Page 22

“ T he silence is unsettling,” General Liami from Suneka commented at the lack of movement from the Keseve fortress. Darkness settled upon the land, and they were in a fierce battle with the Dembe invaders for days. However, for a day, their enemy’s side grew ominously quiet, and they took cover behind the tall market walls.

“Last time, they pulled the same trick and attacked us at night,” Gane reminded him, his eyes fixed on the strategic map. “We must remain vigilant. Instruct your men to stay on high alert. We are close to reclaiming what was once ours.”

“Yes, General.”

Prince Gane studied the map before him and tried to figure out a way to reclaim the market. He drew a deep breath and inhaled the cool evening air tinged with smoke. Fatigue weighed on his shoulders. Everyone was exhausted, yet he couldn’t allow the men to rest. The Dembe were cunning adversaries, and vigilance was paramount.

Days passed since he received word of the deaths of soldiers in the Dembe camp. Tula succeeded in her mission, which brought him great satisfaction, though he had lost one of his best spies, Masaka. His plan worked, but there was more to be done. He needed to deliver a decisive blow to the soldiers inside the Keseve Market before Ojore returned from the camp. That was if Sholei hadn’t followed his instructions and killed him. Retaking the market would make it challenging for Ojore and his wounded soldiers to claim the southern kingdom.

If Sholei failed to kill Ojore, Gane would be disappointed. Though she must have endured months of torment in Dembe’s clutches, none of them had it easy. As a native of Mukuru, she had a part to play in the war. Gane ran a hand across his overgrown beard. How long had it been since he had known proper rest? Weariness grew into a constant companion.

“My lord, someone is here to see you,” the guard outside his tent announced.

“Let them in,” Gane replied and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Greetings, Prince Gane.” Tula’s voice floated to his ears, and Gane stared at her bowed head. From the slump of her shoulders, Tula was exhausted, her army tunic ill-fitting and hanging loose on her almost skeletal frame. War had drained her youthful vigor and transformed her into a battle-hardened soldier. Gane wondered if Sholei looked the same.

“You are back,” he stepped from the map and stood before her. “Did you get my message to Sholei? Is Ojore dead?” He grabbed her arm and helped her stand straight.

“Yes,” Tula’s voice was apprehensive. “And no.”

“Explain yourself.” Gane narrowed his eyes. His gaze bore into her determined yet bloodshot eyes. She was on the verge of collapse, but she remained steadfast. He was correct about her. She bore the strength to undertake the weight of the mission he assigned her.

“Sholei is imprisoned in the capital. She asks you to clear her name,” Tula revealed. “But she didn’t kill General Ojore. She only incapacitated him long enough to facilitate our escape.”

“Tell me everything from the moment you left the capital,” Gane ordered, and walked back to his seat.

Tula recounted her journey and described the events from her departure to Sholei’s arrest. Gane listened with keen attention and refrained from interrupting her narrative. Before him stood not a young woman but a battle-hardened soldier who witnessed the horrors of war. His hands curled into fists when Tula recounted how Sholei had the chance to kill Ojore but resorted to using poison. Why would she spare his life?

“My prince, you must save her. The city guards have branded Sholei a traitor,” she pleaded for her friend. “She risked everything to help me escape. If anything happens to her…I—” a bout of coughs attacked her.

“Sholei might have failed to complete her mission, but I will not have her suffer prosecution for a mistake she didn’t commit. She is a victim of war like all of us,” Gane reassured her. Deep down, he was disappointed, but all wasn’t lost; Sholei’s skills made her invaluable to him. She was back in the kingdom at his side. He would put her to use after the war ended, just like he planned.

“How close was she with Ojore?” he dared to ask the question. In correspondence with Leikun, the bandit told him about the close relationship between the two. He awaited Tula to confirm the report.

“She spent her days at the medical camp and had little interaction with the General.” Tula swallowed and avoided his eyes.

