Page 27

“ A re you sure about this?” Mueni asked Sholei as they walked toward Tula’s home. It was midday, but clouds blocked the sun. They were dark and rumbled, and rain threatened to fall. Sholei had awoken soaked in sweat from her dream. The encounter with the Oracle left her shattered. She didn’t attend to Ojore that morning and instructed Akima on what to do. She couldn’t bear to see him after her horrific nightmare.

“Tula is my best friend.” Sholei swallowed the lump in her throat. “I must attend the burial of her brothers. Maybe her parents have information on her whereabouts.” She fussed with the thick white coral necklace she wore for the burial ceremony. Dressed in white robes fastened under her arms, as custom dictated, Sholei braced herself for the reception she’d receive.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Mueni, dressed similarly, protested. “The general…” Mueni gazed around as if she expected Ojore to appear, but Sholei knew he was busy.

“Prince Ojore doesn’t need to know about this.” Sholei turned to Mueni, her voice tight. “Am I clear?”

“Yes, My Lady.” Mueni bowed. She adjusted the white basket of grains in her hand. It was customary for one to visit with gifts, even if it was during a burial.

They approached the vast compound, and loud mourning voices resonated. The burial was being held in the front yard of the residence since the men being buried weren’t married nor bore children. Throngs of white-clad mourners walked inside. Once they noticed Sholei, they gave her a wide berth. They murmured among themselves and shook their heads. Sholei ignored their accusatory glances and walked forward. She was there for Tula.

“You are in the wrong place, witch.” Mmbone stepped forward from the crowd and blocked Sholei’s path. Her white robes swung about her feet. “We don’t welcome traitors among us.”

“I won’t fight you today.” Sholei faced her. “I came to pay my last respects to the courageous men who died fighting for their kingdom.”

The surrounding crowd went silent. Even the mourners stopped crying, and attention turned toward her. The burial ceremony was a communal occasion, and Sholei wasn’t surprised to see Mmbone attending.

“You chose the enemy and betrayed your friend!” Mmbone shouted .

“Your accusations are false.” Sholei gritted her teeth. “I never betrayed the people of Mukuru.”

Something hit her on the back of the head, and the putrid smell of rotten eggs assaulted her nose. Getting hit by a rotten egg was one of the highest forms of humiliation for the people of Mukuru.

“My daughter risked her life to save yours.” The hoarse voice of Tula’s mother made Sholei turn around.

“Mama,” Sholei approached the older woman. “I’m sorry.” The back of her eyes burned upon seeing how devastated Tula’s mother appeared.

“Tula did everything for you as her only friend.” Her elderly eyes brimmed with tears as three senior women held her. The composed woman who had welcomed Sholei with hearty laughter and kind words appeared disheveled. Losing two sons and possibly a daughter took a toll on Tula’s mother. Wrinkles lined her once smooth face, and tears dripped to her trembling chin.

“I’m sorry.” Sholei went down on her knees. Thunder rumbled in the background. Mueni dropped to her side and held onto Sholei as the crowd of white encroached closer and hurled insults.

“I was wrong to encourage Tula to befriend you. You are a curse to my family and this kingdom. May the gods strike you down where you stand,” Tula’s mother cursed as thunder rumbled in the skies.

“Please forgive me, mama. I can’t bear to see you like this.” Sholei crawled toward Tula’s mother, her white gown soaked in the wet mud. Sholei held on to Tula’s mother’s heavy skirt, but she was shoved away .

“My daughter escaped home to try to rescue you from that military camp,” she lamented and threw her hands about. “She left, and I couldn’t stop her. When she miraculously made it back, she left again to save you from the prison cells.”

“I shouldn’t have put her life at risk. I’m at fault.” Sholei’s tears fell, and she held her head in shame. She was the cause of it all, the disappearance of her friend, the only friend she ever had. The image of Tula with missing limbs lying on the battlefield flooded her again, and Sholei almost threw up.

“How will that bring my child back?” the woman dropped beside Sholei and clasped her slender shoulders and shook her. “I have lost two sons. I can’t find my daughter. Why should I continue to live?” Her eyes closed, and she collapsed in Sholei’s arms.

“Mama, wake up.” Sholei shook her before she was pushed away as Tula’s mother was lifted away.

“See what you did?” Mmbone’s tormenting voice rumbled with the clouds. “You bring nothing but trouble wherever you go. You will never know peace.” She leaned in and tore the white headscarf from Sholei’s head.

