, a new leader emerges. Everyday I hear of dissention and rebellion,’ Adriel spat.

  ‘And they are helped by the locals,’ said Sarid. ‘They all share the same goal.’

  ‘Which is?’ asked Adriel.

  ‘To rid themselves of you and the Order,’ Sarid said candidly. ‘They wish to be free.’

  ‘The leaders of the regions and the nations will begin to unite,’ warned Urien. ‘If that happens Adriel, it will be your end.’

  ‘They need to be crushed,’ Adriel began; ‘swiftly, brutally and irrevocably.’

  ‘The death of one will only incite more leaders and more rebellions,’ said Urien.

  ‘Then we will have to ensure the death of them all and in one fell swoop,’ said Adriel.

  ‘What about those who are loyal to you?’ Sarid asked.

  ‘If I am going to crush the leadership, I will have to break them all,’ Adriel replied.

  ‘Can you not excuse their attendance?’ Probus pressed, his disapproval clearly etched on his face.

  ‘And arouse suspicion? No!’ Adriel said firmly.

  ‘I would advise against such a move Adriel,’ Urien warned. Punishment is one thing but betrayal of your own, spur dissention and anger in the ranks of your own order.’

  ‘Then they too will be crushed,’ Adriel said arrogantly.

  Probus let out a sigh of exasperation. ‘We all know you are powerful Adriel, but really, how much crushing do you want to engage in? I know you want to rule the world, and being your sidekick has its perks but it would be nice if there were some people left in this world to rule over.’

  ‘I take your point Probus,’ Adriel said archly; ‘but in this instance, the leadership falls – all of it.’

  ‘And how pray, do you envisage eradicating all of the leaders?’ Sarid asked. ‘It will take days; weeks even to ride out and achieve such a goal. Surely warnings will be sent to the leaders in the outer regions.’

  ‘I agree,’ Adriel said coolly. ‘But not if they are all in the same place.’ The four men looked at Adriel with a puzzled expression. ‘I think it is time to give a listening ear to the leaders one and all. A summit! Yes, a summit. I shall invite all the leaders and their deputies to Amalah City. I shall listen to their complaints and they shall say their last words, right here in this very palace. With the leaders and the deputies gone, the masses will be like headless chickens and such a show of might will crush any rebellion – forever!’

  ‘Or intensify it,’ said Sarid.

  ‘And we will crush the new leaders – if there any,’ Adriel said smiling. ‘Send word throughout the nations of this summit. Invite everyone here, tell them, I have been advised accordingly and am humbled by the dissent
and I am now willing to listen.’

  Upon Adriel’s command, the Amalayan Order rode out to the nations and the regions. The leaders and deputies were invited to the three day summit that was to be held in Amalah City at Adriel’s palace. As the Order carried out Adriel’s wishes; Adriel and his closest allies made plans to receive them.

  A month passed and soon the leaders descended into Amalah City with their deputies, guards, attendants and families. Fifty-two leaders and fifty-two deputies were housed in either Adriel’s palace, or in and around the City. He began with welcoming speeches and entertainments and on the second day, he sat with his council on a podium listening to the grievances of each leader and nodded and smiled at their suggestions and proposals for change. He gave each and every leader an audience. He nodded, sighed and pretended to agree or understand the harm that he and his Order were doing to the needs of the nations, their people and their trade.

  On the final evening of the summit, Adriel hosted a leaving farewell party in the Grand Hall; where wine, mead and good cheer flowed. Once again, Adriel took to his podium with his council and when the time came, he addressed the expectant crowd.

  ‘Well leaders one and all, thank you all very much for coming. You have made my task so much easier. Thankfully the summit has come to a close. I have listened to each and every one of you whine,’ a few of the audience shifted uncomfortably; ‘and I’m surprised that I was able to exercise so much restraint and patience and not kill you where you stood.’ Adriel smiled and many of the audience laughed nervously. ‘You all, really need to learn when I am joking,’ he said nonchalantly. ‘After tonight, the Amalayan Order will be stronger than ever,’ Adriel said and then nodded at the Amalayan Order who were stood by the exits.