Tula was lying. He received information that Ojore took an interest in Sholei. Rumors spread about their intimacy, and how she spent her nights inside his chambers. She worked with his physician, and they were close enough to share meals. Sholei had become his concubine, and maybe Sholei had grown some affection for the barbarian, making it hard for her to dispose of him.

“I know you don’t want to slander your friend, but I need to know about her relations with Ojore.”

“From what I know, Sholei has no personal relationship with him.” Tula bent her head lower, and Gane let the silence spread for a few moments. When Tula didn’t divulge any more information, he knew he couldn’t make her.

“I am impressed by your loyalty to Sholei, but don’t take me for a fool,” Gane, slammed his fist on the table. Figurines on the spread-out map tumbled to the floor, and Tula dropped to her knees .

“My prince, Sholei decided to escape with me from that camp. If she were involved with Ojore, she wouldn’t have risked her life to save mine and return to your side.” Tula met Gane’s eyes.

Before Gane could answer, a soldier burst into the tent and said, “General, something is happening outside. We need you to take a look.”

“What is it?” Gane shifted his attention from Tula, and she sighed with relief.

“There is movement on the plains, but it’s hard to discern in the darkness.”

“Prepare the archers and shoot at anything that moves. Have any of our informers returned with information from inside the market?” Gane asked, casting a sidelong glance at Tula.

“None have made it back,” General Kangemi answered. His face contorted into a deep frown. “Neither are the men we sent to watch the Dembe military camp. We can only assume the worst.”

”Did Sholei tell you how long the poison in Ojore’s body would last?” Gane turned to Tula.

“A couple of days,” Tula nodded. “It gave us a head start.”

“Did you witness the poisoning firsthand?” Gane continued his interrogation. “Could Sholei have lied to you?”

“Sholei would never,” Tula answered, but a shadow crossed her eyes. Gane gritted his teeth. Sholei wasn’t to be trusted when it came to Ojore, and Tula couldn’t be trusted when it came to Sholei.

“What about his soldiers? Did the poison work as you claimed?” If Ojore’s army were halved in their massive numbers, the alliance stood a chance even if Ojore attacked.

“The number of fatalities among their ranks kept rising while I was there. They burned bodies daily,” Tula replied. She omitted the fact Sholei healed the injured soldiers. Gane’s eyes narrowed at her obvious omission.

“Is this an informer?” General Kangemi glanced at Tula. He observed the entire exchange between Tula and Gane in silence. Gane almost forgot he was still in the room.

“I sent him earlier into the camp to rescue the physician who was abducted from the capital,” Gane replied, careful not to reveal Tula’s real identity.

“The same woman who jumped before the sword to save you from Ojore?” General Kangemi asked. Gane swore under his breath; he resented being reminded of his shortcomings. That single moment put a dent in his well-cultured reputation.

“She has made it back to the capital.” Gane waved his hand dismissively.

“If she was rescued from the camp, we must question her. We could be harboring a spy for all we know. She spent a lot of time with the Dembe and could be indoctrinated in their ways,” the general countered.

“Sholei is not a criminal. She risked everything to help me escape from the Dembe military camp.” Tula glared at the older general.

“That is not for you to decide. We have a panel she must face.” The general sneered .

“Enough.” Gane silenced them. “General, let me handle the matter of my spies. You need to investigate what is happening outside.”

“But…” General Kangemi began to protest, his mouth agape.

“We don’t have time to bicker.” Gane ground his teeth, and General Kangemi gave a curt nod and left. His loud voice shouted orders outside the tent.

“Once we win this war, I will present you before the king for your reward. You have proven your loyalty and bravery to your kingdom. Return home and wait for my victory.” Gane turned back to his maps. With some guidance and training, Tula could make a fine soldier.

“What about Sholei?” Tula asked. “She can’t stay in the cell.”

“I will send word to the court. She will be released immediately,” Gane assured her. Tula prepared to leave when a soldier busted in.

“Prince Gane, it appears to be a stampede.” The soldier breathed hard, sweat glistened on his brows. “And it is heading directly for us.”

