Amandla walked around the gardens with Miranda by her side. Miranda was small and this was due to the poverty she had grown up in. She was beautiful and anyone who could see her knew she was as cunning as a fox. Harunah saw this and she thought this girl would either bring Amandla down or make her daughter worse. She watched her carefully and Miranda was aware the empress was watching her. She however pretended not to notice this and she made her moves silently. She was raised among the valoyees and her mother was from Agasah but was raped by the valoyee men as she worked as a servant. She was ditched in the gutters of the street and she was raised by the prostitutes from the brothels. The prostitutes had taught her to survive and become cunning. She had a passion for art and she was always the quiet child but scheming behind everyone. She made sure she would paint that throne room in three days to impress the queen and she had wormed her way right next to the queen. She was going to help the queen create that army of the undead and she would reign right besides the queen. They stood together at the wall facing the river. "When the spells are found, I will become your first soldier my queen." Miranda told the queen. Amandla smiled and replied, "You are not a soldier Miranda, you are my good friend and you will be with me always." The young girl saw the lonliness in the young queen's eyes, she could see her heart breaking over losing Shekah. She thought if she could bring him back then the queen would guarantee her a permanent sit at the table so she vowed to find a spell to bring him back. As they continued standing by the wall they noticed boats approaching Agasah from the south. Amandla's guards rushed to the wall to escort the queen awaybut she refused and walked down to the river with Miranda and some other men. They waited by th river bank as the boats approached them and they saw men from the south dressed in animal skins with spears jumping out of the boats. One of the chiefs son walked towards the queen and he went on his knees and praised the queen. "I am the son of the great warthog from the south and I have come to offer my spear and sword to the queen of Agasah." The rest of the men bowed down and they all repeated the same thing he had said. Amandla walked up to the man and she held his hand tightly to allow her to see into his head and past. She saw the chief giving orders to his son to leave for Agasah and offer her help in the upcoming war. She smiled and walked back to where she stood before and said. "Prepare wine and food for these men. They have come a long way and they are our friends." She walked away from the river bank followed by Miranda. Miranda had seen the way the chief's son looked at the queen, he had never seen such beauty and power in all his life and he seemed to want more from the queen but she wasn't going to let him beat her to the seat next to the queen. She was already scheming and she knew how she would get rid of him before he stole the queen's heart. She had to raise Shekah from the dead as quickly as she could.
Amandla walked back to her chambers with Miranda. She held the crystal of life in her hands and she saw this mighty man hunting. It had been days since she started seeing this mythical creature. She could tell he wasn't part of the valoyees nor was he Agasian. He was a creature from the heavens and had powers bestowed upon him. He led a group of people just like him and they were great hunters. Miranda saw this great mythical creature and said. "His name is Rajay and he was once part of the people who lived among the gods in the heavens. Legend says he wasn't happy with the god's decisions and he and his follwers exiled themselves from the heavens and dwelt in the far east of this realm."Amandla looked at the girl and asked. "How do you know about this if I may ask.?" Miranda walked towards the crystal and replied. "I was told about the legend by the prostitutes who raised me. Once there was a beautiful prostitute from Mount city and she travelled the world. Men who saw her fell into her spell and would fall in love with her. Some would give her gold and some killed for her." She paused and smiled. Amandla was curious to know more about the prostitute she tapped Miranda on her shoulder. "My apologies my queen, she passed through Agasah but the empress sent her away for she feared the woman would cast her spell on the warriors. She went on to the eastand when she got there she saw the most beautiful man and she fell in love with him. He was cold and beautiful that the prostitute stayed in the east trying to win his heart. He didn't have love her back but he tied her to a tree and left her to die from hunger and cold. The story spread and no woman has dared to travel to the east." Amandla laughed and walked away from Miranda. "You can't tell me you believe that story?" Miranda could see the queen had believed in the story but she wanted her to think that she didn't. She saw how the queen's eye lit when she saw Rajay in the crystal. She then realized in that moment what she really needed to do and she knew it wasn't to raise Shekah but it was to bring Rajay. However she also had more plans in her mind. Amandla walked out of her chambers quietly to her mother's chambers. She knocked on her mother's door quietly. "Mother I thought I should come visit you today." Harunah could see that her child was troubled and she welcomed her with a kiss and a hug. She took her hands and sat down with her on her bed. "Why do you stil care this much for me even when I have hurt you so much mother?" Amandla asked her mother. Harunah held her child's hands and replied "A mother never gives up on her child Amandla. You are my daughter and I will not give up on you. What is troubling you?" She cleared her throat and said. "Rajay troubles me. Are the legends true mother?" Harunah could see the fear in her daughter's eyes. Apart from her other two children she could see Amandla worried more about Rajay. He was a mythical being just like the people of Agasah but he was ruthless and served no one. "How did you know about Rajay Amandla?" Harunah asked. Amandla saw the look in her mother's eyes and she knew the legend was true. She knew this man was ruthless and she was so afraid. "O saw him in Arub's crystal and he burnt Agasah down. He held a woman's hand but I didn't see her face. She was not Agasian nor was she from the valoyees people. I think he will kill me mother." She told her mother in so much fear. Harunah knew Rajay hated her people and also didn't like Diablo and the rebels. He had always been stern and he had felt the gods had overlooked him and loved the servants more than them. He had thought they were worthy and the servants the gods called Agasians didn't deserve the honour they were given. However he had also not liked the valoyees for rebelling against the gods, it showed weakness and he had not served or allied himself with anyone. She looked at Amandla trying to assure her daughter. "He would never leave the east my child. He would never set foot here." Amandla could see how her mother was also trembling and she knew that she too feared him.