The crowd beside her was enchanted with Mmbone’s words. They closed in on her at the same time the clouds broke, and heavy, cold rain droplets hit Sholei. Leaves and small objects were thrown at her. The mourners directed their anger and anguish at her. Sholei pulled Mueni close and shielded her from the falling objects.

Lightning struck, and in the haze, the sound of horse neighs reached her. The crowd parted, and the pelting stopped. Sholei was soaked to the bones from mud, rain, and whatever else the crowd hurled at her. A coppery smell assaulted her nose as blood trickled from her scalp. She raised her head and, through the curtain of slanting rain, Ojore rode toward her. He was dressed in dark robes with gold lining. Radi’s dark mane was soaked and plastered against its face. Ojore stopped right in front of her and the shivering Mueni.

“I promised King Gusiwaju that he would be the last person to die by my hand. I will revoke my word for the next person who throws a stone,” Ojore warned as he jumped down from the horse. Behind him, Akima watched on, his sword in hand, and glared at the fuming crowd.

No one stepped forward, and the crowd grew silent, their anger reflected on their faces. The only sound came from swishing rain and clapping thunder.

Ojore removed his dark cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders, cutting off the rain. He grabbed her elbows and pulled her up. His grip on her was tight, and a vein popped on his forehead.

“Why do you allow yourself to be insulted like this?” His voice was low, and she was the only one who could hear him.

“I’ve managed to make everyone angry at me, even the gods.” Sholei raised her head to the sky. She closed her eyes as streams of water washed down her face.

“Let’s get out of this rain. I wouldn’t want my physician to get sick,” Ojore said in a tender tone. With a firm yet gentle motion, he helped her onto his horse and joined her in the saddle. Mueni rode with Akima, the white cereal basket dumped and forgotten in the mud .

As they rode away, Sholei cast one final, forlorn glance back at the mourners who were once her people. They shook their heads, heavy with disappointment and anger. A sense of loss pierced her heart. She felt like she had lost her family all over again.

Musembi was so immersed in her thoughts she didn’t hear the horses approach her rickety gates. She hadn’t been in the medicine yard for some time and spent her time in the palace seeking audience with the court to save Sholei. In her absence, one of her students was entrusted with its care. The ongoing war took a toll on her apprentices, and with Dembe now in control, the future of her yard remained uncertain.

Days before, she was released from the palace. Sholei had insisted she wait for her to come up with a new plan to escape Ojore. Musembi couldn’t wait much longer; she was going to get Sholei out of the capital one way or another.

The neighing of horses brought Musembi back to the present. Two men sitting high on dark horses stood before her gate. Musembi faced General Ojore and his guard Akima. She saw the pair move around the palace after she and Sholei were kidnapped from Lake Alokove.

“General.” She acknowledged him.

He was a tall man with agile limbs. He wore long dark robes secured around his waist and stretched to his ankles. Leather boots with long straps straddled his muscular legs. A loose, dark cloak wrapped around his wide shoulders. The smattering of scars was visible from his open collar, reflected in the setting sun.

In the distance, the moos of cows returning home could be heard, and the scent of blossoming flowers filled the air. The quiet atmosphere defied the tension between her and the unexpected guests.

“You know who I am?” General Ojore climbed down from his horse and approached her. Akima remained behind, his ever-watchful eyes fixed on her. Musembi stood her ground despite wanting to run. Something about the man before her screamed danger. She could not understand how Sholei could fall in love with him. Not that she understood Sholei in the recent days. Much about her had changed since her captivity.

“Your reputation precedes you,” she replied. Ojore’s vision cleared as he blinked in her direction. Sholei informed her that the poison had spread to his eyes, but it seemed to have healed. Musembi felt humbled by Sholei’s skills. She had been confident the poison would kill the man. Musembi hoped it would.

“I hope it’s all good things.” Ojore raised his straight eyebrow at her. Musembi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his attempted joke.

“What brings you here at this hour?” she asked, her voice steady despite her unease.

“You know what.” He came to stand before her and invaded her personal space. An intimidation tactic. The man frightened her. He appeared calm on the outside but like a crouching lion on the inside, ready to attack—or a vengeful sky god out for revenge .

“I don’t,” Musembi retorted, taking a small, subconscious step back.

