Page 59 of Wrath of the Oracle

“The Keseve Market, Mukuru, and all the cities in the alliance are under Dembe now!” Ojore shouted. His men rejoiced with him, their voices rising above the thunder and rain.

“Never,” Gane swore under his breath, blood trickled from the corner of his lips. Ojore approached him.

“Sholei will be mine,” Ojore proclaimed only for Gane’s ear. His eyes burned the color of bright fire.

Ojore struck Gane on the side of his head, and Gane crumpled in the mud, soaked in water and blood. His vision blurred, and he watched as the wildfire and rain fought for dominance. Ojore turned his back on him and impaled the alliance soldier who raced toward him with his weapon raised. As the blood from the slain man sprayed across Gane’s eyes, his world plunged into darkness and silence.

It had only been a few days, but it felt like years to Sholei. She tried to question the guards about the situation, but they ignored her. Apart from offering her meager food and water once a day, they didn’t say much. They didn’t bring her up for questioning anymore, which gave her a reprieve. Sholei spent her days gazing out the small window and prayed for Tula to reach Gane. The journey took a couple of days on a fast horse. He was the only man who could release her from the wretched prison.

In the room’s silence, she tried not to think about Ojore and how he fared. The sleeping potion she gave him would have worn off, and he would have returned to the battlefield. He would hate her after what she had done to him, Sholei thought, and her heart sank. She hated herself more, and she was beingpunished for it.

She had taken a chance to return to her homeland only to find herself imprisoned. Sholei didn’t know how long she would be held before being released, and that was if she would be released. She wasn’t allowed to see Musembi, and she was treated as a traitor by her people.

A chaotic noise outside the cell stopped her train of thought. She turned, Musembi\ strode in with her favorite cane in hand, and she held a cloth covered with white powder. Her mentor covered her nose and mouth with a piece of cloth. Sholei’s eyes misted with the emotions accosting her.

Musembi, the ever-straight arrow, bent and used poison against her teachings. Months ago, Sholei used the same tactic, to poison the Dembe soldiers to get away from them in the caves. Musembi wielded the same powder to weaken the guards outside the door.

“Sholei, are you okay?” Musembi tucked the powdered cloth inside her robes and opened the wooden cell door. She fumbled with the chains and cursed under her breath.

“You shouldn’t be here. What if someone sees you?” Sholei’s voice quivered with emotion. It struck her how she missed the woman who played the role of guardian throughout her life.

Musembi managed to open the door, and in tears, Sholei flung her arms around her mentor. Musembi hesitated before she returned the embrace and patted Sholei on the back. Sholei couldn’t remember the last time Musembi held her. Ever since she could remember, the older woman treated her like a bother.

“Easy now, stop crying.” Musembi’s gentle words intensified Sholei’s tears. She tightened her hold as her shoulders shook with emotion.

“I thought I would never see you again,” Sholei sobbed. The ever-present scent of herbs clung to Musembi’s clothes and invaded Sholei’s nose, reminding her of the medicine yard. Her home.

“I’m here.” Musembi pulled away from Sholei’s tight hold. “Let me take a good look at you. You have lost so much weight.” Musembi examined her from head to toe. If she noticed the change in Sholei’s clothing, she didn’t mention it.

Through blurry eyes, Sholei looked at her mentor. Her smooth face aged since she last saw her. She recalled their last argument, and for months, Sholei blamed herself for not treating Musembi right.

“I didn’t suffer much in the Dembe military camp.” She grabbed Musembi’s callused hands. Hands that taught her everything she knew about medicine.

“I tried everything to get the court to send soldiers to save you, but my request was denied.” Musembi held Sholei’s gaze and squeezed her hand.

“I came back with Tula. She went to search for Prince Gane to help plead my case. I believe he’ll come to my defense if he learns about my arrest.” Sholei sniffed back tears.

”Don’t hold on to that hope. The Dembe have taken over the Keseve Market for the second time.” Musembi took a deep breath.

“So soon?” Sholei whispered.

“The alliance has fallen. I am breaking you from prison because I don’t know how things will turn out after Keseve.” Musembi’s gaze went to the door. “The soldiers from other cities will rush to protect their borders. A useless attempt, if you ask me. As soon as the Alliance failed to protect the market, they lost Mukuru and her cities.”

“Has the Dembe army broken through Mukuru City?” Sholei’s heart thundered in her chest. Ojore acted faster than she predicted.

“Not yet, but it won’t be long. The handful of city guards won’t stop the onslaught.” Musembi’s jaw ticked. Mukuru’s capital was no longer safe. Sholei swallowed and contemplated the grim possibility of Prince Gane’s death. With the fall of Mukuru, Gane wouldn’t make it.

‘All the males in the palace will be killed,’Ojore had said on the night of his sister’s wedding.

What about Tula? Did she send her friend to her death? Cold sweat broke on Sholei’s back.

“From what I’ve heard, the king is not keen on giving up. Even though we have suffered great causalities in this war, everyone wishes for it to end.” Musembi turned to Sholei. “That is why I must get you out of here. If the alliance loses, you will be at the mercy of the Dembe again.”

“I’m a fugitive beyond these walls. Where can I possibly go? What shall become of me…us?” Sholei asked. Gane was supposed to win the war and stop Dembe. With the collapse of Mukuru, Sholei hadn’t planned that far. If she stayed in the prison cells, Ojore was bound to find her. What would he do then?

“Anywhere, so long as it’s far removed from here. We’ll leave Dembe and Mukuru kingdoms behind and start a new life.” Musembi waved her arms.

“But Mukuru isourhome,” Sholei protested. She had risked everything to come back.

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