Page 38 of Wrath of the Oracle

“I would give up my title to see the look on Tuyo’s face when she learns Ojore has taken a fancy to another girl, and it’s not her.” The girl barked in infectious laughter.

“Tuyo?” Sholei raised her eyebrows. “Who is she?”

“A pompous and ego-inflated woman who would throw tantrums whenever someone mentioned anything against herbelovedPrince Ojore,” the woman continued to laugh as if she conversed with an old friend.

Sholei got carried away by her infectious laughter. She felt drawn to the woman before her, even before knowing her name.

”Tuyo does not deserve my brother. She is a hateful woman who will make his life miserable. I am sure of it,” the girl went on, oblivious to Sholei’s confusion.

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am Ngele, a Princess from Dembe Kingdom.” Ngele smiled at Sholei. “Ojore is my elder brother. We share the same father butdifferent mothers. We are both children born to concubines. We bonded over our similar upbringings. Though Ojore left the palace earlier to serve in the military, we have been in touch all this time.” Princess Ngele smiled as she pulled Sholei to take a seat beside her on the bed.

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.” Sholei didn’t know what else to say as she sat beside the excited princess.

“You are here to attend my wedding.” Ngele wrapped an arm around Sholei’s elbow and pulled her close. “Today we must drink and celebrate until we drop dead.” As they say, no one shines as bright as a bride on her wedding day. Ngele glowed from her wide smile to her infectious cheerfulness.

“I didn’t prepare any gifts. I wasn’t aware of today’s celebrations,” Sholei apologized. Ojore hadn’t told her anything.

“The greatest gift you can give me is being my friend,” Ngele replied and took Sholei’s hands in hers. “But before that, we must get ready.”

With the clap of her hands, servants lined up inside the room with trays encumbered with clothes and accessories. Night settled, and shadows on the walls grew. The servants lit more lanterns. The wedding celebrations were to be held later that evening. In the distance, the sound of musical instruments floated in the room.

“The grasslands are warm compared to the cool temperatures back home. I wish I would stay here more and didn’t have to go back,” Ngele said as they soaked their feet in the warm water. “You must miss your home, Sholei,”she added as an afterthought. The servants around them worked in relative silence.

“I wish I could travel back, but that is becoming impossible,” Sholei answered as she lifted her arm for a silver band to be secured on her upper arm.

“Even though life in the palace can be unbearable at times, I would miss my family if I stayed far away from them for so long,” the princess said.

“No matter how far we wander this land, we always yearn for home,” Sholei sighed.

“I must be insensitive celebrating my wedding while you wish to return to your people.” Ngele was apologetic. “But do you know of the saying, girls have no permanent homes? We are tied to the men in our lives; if not our fathers, then our husbands.”

“I have never known my parents.” Sholei found it easy to open up to Ngele. She reminded her of Tula, her best friend, who she might not meet again. Sholei raised her arm as another bracelet was fastened on her other arm. When the servant went for her headscarf, she declined.

“I have to tend to your hair,” the young girl explained and reached for Sholei again.

“Find her a headband to match her dress,” Princess Ngele intervened when she noticed Sholei’s unease. Sholei smiled, thankful she didn’t ask questions.

For the second time that day, she was dressed for the ceremony. She wore more jewelry in a day than she saw in all her life. Dembe royalty was affluent, which showed from the elegant clothes Ojore had supplied her to the rich décor inside the princess’s rooms. She was sure that Ngele’s wedding was to be no different.

“I just met you today, but I feel like we will be good friends.” Princess Ngele patted Sholei’s hand in comfort. Her thin copper bracelets twinkled in the low firelight. “It’s a pity you are returning to the camp. I wish you would join me back in Dembe.”

“You won’t be staying with your husband’s people?” Sholei raised her eyebrows. In Mukuru, brides lived with the husband’s family once married.

“No.” Ngele shook her head and adjusted the ornaments on her head. “I don’t have a choice. After the wedding, Odende will report to the court. Such is the life of marrying into royalty.”

“You wish to remain here, in the plains?” Sholei recalled the beauty she witnessed along the way. She, too, wouldn’t exchange the open plains and beautiful views for a cold environment.

“I wish to roam around the grasslands without a care in the world, but I must follow my husband. Since the law dictates that he must join the court after marrying a princess, I must follow him.”

“Your husband is not royalty?” Sholei assumed that royalty ended up with fellow nobles or other people from the aristocratic class. Something told her that Ngele wasn’t one to sit around and be ordered about. She took charge of her future.

“I couldn’t marry those self-important men.” Ngele laughed and revealed the gap between her front upper teeth. “Odende comes from a military background. He has been friends with Ojore since childhood and served under the Dembe Northern army.”

Seeing her talk about her future husband with such joy in her voice got Sholei thinking about her future. Would she ever be that happy if she gained the title of an Imperial Physician?

“Do you have someone you love?” Ngele asked.

“Love?” Sholei didn’t know much about love.Who had time for love when they could barely survive?

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