Page 3 of Wrath of the Oracle

Military-issued boots.Sholei’s eyes widened as she gazed closely at the black leather shoes.Why was he dressed as both a trader and a soldier?She walked toward his horse and removed the small package from the beast’s flank.

She carried the small leather bag with her and settled before the fire. Sholei unwrapped it to discover darts and daggers of different sizes. In another package, she found dried cured meat and fruit. She wasn’t one to steal from her patients, but her earlier task on the injured man sapped all her energy. She took one bite of the dried beef, and before she knew it, she had consumed everything.

She went on with her perusal and she came across an insignia. The golden head of a lion shone in the firelight, and Sholei nearly jumped out of her skin. She threw the crest aside and stood up.

Dembe army.

The wounded man was a Dembe soldier. Her pulse raced, and her hands grew clammy as she picked up the insignia again. It was indeed the crest of Dembe’s army. Everyone in Mukuru heard stories of the ferocious military. The Dembe swept down kingdoms and left nothing but destruction on their warpath. There were rumors that their next target was the Keseve Market, a strategic entry point to the southern kingdoms,the Mukuru Kingdom being the biggest.

She attended to a Dembe soldier.

Sholei bit her lower lip. The Mukuru army sent messengers to inform the residents to report sightings of the men in black armor and golden lion emblems to the nearest watchtower. A generous prize awaited anyone with true information. Sholei’s mind raced as she recalled the prize money. With the funds, she could journey to the Faye Islands, join the Imperial Physicians, and become a student at the Academy.

She would reach the nearest watch tower in a few hours if she left now and reported her findings. The man was heavily injured. He wouldn’t be getting up anytime soon.

Sholei collected her basket as she prepared to leave, but a loud screech stopped her. The large eagle swooped again and tried to attack, but she was prepared. She picked up a flaming torch and waved it in the air, keeping the sharp talons away. The eagle went back to the tree and perched.

Sholei cursed the bird. If she left, the injured man would become easy picking for the infuriating bird. Since she decided to attend to his wounds, she had to see that hedidn’t perish during the night. A deranged bird wouldn’t taint her record of being a miraculous physician.

Sholei decided to leave in the morning. With the man’s wounds, he would be incapacitated for days.

She put the insignia in her robes as evidence then wrapped the weapons just like she found them. Then she stretched before the man and gazed up at the night sky. Apart from the angry bird, everything was calm. The heavens were dotted with endless stars. The night air was filled with the sound of the gurgling river and singing crickets. The cool breeze washed over them. Soon, Sholei couldn’t keep her eyes open as sleep encroached on her. With a final look at her patient, she stoked the fire and prayed the angry bird wouldn’t nibble on them in their sleep.

That night, for the first time in a long time, Sholei wasn’t chased by beasts in her dreams.

Ojore openedhis eyes to a warm body snuggled against his chest.

He groaned as he felt a sharp pain in his back. The memories of the past came crashing back. Assassins had shot him as he scouted the Keseve Market. He managed to get away on his horse before he passed out. A woman with wide eyes stared at him when he came to. The same woman snuggled in his arms, her face buried in his chest. His heavy cloak was wrapped around them, and their limbs tangled beneath the weight of the fabric.

For one of the few times in his life, Ojore didn’t know what to do. The women he met in the entertainmenthouses he visited back home were to satiate his urges. He never stayed long enough to hold them as intimately as the one in his arms. They appreciated the generous coins for their time more than anything. The woman’s breath was warm against his skin, and for some reason, he didn’t want to get up. She snuggled closer, a hand crossed over his chest, and she mumbled something under her breath he didn’t catch.

He gazed up to the sky. The air was permeated with the faint scent of butters, oils, and perfumes. He inhaled deeply and realized the alluring scent came from the woman at his side.

He shifted, exposing her face, and his breath caught at her blatant beauty. Her lashes were long and created a subtle shadow across her cheeks. He recalled her eyes were wide and bright. Her nose was small and slightly upturned, and her wide lips were parted. Ojore stifled an urge to trace his fingers on the plump flesh.

Above them, the sharp screech of an eagle rang and Ojore rose from his stupor. He recalled where he was and eased himself from the woman’s embrace, away from the crude bedding. His back ached, and a white bandage wrapped across his chest. The woman hadn’t lied. She was indeed a physician. He glanced around in the dim morning light and noticed her medicine basket. Herbs lay inside beside a bloodied arrow. The same one that had lodged in his back.

He picked it up and walked to where Radi stood. The horse neighed, and Ojore patted the animal’s nose.

“How did we get here?” Ojore asked his trusted steed. Radi was an intelligent horse and knew the way back tothe military camp. If he’d been unconscious, why had his mount traveled in the opposite direction? Ojore glanced at the top of the tree, where the unnaturally large eagle perched. Its golden eyes glowed in the morning light.

“You again,” Ojore hissed. The eagle stretched its wings and cowed at him. Behind him, the woman turned. She would wake soon. He retrieved a band from his wrist and wrapped his hair in a high bun. Afterward, he walked to the river and washed his face. He wasn’t worried about Mukuru patrol guards finding him. The eagle would notify him at the slightest hint of danger.

The wise move to make was to flee before the woman woke up. He checked his luggage and got ready to leave. Ojore walked to the woman to look at her one last time. With the unique tattoos on her head, it wouldn’t be hard to find her once Mukuru fell. As he stood and memorized her features, her wide eyes snapped open.

It took Sholei seconds to realize where she was and who stood before her. With a start, she sat up. The heavy cloak around her shoulder fell to her lap. How did she get to his bed? She threw him a suspicious glance, she wondered how he was able to walk with such extensive injuries. He was supposed to be unconscious for her to get patrol guards and inform them of her findings. What would happen to the prize money she had dreamt of collecting? Were her dreams to attend the Academy dead?

“Your touch brought me back to life,” the man said in a low, gravelly voice, and Sholei blinked at him.

He tied his hair back and exposed a handsome face. His features were sharp as if cut from stone. His eyes were deep and brown. She must have imagined them the color of flames. His eyes were encircled by long and thick lashes.He had a long nose and a broad base, somewhat crooked as if he had been in too many fights. Looking at his wide lips, Sholei’s throat dried.

“You owe me for my service.” Sholei swallowed hard and the man’s eyes dropped to her lips.

“How much will you charge for the treatment?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

“What is the cost of saving your life?” Sholei asked, her mind raced as she tried to find a way to escape. She hadn’t forgotten how he had threatened her with a knife the previous day.

“How about a whole kingdom?” At his answer, her pulse picked up. “You went through my belongings. You must know who I am.”

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