Page 24 of Wrath of the Oracle

“Do you have a medicine yard around here?” she asked Mueni, her nose in the air.

“That is where the physician cooks your medicine.” Mueni nodded her head.

Sholei changed her direction toward the tent with Mueni fast on her trail.

She came upon a large tent secluded from the others. At the entrance, she found rows of beds made of wood and blankets. The space was wide and airy, on the wall was an extended work table full of all sorts of medical equipment, different sizes of mortars and pestles, and sterilized instruments, and medicine pots used to cook herbs. On the walls and high on the roof lay dried roots, leaves, tree bark, pastes, powders, and fruits used in medicine. Sholei closed her eyes and inhaled. For a second, she could see and smell the medicine yard back in Mukuru.

Only one bed was occupied by a soldier with a head injury. He appeared to be having a fitful sleep, with beads of sweat coating his forehead.He’s running a fever. Sholei observed his symptoms, moving to his side.

“Shouldn’t you be lying down?” a curious voice said before Sholei could reach the patient. She turned and instantly schooled her features not to appear so surprised.

“You are an albino,” Sholei said. Much of the man’s body was covered in attire similar to the soldiers outside. His arms were exposed, and his unique skin tone contrasted with his black pants.

He was much older than her, closer to Musembi’s age. She bent her head in greeting according to Mukurutraditions. Mueni had explained some essential customs in the Dembe Kingdom, but Sholei wasn’t keen on learning them. Besides, their cultures weren’t so different. Sholei assumed she wouldn’t get to use them if her escape plan went through.

“Even though you’re the general’s concubine, that isn’t a kind way to address an Imperial Physician,” the man chuckled at her, reciprocating her greeting with a slight bow. She ignored the snide comment and the amused glint in his light eyes. Sholei heard about people with albinism but had yet to meet one. Rarely was a child born albino and allowed to live. Sholei thought the practice was cruel. Those children were seen as bad luck by the community. She was amazed by the man before her.

An Imperial Physician?Sholei stared at the man, her mouth gaping open. Had she taken medicine prepared by a physician from the Academy of Imperial Physicians? With small steps, Sholei approached the man.

“You were trained by the Academy of Imperial Physicians of the Faye Islands?” she asked, her voice squeaky. He raised a pale eyebrow at her.

“I have an insignia to prove it.” He retrieved a small round white marble and tossed it into her hand. Sholei ran her fingers over it and felt the engraving of the water waves, the Academy’s symbol. Graduates who passed through the Academy carried the pendant as identification.

Words failed her as she gazed at the one thing she wished to have with all her life. No Imperial Physician in the capital of Mukuru gave her time or space. Then the man took the small stone back and tucked it into his robes.

”My name is Litonde, and I am the head physician in this camp.” The man walked to the bedside of the injured soldier. He held a small medicine bowl.

“You were the one preparing my medicine?” Sholei found her voice.

As a physician, Sholei was impressed by Litonde’s skills before meeting the man. It was no wonder he was a graduate of the Faye Islands. She had been hesitant to take the medication until she learned of the contents. The military camp had some high-quality ingredients. Musembi would have a heyday if she came upon their supply.

“Seeing that you are walking around, I think I did a good job patching you up.” He didn’t look up as he talked and started feeding the patient the medicine. Sholei still couldn’t believe she was in the presence of someone so esteemed.

“Thank you so much for your help. I will not forget it.” Sholei bowed, grateful to the man for preparing her medicine. Physicians felt appreciated when patients expressed gratitude.

“Don’t go jumping in front of swords next time.” He spoke low, as if he didn’t want her to hear, but Sholei caught each word. His statement caught her off guard, reminding Sholei that she was in an enemy camp.

The patient he was feeding spit out the medicine and started thrashing on the bed, his long arms flailing. Sholei ran to the other side and felt his temperature. Litonde watched, his eyes sparkling with interest.

“Can you think of a way to reduce his temperature?” Litonde asked her.

“Have you tried a steam bath? He has a high fever,” she answered, her hand on the man’s forehead. The patient’s skin was hot and clammy. Then she remembered she wasn’t in the medicine yard and stepped back.

“Why are you backing up? Go on, what about his fever?” The older physician raised his bushy pale eyebrows at her, his hands on the man’s shoulders.

“A steam bath with herbs might lower his temperature,” Sholei explained, feeling the man’s erratic pulse at the base of his throat. Sholei went on to name different herbs to be boiled together.

“How do you know that?” Litonde leveled his eyes at her.

“I have treated these symptoms before,” Sholei went on, encouraged by his keen listening. “Mueni, get me a bowl of water and a clean cloth.” Mueni jumped into action, rushing toward the work table.

“The general said you worked in the medicine yard back in Mukuru. It must be true then,” Litonde said. Sholei wondered how much Ojore had revealed about her background and why.

“Sholei.”Sholei opened her eyes to Ojore sitting beside her. In the low light of the torches, his sharp features softened. For a second, she stared at him, mesmerized. He was dressed in a long dark robe that covered his broad shoulders and he held a robe, preparing to tuck her into bed like he did back in his residence.

It took her a moment to remember she was in the physician’s tent. It was night, and the campsite was quiet. She gazed around. No one else was about.

“What are you doing here?” Sholei sat up. His spicy scent blended with the cool evening air.

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