  Tonight, I will begin by taking your regions one by one and they will fall,’ he said emphatically. ‘Tonight, your people will learn a lesson of a lifetime. That lesson will be not to defy me.’

  The Order sealed the exits of the Hall and then drew their swords.

  Galen had been the first to register that something was amiss and he had signalled to Princess Rana and Tobiah, who had signalled to their guard.

  ‘You will not take us without a fight,’ Galen shouted; ‘and I swear to you that even if we die here today, you will not live to see your plan come to fruition Adriel.’

  ‘Galen!’ Adriel snapped, as he flicked his hand outward and sent Galen flying, amid screams of the trapped crowd. Galen rose to his feet, sword still at the ready. ‘Did you really think that your little rebellion in my nation under my nose would really go unpunished? How wrong you were,’ he said looking at Galen with a cruel smile.

  Tobiah, Rana, Galen and their guards rushed forward towards Adriel and his council but Adriel simply burst out laughing.

  ‘Claudeo!,’ he yelled as he threw his hands forward and the group remained frozen on the spot. ‘Tobiah, Princess, everyone: perhaps you fight to save your relatives from grieving. Fear not, their grief will be short lived as my men have been despatched to take care of them all – even the little ones.’

  ‘Why you…’ Galen began angrily but Adriel had grown tired of him and hurled an energy ball at Galen, killing him instantly before he could utter another word or take another step.

  ***

  Garrick waited quietly in the woods with his horse. He had been waiting for more than ten minutes now but the men he was supposed to be meeting had still not shown up. At nineteen, he was the youngest personal guard to Galen but he was also his most trusted.

  Garrick ran his hands through his thick brown hair that matched his eyes, he was anxious to get the meeting over with and return to the palace. For his age, he was an intense and serious man who took his duty to Galen and to the people of Amalah, seriously.

  Galen had sent his young guard to meet two sorcerers, who he had hoped would assist the rebellion. Garrick knew that times were becoming more perilous as Adriel’s grip on Amalah and the nations tightened and the Amalayan Order grew. The Amalayan Order was a name that provoked anger in Garrick, as he contemplated their behaviour to the people in the City. That and Adriel himself; he was their leader and a sorcerer whose magical power had now become as legendary as his cruelty. Like many others, Garrick had despaired as his beloved Amalah was being cast into the depths of fear and tyranny.

  ‘A new day has dawned,’ he said to himself; ‘and the new day is a dark one indeed.

  Garrick had hope though; hope that things would return to the way they once were. Galen had somehow managed to retain his position and rebel at the same time but as he rebelled, the more Adriel and his Order sought to quieten him. Thankfully, other men and women had been brave enough to take a stand against the Amalayan Order, and it appeared that at last, Adriel may indeed have begun to see sense.

  “The summit is a promising sign of change,” Garrick told himself.

  Just as Garrick was growing impatient with the men who had not yet arrived, he heard the unmistakeable sound of twigs breaking on the ground and he stepped back behind a tree to see who was approaching. He had been a hunter and tracker from the age of fourteen and the noise and his instincts told him the movement was human.

  Two men stepped into the clearway where Garrick had been standing. He observed the two approaching slowly and cautiously. One black, one white; both tall and both appeared anxious.

  ‘I fear Galen’s guard did not make it here,’ he heard the black man say.

  ‘And why do you say that?’ Garrick asked as he stepped forward.

  ‘Who are you?’ they both asked.

  ‘I am Garrick, guard to Regent Galen. Who are you?’

  ‘I am Thaddeus,’ the black man said, as he stepped forward and shook hands with Garrick.

  ‘And I am Raynor,’ the other man said, as he stepped forward.