“Have you ever seen a stampede at this time of the night?” Gane banged his clenched fists on the table. “Have the archers shoot arrows with fire just like we practiced. Ojore is here.”

Tula was given a horse and ordered to ride back to the capital. She didn’t have time to search for Kweku and Anasi, her brothers, in the camp. She maneuvered the horse into a sprint as the loud stampede tore through the makeshift alliance camp outside the market gates. She stared as wildebeests, zebras, and buffaloes tore through the tents amidst the rain of fiery arrows shot by the alliance soldiers.

Toppled lanterns fell and fire spread across the camp, eating away at the dry grass and makeshift tents. Smoke billowed in the air, and the once quiet night was shattered by the bays of wild animals and the agonized screams of injured soldiers.

Tula stopped on top of a small hill. Behind the stampede, dark horses ridden by men dressed in black clothing with painted faces descended on the camp.

The Dembe army.

Tula shuddered, struck by the brutality of their assault. The clash of weapons and the spray of human blood could be seen from where she was. She watched in morbid fascination as they butchered the alliance soldiers. Despite the alliance’s valiant attempts to form defensive formations, they struggled to stem the tide. Their enemies controlled the beasts that blindly crashed through shields and trampled her comrades.

The Dembe army showed no mercy and fought as if this were their final battle. Their war cries resounded in the night. Dembe soldiers from inside the Keseve Market charged out of the gates and joined their comrades. The alliance was surrounded by both sides.

As she watched her comrades in desperate need of assistance, Tula turned her horse toward the battle. She couldn’t ride home without going for help. Anasi and Kweku might be the ones getting gored by the mindless animals. However, her impulsive decision proved ill-fated. The horse’s speed was too much, and Tula was thrown to the ground, where her head struck a protruding rock.

As she lay there bleeding, Tula observed Ojore sitting high on his horse, his face indifferent to the carnage around him. The flickering flames cast a sinister glint in his eyes, reminiscent of the predatory gaze of a lion on the hunt. The sight reminded her of her grandmother’s saying that behind a stampede, predators follow . General Ojore was a predator. Darkness enveloped her as she slipped into unconsciousness.

The stampede wreaked havoc upon the camp where Gane and his men were stationed outside the Keseve Market. Gane’s plans didn’t stand a chance against the mindless wildebeests that charged toward them. His soldiers struggled to evade the animals’ horns, hooves, and teeth. Torches were toppled, and fire consumed everything around them. Above them, thunder rumbled, and lightning streaked the sky as though Ojore had summoned the wrath of the gods to consume them.

Gane watched in disbelief as the animals flung his men left and right. Behind the stampede, the Dembe soldiers charged, their weapons raised for battle.

Ojore, perched atop his jet-black stallion, seemed an extension of the night itself. His voluminous ebony cloak billowed from his broad shoulders, and his sword was coated with red blood, ever ready to strike down anyone who dared to charge toward him. In the chaos of battle, Ojore’s keen eyes caught sight of Gane and prompted him to veer his steed to confront his enemy .

A huge eagle screeched into the night. Its broad wings spread out and it hovered above Ojore.

“It’s a good day to die, isn’t it, Gane?” Ojore shouted as chaos engulfed them. Battle cries were uttered, men groaned, weapons clashed, and fire burned everywhere.

“I’ll never allow you to conquer my kingdom,” Gane declared and in the distance, thunder clapped. The eagle screeched again and flew into the dark clouds. The enraged skies reflected the dangerous look in Ojore’s eyes.

“You don’t have a say in the matter.” Ojore circled him. “Ask your men to surrender, and I will grant you a quick death.”

“I’d sooner meet Lord Ashe’s cold embrace in the afterlife than kneel to a mongrel like you,” Gane shouted, his voice loud above the disarray. “The alliance will never give up.”

“Then you shall watch how I trample down all of you,” Ojore wiped his chin with the back of his hand, bloodstains smeared across his face. The crimson color of blood blended with the dark paint on his face, creating a menacing look.