When Amandla left her chambers Harunah sat down by her window and looked towards the heavens. She knew the crystal never lied. It always revealed the truth that lied ahead and this was warning. The crystal was warning her daughter about the danger that lied ahead. Who was this woman who wasn't from Agasah nor was she from the Valoyees. She paced up and down in her chambers wondering who this woman who would lead and embrace Rajay would be. She was scared to her core and she prayed to the gods to protect her city. She wished Ammara was still around to help her figure out all this but she wasn't and the fate had changed since Amandla had been queen. Amandla sat in her chambers quietly, she was deep in thought and she was afraid of what she had seen in the crystal. Miranda walked towards the queen and held her shoulders trying to comfort her. She whispered in her ear and said. "Maybe what we need is Rajay on our side my queen." Amandla looked at Miranda with so much fear and said, "I could not Miranda. He will destroy my city and my people." Miranda smiled and she held the queen's face. "Not if he is on your side my queen. If he becomes your ally you will destroy all your enemies including your sisters." Amandla was tempted but in this moment she felt she needed her sisters as her allies. She was too proud to tell her mother the truth, she knew the crystal never lied but she also hoped she could change the future. If it meant she didn't have to beg her sisters she was willing to join hands with Rajay and rule the realm together. She looked at Miranda and said. "You will ride out first thing in the morning with two guards. Do not let anyone know of this." Miranda had convinced the queen and she prepared her for her journey. Harunah couldn't sleep and she sat by her window all night. It was dawn when she saw Miranda leave the tower that she realized it was her who would bring Rajay to destroy Agasah and her daughters. She was a child of mixed blood and she was neither Agasian nor was she from the Valoyees. She ran out of her chambers towards Amandla's chambers but her daughter had already left for her hunting with the other guards. It would take a day for Amandla to return and she could not leave the tower because she would think her mother had abandoned her. She fell to the ground as her heart was filled with pain. She had no idea how she would stop Miranda from destroying her daughter. Harunah wondered why this girl would want to go to such lengths to destroy Amandla after she had given her a place to stay.
Sharay and the captains reached the valleys of the gods when it was dawn. It was full of sand dunes and was dry. The valley was hot and had no life left. There weren't any trees nor grass. They covered their faces as the hot wind blew on their faces. "Why is it there is no life in this valley? Natay asked the queen. Sharay replied. "The gods battled on this ground as they fought for a place in the heavens. They fought and they defeated the owners of the heavens who abused their powers and killed people. They freed most of the mythical beings and then created this realm and the humans too. So this land was destroyed and they hid their former weapons here. Nothing grows or lives in these land because they are full of the blood of the gods who died here and the enemy they buried deep in the ground." The northerners had known of the valley but they had never seen it or really knew why it was called the valley of the gods. They walked silently as they continued searching for their weapons. "So what exactly are we looking for here Sharay?" one of the captains asked her. She smiled and replied "We are looking for the bows, arrows and spears they left buried for the people of Agasah to use in times of war. They had guardians who made sure they were safely buried deep in the ground." They continued walking in the valley. They had been walking for many days trying to reach the weapons. Sharay led the captains towards an oasis were there was green trees and a water pond between the trees. She led them near the waters and uttered a silent prayer before they all drank the water and filled their water gourds. They all headed towards the deep ends of the desert and they reached the gates made of two mighty forms of men holding their swords towards the skies. They were high up in the skies and they all marveled at this site. Sharay had never been to the valley of the gods but she had seen it through the river. She felt the presence of the dead spirits roaming the grounds and she drew her sword out. Shadows of the dead began rising from the ground and surrounding them. They were screams and laughter coming from the ground. The captains drew their spears out and they stood in a circle facing outwards. "Sharay what is happening? What are these?" Natay asked in fear. Sharay replied, "These are the shadows of the fallen gods. They will try and torment us but we should not waver." They all stood there and as the shadows came towards them they would strike them. Sharay held her sword tighter and she raised it high and screamed, "I am Sharay of Agasah, the great river that flows in these lands and I command you spirits of the dead to return where you came from!" The shadows laughed and kept circling them but Sharay took her sword and struck hard on the ground. It made the earth tremble and the wind blew harder. The shadows disappeared and it was quiet. The captains looked at Sharay with so much shock. They had never seen such power and this girl's power kept amazing them. The air cleared and there was a stairway that led to the ground. They all went towards it and Sharay opened the door. There lay swords and other weapons made from gold. The captains looked at this site with so much excitement and Sharay said. "We need to get these weapons as quickly as we can, the shadows are restless and they will be back soon." They all hurried and packed the weapons in the sacks. They left the tunnel and ran towards the gate leaving. However as they were about to leave a terrible wind blew up bringing back the shadows. Sharay stood in the middle of the ground and she ordered. "Leave and go to Mount city now! Don't look back!" the captains stood there confused but she screamed at them to leave the gates. The three captains ran out of the gates and Sharay drew her sword and pointed it in the direction of the wind. She rand towards the shadows and struck the shadows disappearing with them. The captains saw this and they felt so much fear. Natay wanted to run back in to the ground but she was stopped by the other captain. "We can't leave her there? We need to help her." She protested but the other captain shook his head. They carried their bags and left for Mount city with the weapons.