  ‘I heard you speaking when you came into the clearway. Why did you think that I would not make it here?’ Garrick asked.

  Thaddeus and Raynor looked at each other and then stared at Garrick; their faces both grave.

  ‘We travelled via Adriel’s palace,’ began Thaddeus. ‘When we drew close to it, we heard hideous screams that we pray in our lifetime that we never hear again. We approached with caution and heard some of the Order talking.’ Thaddeus paused for a few moments, not wanting to continue. The summit – it was a trap. Adriel lured them there to…’

  ‘Tell me,’ said Garrick.

  ‘To massacre them,’ Raynor said. ‘He had no intention of making peace or progress. He simply wanted to wipe out the leadership in one fail swoop.’

  ‘Galen!’ Garrick snapped. ‘I must go to the palace now,’ he said, as he turned and hurriedly walked towards his horse.

  Thaddeus and Raynor ran after him and stepped in front of him.

  ‘They are all slain,’ Thaddeus said sadly. ‘Adriel has sent the Order out to kill the wives and children of those who defied him the most and are in the city.

  ‘Galen’s children!’ Garrick barked, as he ran to his horse.

  Chapter 3

  Michael kept running, he knew if the Amalayan Order caught up with him, they would kill him. They would not care that he was only nine years old; for they had just killed his elder brothers who were only fourteen and sixteen. He knew that they were going to kill him, for after they had slain his brothers, they had searched the house looking for him to do the same thing. He tried to get the image of his slain brothers out of his mind as he ran for his life through the woods.

  His mother’s last act had been to ensure his escape and she had made him promise not to look back, whatever he heard. The scream had paralysed him momentarily but he’d had enough of a head start to allow him a moment’s terror. Now though, he could hear the Amalayan Order as they were closing in on him. He had been running and hiding for most of the day, trying desperately to hide his tracks but as they grew nearer; he knew they would be upon him soon, unless he found a hiding spot or a miracle occurred.

  Michael ignored his heaving lungs and ti
red legs and he ran even when they closed in on him and were yards away. He’d reached the edge of the river and he’d hoped to make a dive for it; knowing that the guard would not be able to follow him in immediately; for they wore heavy smocks and armour. He picked up his pace and as he neared the waters edge, freedom seemed possible but the sharp pull to his neck and shoulders told him that his mother’s sacrifice had been in vain.

  Michael let out a scream as he was forcefully dragged back and forced to face the guard who still had hold of him. The guard was clearly angry and he glared balefully at Michael. He let go of the boy momentarily, only to deliver a forceful backhand to Michael’s face that sent him crashing to the ground.

  ‘That is for making us run,’ he shouted at Michael. ‘Get up,’ he bellowed. A crying Michael remained on the floor, holding onto his face. ‘I said get up,’ the guard screamed, as he grabbed Michael’s ear and pulled him up to his feet.

  Michael screamed and the other members of the Order laughed as their fellow brother hauled the young boy off the ground and hauled him round in small circles for good measure.

  ‘You there, Stop!’ A young woman commanded them.

  The men from the Order and Michael turned around to see a young woman with soft ivory skin and ebony hair that flowed down to her waist staring at them angrily. She was tall with striking features and piercing blues eyes. She exuded grace and confidence and to Michael’s surprise, she did not seem to fear the Order. They eyed this woman with curiosity, she was clearly a woman of standing, dressed in a light blue satin dress that touched the ground and partly concealed by a black cloak.

  The young woman walked boldly towards them, keeping eye contact with the guard who had hold of Michael.

  ‘Leave the boy alone,’ she ordered. ‘Have you no shame?’ she asked angrily. ‘A grown man and soldier brutalising a small boy.’

  The guard shoved Michael out of the way and walked towards her: ‘No one tells a soldier of the Amalayan Order what to do,’ he barked. ‘Now, if you know what’s good for you; you will turn around and go back the way you came.’