The Destiny of Amalah Read Online Free PDF Page A

encountered the Order beating this boy and intervened. It appears that they were going to kill him.’
    ‘He is but a child,’ said Kai, not hiding his surprise. ‘Why?’
    ‘His father,’ said Elana. She turned to Michael and smiled at him. ‘Do not be afraid Michael. This is Kai, my husband and this is Häkan, my guard.’
    ‘Who is your father young man?’ Kai asked.
    ‘Galen – Regent of the Region of Halimaya in Amalah,’ Michael said tearfully and then he began crying.
    Kai knelt down and grasped Michael’s shoulders: ‘Fear not young man, no one will harm you now I swear it.
    ‘But they killed my brothers. I saw it with my own eyes,’ he cried. ‘And then…’ he sobbed heavily; ‘and then they killed my mother because she helped me escape.’
    The horrified adults looked at each other and then at Michael. Kai took Michael in his arms and comforted him as he sobbed uncontrollably. Elana shook her head and leaned against a tree to take in the news that the young boy had given them.
    ‘Where is your father?’ Häkan asked.
    ‘At the summit,’ Michael answered.
    ‘With your father,’ Elana whispered as she looked at Kai.
    ‘We need to warn them,’ said Häkan. ‘This is a dastardly step indeed but Adriel must have some other plan for the summit, because he must know that such a deed would not go unpunished. We also need to leave this place for the Order has been alerted,’ he said grimly.
    Kai rose to his feet and looked at Elana and then Häkan: ‘I agree but the question is, what has Adriel planned this day? A day where he can murder two children and attempt to murder a third while he holds court to his father. His wickedness knows no bounds.’
    The three adults made their way to their horses with Michael walking by Elana’s side. Elana mounted hers first and Häkan lifted Michael onto her horse.
    ‘You will ride with the princess,’ he told him. ‘We will make our way to the palace now and find your father.’
    Michael nodded and Häkan and Kai then mounted their horses and they all headed in the direction of the palace to find Michael’s father and confront Adriel. Kai wondered how Galen would react to the loss of his sons. He’d known Adriel was brutal but he had never imagined that he would stoop so low and murder children. It troubled him that all of the leaders, his father included; had been invited to the summit, while Adriel was secretly indulging his bloodlust.
    As they rode on, they soon encountered another group of the Amalayan Order who were at least twenty in number. Häkan immediately dismounted and the others quickly followed suit. Kai and Häkan stood side by side, whilst Elana and Michael stood behind them.
    ‘I sense trouble,’ said Kai.
    ‘As do I,’ said Häkan. ‘Princess, stay behind us and protect the boy. If we fight, take cover in the trees.’
    Kai and Häkan continued to walk forward, slowly and calmly. They counted the number of men in the Order, twenty-two in total and they were all armed. As the two men drew closer, the leader of the Order stepped forward.
    ‘May I ask where you are going and who you all are?’ he said, as he put his hand out to stop them.
    ‘I am Prince Kai of Mantor. My father Tobiah is King and is attending the summit. My wife Princess Elana; my guard Häkan and we are looking after the boy.’
    ‘And who might the boy be?’ the guard asked.
    ‘The boy is of no concern to you,’ answered Kai.
    ‘The boy is the son of Galen,’ one of the Order said, as he stepped forward to stand by his leader and point at Michael.
    ‘Well, well,’ the leader said. ‘The Amalayan Order have been commanded to take Galen’s boy into custody.’
    ‘Well I have heard no such command,’ said Kai. ‘I am a royal visitor and I only take commands from Adriel or his Generals. As such, the boy stays with me.’
    ‘You are outnumbered,’ the leader said tersely, as he drew his sword. ‘Royal or not, the boy comes with us. Whether you wish to