Gane screamed as he charged toward Ojore, his sword raised, angling for Ojore’s head.

Ojore smirked when the blade missed him by inches and Ojore leaned forward and hit Gane’s stomach. The blow sent Gane flying into the air before he fell and missed being burnt by a toppled torch.

“It won’t be easy to take me down.” Gane spat blood on the ground. His insides seared with pain as he charged forward again .

Gane used every skill he practiced, but he only managed a slight cut on his adversary’s chest. Ojore didn’t appear daunted by him. He controlled his movements and bore into him again and again.

“You are still not good enough to fight me,” Ojore rasped as he pinned Gane. “A weak prince like you can never be a king.”

“This weak prince managed to kill hundreds of your men in a matter of days,” Gane gloated, his breaths released in short puffs.

“That is because you resolved to cheap tricks.” Ojore tightened his hold on him. “I know about you and the bandit, your agreement, and the lies you told your people. Did you think you could manipulate your way to the throne?”

Gane’s eyes grew wide. “What do you know about Leikun?” His agreement with Leikun was a grave secret that would open a can of worms if revealed. His father, King Gusiwaju, would be devastated by the lies. He might lose the throne if his deals were uncovered.

“I will make sure your father knows how you organized cattle raids in the city and pretended to chase down the bandits as you split the profits between you two.” Ojore applied more force, and Gane went down on one knee. “Your desire to attain the throne made you betray the very people you’re to protect.”

“You must know something about betrayal, don’t you, Ojore?” Gane gritted his teeth and returned Ojore’s glare. His hands trembled on the sword. If he let go, Ojore would slash his neck. “Sholei,” Gane whispered. Emotion flickered in Ojore’s eyes. Gane took the chance to push Ojore off him. With the help of his sword, he knelt and clutched his throat.

“You don’t deserve to mention her name.” Ojore kicked Gane in the stomach. Gane crashed to the ground, his breaths labored.

“She came back to my side, didn’t she?” Gane coughed blood. He leaned his entire weight on his sword and tried to get up. “After everything, she poisoned you and came back to me.”

“Again, cheap tricks.” Ojore’s voice thundered as thunder clapped above them, the dark clouds opened, and cold droplets of rain fell. In seconds, they were both drenched.

“Nothing is fair in love and war, is it, general?” Gane mocked as he spit out more blood. His white teeth were red as rain streamed down his face.

“My fight with you has nothing to do with Sholei.” Ojore charged toward him again, his weapon raised. The band on his head came loose, and his dark locks swung with every movement he made.

“It would suit you better if I died, wouldn’t it? Then you would have no one else to contend for her.” Gane continued to taunt him, even as Ojore closed in. He rose and paused to defend himself.

“You were never my rival.” A dark golden glint appeared in Ojore’s eyes.

“If I manage to kill you, she’ll be rewarded with your slain head.”

A burning pain pierced Gane’s stomach. He hadn’t seen Ojore approach at lightning speed. His breathing came out in ragged gasps as he struggled to stand. The effort caused blood to pour from his open wound and soak his drenched armor. His weapon tumbled from his hand to the pool of blood mixed with rainwater.

“The Keseve Market, Mukuru, and all the cities in the alliance are under Dembe now!” Ojore shouted. His men rejoiced with him, their voices rising above the thunder and rain.

“Never,” Gane swore under his breath, blood trickled from the corner of his lips. Ojore approached him.

“Sholei will be mine,” Ojore proclaimed only for Gane’s ear. His eyes burned the color of bright fire.

Ojore struck Gane on the side of his head, and Gane crumpled in the mud, soaked in water and blood. His vision blurred, and he watched as the wildfire and rain fought for dominance. Ojore turned his back on him and impaled the alliance soldier who raced toward him with his weapon raised. As the blood from the slain man sprayed across Gane’s eyes, his world plunged into darkness and silence.