Page 75 of Wrath of the Oracle

“Your reputation precedes you,” she replied. Ojore’s vision cleared as he blinked in her direction. Sholei informed her that the poison had spread to his eyes, but it seemed to have healed. Musembi felt humbled by Sholei’s skills. She had been confident the poison would kill the man. Musembihopedit would.

“I hope it’s all good things.” Ojore raised his straight eyebrow at her. Musembi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his attempted joke.

“What brings you here at this hour?” she asked, her voice steady despite her unease.

“You know what.” He came to stand before her and invaded her personal space. An intimidation tactic. The man frightened her. He appeared calm on the outside but like a crouching lion on the inside, ready to attack—or a vengeful sky god out for revenge.

“I don’t,” Musembi retorted, taking a small, subconscious step back.

“Sholei,” he replied in a heartbeat, and she watched in utter surprise as his whole visage changed. The stern planes in his face softened.

“You kidnapped her, and now she’s forced to attend to you, General. Is there a chance you’d let her go?” Musembi wondered if she could persuade Ojore to heed her warning if she couldn’t convince Sholei to break off their doomed relationship.

“That would never happen. Not in this lifetime or the next.” His tone didn’t leave room for an argument as a fierce look covered his eyes—the burning flames of Lord Keita.

Musembi swallowed. The stern glare warned her not to pursue the matter further, but Musembi was not known to scare easily.

“Sholei wishes to become an Imperial Physician. Would you let her go to the Faye Islands?” Musembi asked.

“I will be going back to Dembe soon. After reporting to the court, I will accompany her to Faye. It’s a promise I plan to fulfill,” Ojore stated, and Musembi blinked back at the towering figure.

“Is that all you’re planning on doing? Or are you interested in her in another way?” Musembi narrowed her eyes to gauge Ojore’s reaction. She was curious to know whether Sholei’s feelings were reciprocated.

“I plan on making her my wife after she settles as an Imperial Physician in the Dembe capital.” He held hergaze and his sincerity shone through. He was in love with Sholei alright.

“Why am I not surprised? After all, you have taken over the kingdom and want her now. Tell me, General, is there anyone who can stop you from getting rid of me if I stand in your way?” Musembi challenged.

“If you try to escape with her again, you won’t make it far,” Ojore replied. His jaw ticked as if he tried to rein in a retort to Musembi’s words. “I wouldn’t wish for the relationship between you two to be affected, but nothing will keep me away from Sholei.”

“I have raised Sholei since she was a mere baby, and we have clashed more than I would wish to count.” Musembi sighed and moved to sit on a crudely made wooden bench under a tree. “Other than her ambitions, nothing else moves her. Ever since she got back from captivity, we have done nothing but fight.”

“I know she wants to become an Imperial Physician, but I don’t understand how her reciprocating my feelings for her is a bad thing.” Ojore looked at the compound. “You should travel back with us. Sholei will appreciate it.”

”You two don’t belong together.” Musembi shook her head.

“Why? Because of her tattoos?” Ojore questioned and raised an eyebrow to Musembi. “I have seen them, and they don’t change anything.” Ojore began pacing before her, his arms crossed over his chest. Musembi nearly fell off her seat, her mouth agape, but no words emerged.

”If you’ve seen them, you know her destiny is not usual.” Musembi stood up and approached him. “Don’t you have tattoos, too?”

“Yes,” Ojore answered, holding her gaze. “Wings spreading from my shoulders to my upper arms.”

Musembi grabbed his arm, her eyes wide. “You must be aware of Lord…”

Above them, perched on one of the tallest trees in the yard, an eagle shrieked, and Musembi flinched at the sharp sound. Ojore didn’t appear bothered by the noise, nor did he gaze up either, as if the sound wasn’t new to him. He knew about Lord Keita. A cold sweat broke through Musembi’s back.

“My name is Ojore, son of King Kaza, nothing more, nothing less,” Ojore cut her off before she went on. His eyes glinted, and Musembi swallowed back her words.

“Does Sholei know about your dreams?” she dared to ask, her voice small.

“My dreams aren’t important to her.” Ojore pulled his arm from her grasp and turned away. “What matters is how we feel for each other.”

”Deny it all you want, but you and Sholei are fire and ice. If she doesn’t manage to hurt you, I’m afraid it’s you who will eliminate her. This is a dance where only one winner can emerge. And the stakes are against her.”

“I’d rather die than hurt Sholei.” His conviction almost moved her, and it would have if Musembi didn’t know about their fate. “The first time we met, she saved my life without knowing who I was. As we speak, she’s helping cure me of the poison in my body.”

“That is after she poisoned you herself,” Musembi countered.

“The circumstances were different. She explained why she did it,” Ojore defended.

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