Page 67 of Wrath of the Oracle

“We need to go back to the forest,” Sholei said. An arrow lay on the ground. She stayed with the Dembe forlong enough to recognize their weapons. They were the ones who attacked the village.

“It’s too late for that,” Musembi said in a strangled voice. Men in dark robes emerged around them. They were a group of more than twenty, dressed akin to Ojore’s attire when she had first met him. Black masks concealed their faces. Her eyes scanned the crowd as she searched for Ojore, but he wasn’t in the group. For some reason, her heart dropped.

“Sholei,” Akima’s low voice addressed her as he pushed back his dark face mask to reveal a painted face. He held Musembi in a chokehold. With a sharp jab to the back of her head, Musembi crumpled to the sandy ground, and Sholei rushed to her side.

“Stop,” Akima’s commanding voice ordered. “One more step, and I will kill her.” He pointed his sword at Musembi’s neck, and Sholei swallowed.

“Search her for weapons. Watch out for powder,” Akima commanded the soldier nearest to her. His dark eyes never left hers.

“I don’t have anything on me,” Sholei tried to assure him, but her words fell on deaf ears as the man roughly patted her down.

“I don’t trust you.” Akima’s statement was cold, just like his glare.

“What happened to this village? Why did you attack it?” Sholei asked as she tried to ignore the hands that were moving up and down her body.

“Tie her up.” Akima ignored her question and threw thick ropes at her feet.

“Akima, answer me.” She pushed the man searching her aside and strode toward the tall sentinel.

“There is a war going on, in case you didn’t notice.” Akima raised his weapon to her neck. “I had to make sure you weren’t hiding in case you got here before us.”

“What did these people do to deserve their whole village being razed to the ground?” Sholei swallowed when the cold blade touched her skin. “The Dembe don’t attack innocent people.”

“That’s what you want to believe.” Akima gritted his teeth and Sholei knew he was doing everything in his power not to cut her down. “If anyone tries to shield you, they won’t survive what’s coming.”

“Did Ojore ask you to come after me?” Sholei closed her eyes in sorrow; because of her, a village suffered.

“The only thing preventing your immediate demise is my pledge to the prince. Otherwise, I would strike you dead where you stand.” Akima swore and grabbed her by the front of her worn robes.

”Did Ojore order you to kill me?” she breathed as she was lifted from the ground.

“You don’t deserve to utter his name after you betrayed him. He’s risking everything he built for you,” Akima snapped, his grip tightening on her clothes. Sholei prayed he wouldn’t choke her to death. As the shadow following Ojore, Akima was as deadly as he was silent.

”Did he order my death?” She shouted her question again and fought against his hold.

“You must cure the curse you placed on him.” Akima’s voice cracked with emotion. “If he perishes, you’ll share his fate.”

They madea swift return to Mukuru using horses, a far quicker mode of transport. Akima pushed them relentlessly, and rest was a scarce luxury on their journey. In under five days, they were back in the capital. Sholei worried about what she would face. Akima barely spoke to her and gave her a hard glare every time their eyes met.

Once they made it past the freshly painted dark gates of the palace, they were received by Mueni and other soldiers. A disgruntled Akima told her that apart from him and Litonde, no one else knew what ailed the prince. The soldiers thought he was injured in the battle and was recuperating.

“My Lady,” Mueni sniffed back tears. “Welcome back.” There was no trace of animosity in her voice, despite Sholei’s abrupt departure. Mueni flung her arms around her. Sholei returned her hug and held the younger girl close. The time they spent in war camp as the only women drew them close.

”This way.” Akima disrupted their reunion and dragged Sholei deep inside the palace. His punitive hold dug into her arm.

They traversed the palace grounds, and Sholei witnessed Dembe soldiers stationed at various locations as they asserted their control over Mukuru. Mukuru’s vibrant banners were replaced with Dembe’s dark colors, symbolizing the transformation of the once-thriving kingdom into an occupied territory. It was like coming back to a different place. Sholei noted the presence of Dembe Kingdom’s court officials, recognizable by theirdark robes with gold lining—the same colors Ojore wore during meetings at the camp.

Prince Ojore resided inside the palace grounds in one of the several guesthouses. The spacious and expansive yards hosted dignitaries who came to visit the kingdom. Sholei heard of their luxury but had never been inside. Of the kingdoms in the south, Mukuru was the richest due to trading activities. They spared no expense in catering to their guests.

”He’s in there, meeting court officials.” Akima stopped short outside a set of wide double door.

“Is he well enough to hold meetings? I thought you said he couldn’t move out of bed,” Sholei strained her ear to capture Ojore’s voice. Her heart beat faster with anxiety. Or was it anticipation? She couldn’t tell.

“That was several nights ago. After the second battle in Keseve, the prince collapsed and remained unconscious for hours. Upon awakening, he lost his voice. His illness manifests in different ways, and Litonde is baffled by it. He lost his sight after he recovered his voice, hence why you are here.” Akima’s brows knitted together. “He guessed you would be traveling southward toward the lake and ordered me to bring you back. Who knew he could predict your movements?”

Sholei wondered about it, too, but decided she would worry about that later. At the moment, she needed to figure out how she and Musembi would survive their current predicament. How would Ojore treat her after her betrayal? Her survival depended on his actions.

“I can summon Litonde. He might give better insight than me.” Akima made to turn about but Sholei held her hand up.

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