Page 80 of Wrath of the Oracle

“Have you ever been on a battlefield?” Ojore approached him. “The scent of fresh blood, the sounds of bones breaking, and grown men begging for quick death are all you hear and smell. It’s not easy to identify one man in a field of bloodied, gored, and dismembered bodies.”

The elder stepped back, eyes downcast, and wiped his sweaty brow.

“Prince Gane has never posed a threat, nor will he rise from the dead. And if he does, I shall kill him again,” Ojore said. The elder was there to cause trouble for him in the true fashion of Queen Nnandi. His victory must have turned the court of Dembe in his favor if she sent her minion to discredit him.

“Thank you for your clarification.” The elder bowed and stumbled to his feet, eager to get away from Ojore.

“I must remind you, elders, I will not tolerate any rebellions from Mukuru. I will annihilate everyone who goes against Dembe,” he passed on the stern warning, his voice vibrating against the walls of the great hall.

“Now, let’s get back to discussing the state’s new leadership.” He returned to the throne and said, “But before that, I want to officially welcome you to the great Dembe Kingdom, the greatest kingdom under the sun.”

“The queen has increasedthe number of spies around you,” Akima whispered to Ojore as soon as he dismissed the court. They walked along the narrow hallways toward Ojore’s private quarters.

“She’s getting bolder.” Ojore tapped the golden cane he was walking with, another accessory to his court attire. The elder who had challenged him earlier came from the Queen’s clan. If he could come out like that, Ojore couldn’t imagine how many were in the shadows.

“With your victory, she’s getting more anxious.” Akima nodded his head.

“It’s unfortunate that the assassins sent after me either died or escaped. We were close to apprehending her.”

“The ones that followed you from Princess Ngele’s wedding?” Akima asked. Ojore shared his encounter with the infamous Sokwe Society with his second in command.

“And the attempted assassination when I had gone to inspect the Keseve Market.” Ojore nodded.

“It was during that period when you met Sholei,” Akima nodded.

”Increase the number of guards around her. I don’t like the way the spies swarm around me. She might be targeted.” Ojore instructed his second in command.

“That’s not the only danger threatening Sholei.” Akima raised an eyebrow.

“I’m aware,” Ojore agreed. “The whole of Mukuru has turned its back on her.”

“It would be best if she follows you back home. She will be hailed as a hero.”

Sholei was to be rewarded by the king for healing the soldiers at the military camp. Ojore had ensured her name was among those rewarded for their contribution to the battles of Keseve.

“I’m afraid she’s not keen on following me.” Ojore pressed the bridge of his nose with his fingers in frustration. He remembered their conversation at the riverside.

“You can make her follow you. She doesn’t have to agree.” Akima shrugged his broad shoulders.

“I want her to follow me of her own will.” He read the resolution in Sholei’s eyes. She was determined to leave him, which scared him more than he thought possible.

“After the disaster at the funeral, she should know she’s not safe in Mukuru.”

“Sholei wants to cut ties after her admission to the academy.” Ojore released a rushed breath.

“You can always get her back,” Akima encouraged, and scratched the back of his head, Ojore laughed. If there was anyone who knew nothing about relationships, it was Akima. The man lived and breathed the army. Hedidn’t spend time in the pleasure houses like other soldiers whenever they had breaks.

“At what expense? The more force I use to pursue her, the further she draws away.” Ojore couldn’t claim innocence. He had done a lot of things to get her back. The thought of her running away set off an impulse in him, an urge to track her down.Hunt herdown like prey.

“What are you going to do?” Akima asked.

“For once, I’m at the end of my wits,” Ojore admitted, and Akima chuckled. “Have I said anything funny?” Ojore raised his eyebrows at him.

“No, my lord. I think you have met your match.”

“I have spokento my men, and we are ready to break camp at any time.” Leikun shook his head to dispel the rainwater as he entered Gane’s tent. A month and a half had passed, and Gane barely recovered from his injuries, but he was strong enough to move around.

Gane dismissed the men around him and they left the room, but not before they glowered at Leikun. After their previous confrontation, the soldiers and raiders came to a tacit agreement. Tension and small misunderstandings broke out throughout the camp, but they never culminated in big fights.

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