“Sholei,” he replied in a heartbeat, and she watched in utter surprise as his whole visage changed. The stern planes in his face softened.

“You kidnapped her, and now she’s forced to attend to you, General. Is there a chance you’d let her go?” Musembi wondered if she could persuade Ojore to heed her warning if she couldn’t convince Sholei to break off their doomed relationship.

“That would never happen. Not in this lifetime or the next.” His tone didn’t leave room for an argument as a fierce look covered his eyes—the burning flames of Lord Keita.

Musembi swallowed. The stern glare warned her not to pursue the matter further, but Musembi was not known to scare easily.

“Sholei wishes to become an Imperial Physician. Would you let her go to the Faye Islands?” Musembi asked.

“I will be going back to Dembe soon. After reporting to the court, I will accompany her to Faye. It’s a promise I plan to fulfill,” Ojore stated, and Musembi blinked back at the towering figure.

“Is that all you’re planning on doing? Or are you interested in her in another way?” Musembi narrowed her eyes to gauge Ojore’s reaction. She was curious to know whether Sholei’s feelings were reciprocated.

“I plan on making her my wife after she settles as an Imperial Physician in the Dembe capital.” He held her gaze and his sincerity shone through. He was in love with Sholei alright.

“Why am I not surprised? After all, you have taken over the kingdom and want her now. Tell me, General, is there anyone who can stop you from getting rid of me if I stand in your way?” Musembi challenged.

“If you try to escape with her again, you won’t make it far,” Ojore replied. His jaw ticked as if he tried to rein in a retort to Musembi’s words. “I wouldn’t wish for the relationship between you two to be affected, but nothing will keep me away from Sholei.”

“I have raised Sholei since she was a mere baby, and we have clashed more than I would wish to count.” Musembi sighed and moved to sit on a crudely made wooden bench under a tree. “Other than her ambitions, nothing else moves her. Ever since she got back from captivity, we have done nothing but fight.”

“I know she wants to become an Imperial Physician, but I don’t understand how her reciprocating my feelings for her is a bad thing.” Ojore looked at the compound. “You should travel back with us. Sholei will appreciate it.”

”You two don’t belong together.” Musembi shook her head.

“Why? Because of her tattoos?” Ojore questioned and raised an eyebrow to Musembi. “I have seen them, and they don’t change anything.” Ojore began pacing before her, his arms crossed over his chest. Musembi nearly fell off her seat, her mouth agape, but no words emerged.

”If you’ve seen them, you know her destiny is not usual.” Musembi stood up and approached him. “Don’t you have tattoos, too? ”

“Yes,” Ojore answered, holding her gaze. “Wings spreading from my shoulders to my upper arms.”

Musembi grabbed his arm, her eyes wide. “You must be aware of Lord…”

Above them, perched on one of the tallest trees in the yard, an eagle shrieked, and Musembi flinched at the sharp sound. Ojore didn’t appear bothered by the noise, nor did he gaze up either, as if the sound wasn’t new to him. He knew about Lord Keita. A cold sweat broke through Musembi’s back.

“My name is Ojore, son of King Kaza, nothing more, nothing less,” Ojore cut her off before she went on. His eyes glinted, and Musembi swallowed back her words.

“Does Sholei know about your dreams?” she dared to ask, her voice small.

“My dreams aren’t important to her.” Ojore pulled his arm from her grasp and turned away. “What matters is how we feel for each other.”

”Deny it all you want, but you and Sholei are fire and ice. If she doesn’t manage to hurt you, I’m afraid it’s you who will eliminate her. This is a dance where only one winner can emerge. And the stakes are against her.”

“I’d rather die than hurt Sholei.” His conviction almost moved her, and it would have if Musembi didn’t know about their fate. “The first time we met, she saved my life without knowing who I was. As we speak, she’s helping cure me of the poison in my body.”

“That is after she poisoned you herself,” Musembi countered.

“The circumstances were different. She explained why she did it,” Ojore defended .

“Do you truly believe you two can have a future together?” Musembi asked him.

“Of course. If you join us in Dembe, I am sure she will be happy.” A small smile danced on his lips as if the thought of Sholei made him happy. Musembi grew sad; if only things were different.

“You want her to be happy?” Musembi’s voice softened. Forgetting her fears for a moment, she wondered what it would take to make Sholei happy.

“I want her to be content when she’s with me.” Ojore inclined his head to face her. “Ever since I got her back, she has been distracted. I thought you must have something to do with it.” He sighed. “You must have told her about Keita and Asaa.”

