Page 72 of Wrath of the Oracle

“Did Ojore threaten you with my life?” Musembi whispered, her eyes on the door. “You should have left me behind. It’s not too late yet. I have hidden some money. It’s enough to buy your passage to the Faye Islands.”

“You want me to leave you alone?” Sholei choked in disbelief. “At the mercy of Ojore?”

“I am an old woman, the Dembe won’t waste time on me.” Musembi ignored the dejected look in Sholei’seyes. Sholei could never hide her emotions. Everything with her was upfront.

“I won’t leave you. I did that once, and I regretted it.” Sholei held her gaze. Musembi was reluctant to admit it, but Sholei portrayed a sense of maturity since her captivity. Before, she was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to turn her back on everything to fulfill her ambitions. Now, Sholei put her dreams to a halt for her. As much as the action moved Musembi, it came too late.

“Listen to me...” Musembi tried to reason with Sholei.

“I have lost Tula. She was supposed to come back from the Keseve Market, but I haven’t heard from her in days. You saw what happened in Lake Alokove. If I try to get away, what do you think Ojore would do to you?” Sholei asked.

“Have you forgotten what I said about High Lord Keita and Asaa? If you get to the Faye Islands, maybe you stand a chance of surviving.” Musembi didn’t care about Ojore’s retribution. He was welcomed to do as he wished as long as Sholei was out of the way.

Sholei avoided Musembi’s eyes. “If we plan on getting away, we must have a better plan.”

“You have been dreaming of a chance to go to the Faye Islands, and now that the opportunity is here, you’re reluctant to leave?” Musembi inclined her head to catch Sholei’s eyes. “There is something you’re not telling me. What is it? What could be better than attaining your dream?”

“Ojore…” Sholei started.

“You’re on a first-name basis with him,” Musembi said. “He’s given you a maid, clothes we could neverafford, the most luxurious rooms in the palace, and…” Musembi paused. “Have you become his concubine?”

“I’m no man’s concubine.” Sholei’s eyes grew wide. “What’s wrong with enjoying luxuries once in a while?”

“You have feelings for him.” Realization dawned on Musembi, and she closed her eyes in frustration. When Sholei didn’t counter her statement, it confirmed her suspicions.

Sholei was in love with Ojore.

“I admit being with him again made me happy,” Sholei said after a long pause. “I was conflicted by my feelings, but it feelsrightto be by his side.”

“You keep forgetting your dreams, the Oracle…” Musembi couldn’t believe the words out of Sholei’s mouth. Sholei’s stubbornness was going to be the end of her.

“What do you plan on doing next?” Musembi took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Let’s forget about your fate with Lord Keita and focus on the general as a man. A trail of blood follows him wherever he goes. He managed to take down the alliance. Do you think he’s going to stop there? Do you think his thirst for blood is satiated?”

“Do you think I can get away from him?” Sholei countered. “He overturned a village just to waylay me.”

“Is that the man you want to be with?” Musembi sighed. “If you don’t get away from him, then you should prepare for the day he’ll turn his sword against you.”

Sholei ran from the large,snarling snake in a dream that night. She remembered Musembi’s words about howthe Oracle could respond if she stopped running. In the dreamlike state, she decided to stop and face her fears.

Sholei came to a halt. The sleek black snake stopped and raised its head. Its green eyes pierced into hers. Sholei sensed vulnerability in that gaze. The snake, a replica of Asaa’s statue, was locked in battle with Lord Keita.

“You stopped,” a snarling voice called from behind her, hidden in the misty trees. Sholei was in a fog-covered forest, dark and dimly lit by the moonlight.

“Who’s there?” Sholei’s breath was heavy, cold sweat ran down her back and soaked through her clothes.

“The one you are running away from,” the voice said close to Sholei’s ear. “Your destiny.”

”Musembi was right. If I stopped, you’d appear before me.” Sholei swallowed. She wanted to turn around, but the eyes of the snake hypnotized her and held her in place. Its long body coiled underneath its raised head.

“What else did Musembi tell you?” the voice asked.

“You are my past reincarnation, and Ojore harbors Lord Keita under his skin.” Sholei took a cautions step when the snake hissed at her.

“What do you see when you look at Keita’s eyes? Can you see the beast peeking out? Does he scare you?” the Oracle asked, her voice closer with each question.

“When his eyes change color, am I looking at Keita?” Sholei asked.

“Ojore is doing everything to hold him back, but the God of the Northern Skies won’t be stopped for long,” the Oracle whispered in Sholei’s ear as thunder struck the sky and illuminated the night. Before Sholei, a tall, bent, shadowy figure appeared against the forest floor.

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