Page 56 of Wrath of the Oracle

She contemplated the uncertain outcome of her situation. In her mind, jail might be the safest place in the kingdom, given the heightened alert and the presence of soldiers from the alliance. The ongoing conflict with Dembe placed everyone on edge. Sholei couldn’t blame them for arresting her when she was clad in Dembe clothes. She looked every bit like a Dembe woman. Changing her clothes had never been part of her escape plan, and now she realized the gravity of her oversight. But again, would different clothes change the outcome of her predicament?

“Take this. If anyone tries anything, use it.” Tula conceded as she handed Sholei a small dagger.

Sholei accepted the weapon, though she doubted its effectiveness compared to the guards’ armaments.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” Sholei said.

“The silence is unsettling,” General Liami from Suneka commented at the lack of movement from the Keseve fortress. Darkness settled upon the land, and they were in a fierce battle with the Dembe invaders for days. However, for a day, their enemy’s side grew ominously quiet, and they took cover behind the tall market walls.

“Last time, they pulled the same trick and attacked us at night,” Gane reminded him, his eyes fixed on the strategic map. “We must remain vigilant. Instruct your men to stay on high alert. We are close to reclaiming what was once ours.”

“Yes, General.”

Prince Gane studied the map before him and tried to figure out a way to reclaim the market.He drew a deep breath and inhaled the cool evening air tinged with smoke. Fatigue weighed on his shoulders. Everyone was exhausted, yet he couldn’t allow the men to rest. The Dembe were cunning adversaries, and vigilance was paramount.

Days passed since he received word of the deaths of soldiers in the Dembe camp. Tula succeeded in her mission, which brought him great satisfaction, though he had lost one of his best spies, Masaka. His plan worked, but there was more to be done. He needed to deliver a decisive blow to the soldiers inside the Keseve Market before Ojore returned from the camp. That was if Sholei hadn’t followed his instructions and killed him. Retaking the market would make it challenging for Ojore and his wounded soldiers to claim the southern kingdom.

If Sholei failed to kill Ojore, Gane would be disappointed. Though she must have endured months of torment in Dembe’s clutches, none of them had it easy. As a native of Mukuru, she had a part to play in the war. Gane ran a hand across his overgrown beard. How long had it been since he had known proper rest? Weariness grew into a constant companion.

“My lord, someone is here to see you,” the guard outside his tent announced.

“Let them in,” Gane replied and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Greetings, Prince Gane.” Tula’s voice floated to his ears, and Gane stared at her bowed head. From the slump of her shoulders, Tula was exhausted, her army tunic ill-fitting and hanging loose on her almost skeletal frame. War had drained her youthful vigor and transformed herinto a battle-hardened soldier. Gane wondered if Sholei looked the same.

“You are back,” he stepped from the map and stood before her. “Did you get my message to Sholei? Is Ojore dead?” He grabbed her arm and helped her stand straight.

“Yes,” Tula’s voice was apprehensive. “And no.”

“Explain yourself.” Gane narrowed his eyes. His gaze bore into her determined yet bloodshot eyes. She was on the verge of collapse, but she remained steadfast. He was correct about her. She bore the strength to undertake the weight of the mission he assigned her.

“Sholei is imprisoned in the capital. She asks you to clear her name,” Tula revealed. “But she didn’t kill General Ojore. She only incapacitated him long enough to facilitate our escape.”

“Tell me everything from the moment you left the capital,” Gane ordered, and walked back to his seat.

Tula recounted her journey and described the events from her departure to Sholei’s arrest. Gane listened with keen attention and refrained from interrupting her narrative. Before him stood not a young woman but a battle-hardened soldier who witnessed the horrors of war. His hands curled into fists when Tula recounted how Sholei had the chance to kill Ojore but resorted to using poison. Why would she spare his life?

“My prince, you must save her. The city guards have branded Sholei a traitor,” she pleaded for her friend. “She risked everything to help me escape. If anything happens to her…I—” a bout of coughs attacked her.

“Sholei might have failed to complete her mission, but I will not have her suffer prosecution for a mistake shedidn’t commit. She is a victim of war like all of us,” Gane reassured her. Deep down, he was disappointed, but all wasn’t lost; Sholei’s skills made her invaluable to him. She was back in the kingdom at his side. He would put her to use after the war ended, just like he planned.

“How close was she with Ojore?” he dared to ask the question. In correspondence with Leikun, the bandit told him about the close relationship between the two. He awaited Tula to confirm the report.

“She spent her days at the medical camp and had little interaction with the General.” Tula swallowed and avoided his eyes.

Tula was lying. He received information that Ojore took an interest in Sholei. Rumors spread about their intimacy, and how she spent her nights inside his chambers. She worked with his physician, and they were close enough to share meals. Sholei had become his concubine, and maybe Sholei had grown some affection for the barbarian, making it hard for her to dispose of him.

“I know you don’t want to slander your friend, but I need to know about her relations with Ojore.”

“From what I know, Sholei has no personal relationship with him.” Tula bent her head lower, and Gane let the silence spread for a few moments. When Tula didn’t divulge any more information, he knew he couldn’t make her.

“I am impressed by your loyalty to Sholei, but don’t take me for a fool,” Gane, slammed his fist on the table. Figurines on the spread-out map tumbled to the floor, and Tula dropped to her knees.

“My prince, Sholei decided to escape with me from that camp. If she were involved with Ojore, she wouldn’t have risked her life to save mine and return to your side.” Tula met Gane’s eyes.

Before Gane could answer, a soldier burst into the tent and said, “General, something is happening outside. We need you to take a look.”

“What is it?” Gane shifted his attention from Tula, and she sighed with relief.

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