Page 48 of Wrath of the Oracle

“Step back,” Akima commanded. “She is the one who poisoned the water and food in the camp. She has yet to confess her sins.” Sholei held Tula closer and turned to face Ojore. He wielded the blood-covered sword. He didn’t utter a word, his face unreadable.

“The man she was with confessed to his sins. He received his punishments and died with his body intact. I can’t say the same will happen to her.” Akima pointed to the slain spy.

“Don’t worry about me.” Tula struggled with her breath. “I have a message to pass before I die.” A spate of bloodied coughs racked her and she lowered her voice. “Prince Gane will grant all our wishes if you take down Prince Ojore.”

“Prince Gane? Was he the one who sent you to this death trap?” Sholei whispered back. She couldn’t believe Gane could put Tula on such a dangerous mission. Tula wanted to be in the army and fight like her older brothers, but she didn’t have the training to be a soldier. It was suicidal to even think about it.

“I volunteered to come.” Tula feigned a painful smile, but her battered face turned it into a grimace. “I will not be dying alone. The number of Dembe soldiers who took the poison is high. They will die like dogs in the streets.”

“What have you done, Tula?” Sholei shook her friend’s body.

“She has already confessed, General.” Akima turned to Ojore. “She admitted to poisoning our food and water.”

Ojore crouched down to Sholei’s level. The high midday sun behind him darkened his visage. “You heard your friend.” He looked Sholei in the eyes, his voice cold. “She killed my men. I can’t let her go.”

“You can’t hurt her.” Sholei shook her head and held Ojore’s hard gaze. Tula went limp, her body sagged against Sholei’s arms.

“Trespassers in my camp face death. She is no exception.” Ojore’s tone didn’t change.

Sholei tried not to flinch when Ojore’s words washed over her like icy water. The group of soldiers around the pavilion called for Tula’s blood.

The man before her was no longer the traveler she spent the night with, riding across the grassland, counting stars, and finding comfort in his arms. He was the general of the Dembe Southern Army, the most formidable military force in the region, and the conqueror of the Keseve Market.

“To get to her, you must go through me first.” Sholei fought back tears and gripped her unconscious friend tighter.

Ojore chuckled, but mirth didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you think I won’t hurt you?” His words cut like a blade, and she swallowed,fullyaware that Ojore couldindeedharm her.

“She knows the component of the poison. I need her to tell me how to create an antidote. We must question her for more information.” Sholei opted for a different approach. She couldn’t let Tula die by Ojore’s sword.

“Her death is inevitable.” Ojore stood up, and desperation crawled down Sholei’s spine when he flexed the blood-covered sword in his hand. The blood spatter on his face gave him a menacing look.

“Give me seven days,” she implored. “I will have found a cure for the soldiers.” Sholei’s voice quivered with desperation.

“Five.” Ojore fixed a stern gaze on her. “Get her to reveal what poison she used, and I might reconsider leavingher body intact.” With that, Ojore threw his blood-stained sword before her and departed from the pavilion. Sholei slumped in relief, and Mueni rushed to her side.

Above, the huge eagle circled and landed on one post beside the pavilion. As she inspected her friend, the screech from its beak didn’t register to Sholei.

Gane rushed towards the king’s outer court, with an urgent message for his father about the war’s progress. His strategic plans yielded results, and the re-conquest of the Keseve Market was imminent. Time was of the essence, and they needed to strike fast. Leikun’s spies reported on Ojore’s movement and dead bodies being burned in the camp.

One of his trusted spies managed to infiltrate Ojore’s camp and poison the food and water supply. Leikun supplied the poison from the far desert tribes, and it worked like magic.

Gane found his father surrounded by a few senior elders from the court and his mother. Queen Kajala’s eyes lit up with a wide smile as she spotted him. They sat in an expansive outdoor gazebo. The king sat on his gold-ornamented throne with golden lion heads adorning its armrests; the king of beasts symbolized power in their kingdom. King Gusiwaju’s golden robes—symbolizing regal authority—brushed the ground. Beside him on a smaller throne, Gane’s mother wore opulent jewelry from head to sandaled feet.

“Greetings, my King.” He bowed. “My elders.” He reciprocated his mother’s smile. “I have urgent news to share with you.”

“We, too, have good news,” his mother chimed in, her dark-rimmed eyes crinkling with amusement, her voice musical. From his periphery, the older men exchanged looks with each other.

“We’ve chosen a bride for your nuptials.” His father announced. “It’s time you settled down and started your own family.” He gave his son a supportive pat on the back.

Gane tried to hide the surprise registered on his face. He knew his father watched him for any reaction. The elders were from his mother’s clan and his biggest supporters in the fight for the throne.

The alliance would soon purge Dembe from their lands if everything went according to his plan. As it stood, the men Ojore left behind to guard the Keseve Market barricaded behind the market. Gane was sure they planned their onslaught for the upcoming days. Marriage had been the last thing on his mind.

“Isn’t it premature to discuss marriage amid an ongoing war?” Gane attempted to steer the conversation away from the topic.

“We’ve considered the circumstances and decided that a union between you and the daughter of the Makoitclan will strengthen your hold in the court if you want to ascend the throne,” King Gusiwaju said, and the elders nodded in agreement.

“The house of Makoit has a sole daughter, a beautiful young woman named Mmbone. You’ll find her quite appealing,” Queen Kajala added. “She has received training in her future role as the Crown Princess.”

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