The Destiny of Amalah by Thandi Ryan

Live here, look after our children and I will wait for you.’
    ‘Kai,’ Elana said, as the tears ran down her face.
    ‘I love you,’ he said as he pulled her closer towards him and she rested her head on his chest.
    Elana was about to speak again but the bedroom door opened and Amara entered and went straight to her father’s bedside. Elana kissed her daughter and then rose gracefully to let Amara sit in her place, so that Kai could talk to his eldest daughter.
    ‘Amara, I do not have much time left in this world,’ the Emperor began. ‘We both know that. I love you and I am proud of you and I always will be. Look after your mother and your sister. I know you are young and this is a great burden for you to bear but you will bear it.
    I have seen you grow over the last few years and turn into a beautiful, strong and intelligent young woman. If anyone can handle the days ahead you can my child. I want you to carry on learning and doing what you are doing, for when I am gone, the people will look to you for leadership and you must lead them. I know you can and you will, I also want you to make me another promise.’
    ‘Anything father.’
    ‘Promise me that you will keep the nations united, promise me that you will rule wisely and fairly, that you will temper justice with mercy and that you will listen to those around you but ultimately – you must listen to yourself to do what is right.’
    ‘But what if I am wrong father?’
    ‘As I have said to you before; do things with a good heart and learn to listen to your instincts; follow them and you will learn to trust yourself and you will not go far wrong dear child.’
    ‘I don’t know if I can.’
    ‘You can and you must,’ he said firmly; ‘and I trust that you will. Promise me this Amara.’
    ‘I promise father.’
    ‘Good, now remember, never forget…’ Kai began as he took a few deep breaths and took hold of his daughters hand and squeezed it; ‘…I love you,’ and then Kai’s eyes widened suddenly and he clutched his chest with his other hand.
    ‘DADDY!’ Amara screamed.
    Elana rushed over to her husband who was still clutching onto his chest for dear life but when she reached him, his hear was no longer beating. Elana desperately put her ear to his chest and even though she knew that Kai had gone, she listened nonetheless, hoping beyond hope that somehow, he would come back to life.
    Elana still held onto Kai even though she knew he was gone. She stared at him for the longest time as a thousand thoughts went through her head, none of which she could comprehend and so, she just remained there in silence looking at her husband as the tears began streaming down her face.
    Daddy,’ Amara whispered as the tears began to fall from her face.
    Amara turned and wondered where her sister had gone. She stood up to leave and find her sister to tell her about their father but as she opened her father’s door, she was caught off guard as she saw Ellora standing there with her hand on the door handle. Ellora stopped in her tracks as she saw her sisters’ ashen and distressed face and Ellora knew immediately that something had happened to her father. She looked at Amara, hoping it wasn’t so but Amara’s slow and unmistakable nod, confirmed her worst fears.
    ‘No,’ she cried. ‘No,’ she whispered as she stepped back, not wanting any of this terrible moment to be real. Amara rushed forward and enveloped her baby sister in her arms and Ellora cried for her father.
    ‘Come now Ellora,’ Amara said gently. ‘We must say goodbye to our father.’
    Ellora, who was still crying and resting her head on her sister’s shoulder, nodded.
    ‘Alright,’ she said quietly, the tears still running down her face.
    Amara led her sister into their parents’ room and Ellora ran to her mother, whose arms were open and once Ellora reached them, she began sobbing anew. Elana kissed her daughter’s head and tried to soothe her but Ellora was inconsolable. Eventually,