The Destiny of Amalah by Thandi Ryan Page B

leave him here in peace.’
    ‘Let me say goodbye,’ Elana said sadly and somewhat desperately.
    The former Empress walked over to where her husband was and took hold of his hand and placed it in hers, she stroked his hand and then his arm and laid her head on his chest. She listened to the silence of it, for years she had rested her head on his chest and felt his heart beating, it had been strong and regular and reassuring and now that sound was gone and at that moment she realised her beloved Kai was gone too. He was truly dead and she would no longer listen to his beating heart or his voice or touch him again and then once again the tears began to fall freely from her face. She lifted her head up and touched his cheek and then kissed him tenderly on the lips before she whispered to him:
    ‘Goodbye my love, may the gods protect you wherever you may journey.’
    Elana mustered all of her strength to stand up and when she rose, she took hold of Ellora and gently led her out of the room. The three women went to Amara’s room to grieve in private. Time seemed to have no meaning for the women in those few hours that went by and mourned the loss of the man who had been the centre of their world.
    All too suddenly – Michael knocked on their door and after apologising for disturbing them – he looked solemnly at Amara, who in turn understood that her private time was now over and she would have to grieve later.
    Now it was time for her to take on her duties as the Empress, as she had been taught and as she had promised her father that she would. She turned to her mother and sister and hugged and kissed them both before speaking:
    ‘I must go now, there are things that I have to attend to that cannot wait, I love you mother and I love you too Ellora.’
    Amara kissed them both and then hugged Ellora tightly, not wanting to let her go in what was their darkest hour. Amara followed Michael out of the room and left her mother and sister to console each other while she attended to her duties. Oh how she wished she could remain there with them and grieve with them and hold onto them as they were holding onto each other. As he looked at them she once again felt truly alone and realised – that being an Empress and being in her position – she always would be.
    ‘I have convened the council Empress, they are ready and awaiting your announcement, although you will inform the council that you are accepting the role of Empress you will have an official crowning ceremony after your father’s funeral. There is also a guard on the Emperor’s door and so no one will know of his death outside of your family, myself, Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor.’
    ‘Thank you Michael.’
    ‘I have convened the Council Empress, they are ready and awaiting your announcement, although you will inform the council that you are accepting the role of Empress you will have an official coronation after your father’s funeral. There is a guard at the Emperor’s door, no one will know of his death outside of your family, myself, Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor.’
    ‘Thank you Michael,’ she said softly.
    ‘Of course, I am here to help you Empress, please remember that and please, feel free to call on me whenever necessary. I shall take you to the Council now.’
    Michael and Amara walked slowly and in silence to the Crest Room where the council meetings were held. Garrick, Häkan, Thaddeus and Raynor were already in attendance and they stood quietly, lost in their own thoughts. The remaining council members arrived shortly and they took their seats, unlike the four men, they were waiting for the Emperor and they did not hide their surprise when they saw Amara and Michael enter the room but they remained standing nonetheless.
    Amara reached the large oval table that housed the eighteen members of the World Council and then she turned to Michael; uncertain of where she should sit and what she should say. Michael held out his arm and pointed