Page 31 of Wrath of the Oracle

Ojore had takenover the Keseve Market. Did it mean he had conquered the Mukuru capital? Was Musembi safe? Litonde told Sholei to wait until the general returnedto seek his permission to release her. She focused on what she was good at to calm her anxious mind: doubling her energies in the camp, spending days bent cooking herbs and trying different concoctions and potions—anything to drag her mind from the situation around her.

Her dreams became much worse. She was being chased by the black snake, which caused her nights to be restless. Every time she woke up from a haunting dream, drenched in sweat, she couldn’t go back to sleep, so she’d go inside the medical tent to resume producing medicine. It was the only thing that helped keep her from going mad. She began to understand why Musembi drank herself into a stupor whenever she seemed to have too much on her mind.

Litonde kept by her side and tried to encourage her with stories about the academy and places she would visit with the title of a Royal Physician, but Sholei withdrew to herself.

“My Lady, someone is here to see you. He brought gifts.” Mueni held a small bag in her slim hands.

“Let him in.” Sholei waved her hand and stretched her back.

“Greetings.” The soldier bowed before her, dressed in a long dark cloak that covered him from his shoulders to his calves. The cold season settled, and soldiers increased their layers of clothes. The soldier wore a black fur hat which shielded him from cold winds. Soldiers under Ojore were well-provided for in all seasons.

“Agala, how is your wound? Are you in pain?” She remembered him from before. He had a deep gushingwound to his arm when he was brought in. In his delirious state, he had told her his name.

“The medicine you gave me worked like magic.” He flexed his arm to show her. “The pain is completely gone, and I feel much better now.”

“I am happy to hear that. I will give you something to work on the scar. Make sure you apply it on the wound daily.” At least one person didn’t call her a witch.

”I don’t know how to thank you for your generosity, but I hope you accept the small token my family prepared for you.” He indicated the bag in Mueni’s hand.

“No need for that. I was only doing my part.” Sholei felt heat creeping up her neck. She was not used to kind displays of appreciation and still didn’t know how to react to them.

“You saved my life. I will never forget that.” His voice carried heavy conviction, and Sholei decided she couldn’t deny his gift. Back in Mukuru, Musembi always received gifts, but Sholei was never put in the public eye like this.

“Send my regards to your family.” She bowed and signaled Mueni to put the package away.

“I come from a farming background. When you come to Dembe, I will be sure to send you the best farm produce we have to offer.”

Going to Dembe Kingdom? The remark jolted Sholei back. Her mind hadn’t settled after Litonde told her he would help her secure admission to the Academy. To get to the Faye Islands, she’d have to go through the northern desert city of Majuu, past the Gobeli desert, to get to the Bahri Ocean, where the Faye Islands were located. Another longer route was through Lake Alokove, whichpoured its waters into the vast Bahri Ocean. The route through Dembe was shorter, but Sholei would rather go back to Mukuru and bid Tula and Musembi goodbye before she made the journey. It would set her back a couple of months, but it would be worth it.

But what would be left of Mukuru if Ojore’s conquest was successful? The thought dampened her mood again.

“My Lady.” Agala’s voice brought her out of her reverie.

“Thank you for the gifts,” she heard herself say as he bid farewell.

“I think you have an admirer.” Mueni nudged her. “The general may get jealous when he hears you received gifts and favors from his men. Agala comes from a wealthy family. He is the only son.” Mueni’s dreamy eyes followed the tall soldier as he disappeared between rows of tents.

“Hush, Mueni. Nothing is happening between me and Prince Ojore,” Sholei scolded.

Litonde organized soldiers, and they set up a makeshift tent for her outside the physician camp where she and Mueni slept. She hadn’t returned to Ojore’s quarters, but the rumors didn’t stop. To everyone in the camp, she was the consort to the general.

“Then why am I here? I was brought from his household to be your lady-in-waiting. Even though he is far away on the battlefield, he made sure your needs are catered to and soldiers guarded you.”

”They watch my moves to make sure I don’t run away or poison his soldiers.” Sholei tried to keep her composure.

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to make you angry.” Mueni cast her eyes downward, shuffling her feet.

“I have no right to shout at you.” Sholei hated that she shifted her anger to the wrong person. Mueni did nothing to warrant her outburst. Ojore was the cause of her misery, not Mueni.

“Let me get you some food. You have been working since dawn.” Mueni lifted the package in her arms.

“I am not hungry.” Sholei waved her hand, stopping Mueni.

“You haven’t been eating well recently,” Mueni protested.

“Just prepare some light porridge.” Sholei didn’t want to inconvenience Mueni, who usually went out of her way to make her comfortable.

Later in the evening,as Sholei prepared for another fretful night, she assessed the package Agala brought. It lay unwrapped on her bedside table.

---