“Why don’t you talk to her about it?” About your real identity , Musembi wanted to add.

“Make no mistake, we will discuss it. It’s just that now is not the best time.” Ojore’s eyebrows knitted together, his gaze distant.

“The more you stretch it out, the bigger the wall between you two will grow.” How long would their happiness last before they faced their true natures?

”Are you giving me relationship advice?” Ojore chuckled. “Should I assume you approve of our relationship?”

“I want Sholei to have a peaceful life. If she chooses you, she will never know that.”

“I will find a way to change fate. Whatever grudges might have followed us from the previous life won’t affect us now,” Ojore assured her .

”Sholei’s life has been complicated since she was thrust into my life when she was just days old. She has been treated like an outsider her whole life by the community. The tattoos on her head are like a mark separating her from everyone else. That’s why she strives to become an imperial physician. She sees it as a way out.” Musembi’s gaze was distant as she delved into Sholei’s complicated past. “Couple that with her destiny. Sholei has suffered enough.”

”What if we face this together? If it’s true, I am Lord Keita.” Thunder boomed in the sky, and Musembi shifted her gaze. “And she’s Asaa. We’ll figure out how to go through this together.”

“You’re willing to do that?” Musembi asked, her eyes back to Ojore’s.

“For Sholei, I will do anything,” Ojore declared.

“But what if...” Musembi shook her head.

“I am a practical man. I won’t let lucid dreams dictate my life,” Ojore said, a faraway look in his eyes. Musembi suspected Ojore knew more about the twisted fate between him and Sholei than he was saying.

”Then you’d be willing to defy the heavens for love?” Musembi asked. “Our destinies have already been written at birth. Do you believe a man can change his destiny?”

“I would defy the gods just to be with her,” Ojore said, and the skies rumbled again. One moment, they were clear, the next, they turned dark, almost angry.

”Do you know what happened earlier?” Ojore turned to her.

“I’m not sure I follow,” Musembi frowned .

“Sholei attended a funeral, and the mourners stoned her. She is yet to heal from the ordeal of being held prisoner the moment she returned to the Mukuru capital. She suffered more than anyone I know, and yet, have you heard her complain? She is no longer safe in this place.” Ojore’s voice was laden with concern.

“Wait.” Musembi held up her hand. “Why would she endanger her life like that? Is she okay?” Worry laced Musembi’s voice. Tula’s family was bound to be hostile toward Sholei because of her association with Ojore and the Dembe army. The Kwembe family lost two sons, and their only daughter was missing.

Ojore sighed. “If she doesn’t leave, she won’t survive the capital. She can learn to be an Imperial Physician on the Faye Islands and learn the secrets of our past lives, too.”

“But…” Musembi hesitated. “Won’t she be punished for poisoning you once she’s in Dembe? She did escape from your camp.”

“No one knows she poisoned me.” Ojore shrugged. “Besides, she helped cure the sickness that claimed many of my soldiers in the camp. The King of Dembe will reward her for her contributions.”

”It’s ironic how everything keeps falling into place for your plan. You thought of this before visiting me, didn’t you?”

“A man who plans is always a step ahead.” The corners of his lips rose in a half smile.

“From the moment you kidnapped her, you knew the kingdom would ostracize her. You let the rumors about her being your concubine spread.” Musembi sent an accusing glance at him. “Everything that happened was to give her no other way out but to choose you.” Her voice rose with each accusation.

“Watch your words.” The tall, silent guard behind Ojore stepped forward. Ojore stopped him with a raised hand.

”You let her come back here knowing what would happen. It’s not the world against her, but you who estranged her from everyone.” Musembi wasn’t deterred.

“If that were the case, why would I be here?” Ojore asked. “I want Sholei safe. I want her by my side. Always. Whatever challenges come our way, we’ll face them together.”

“Would you give up your power for her?” Musembi suddenly threw the question.

“My position is the only boulder between me and those who wish her harm,” Ojore said. “As much as I love Sholei, I have a responsibility to my people, too. I can’t ignore either.”

“That is a smart way to say that you aren’t ready to give up your power for her,” Musembi mumbled under her breath, and Ojore angled his head and held her gaze. She broke the staring contest first.

Soon after that, he left, but not before she promised to give him an answer. Musembi watched as the horses galloped away and wondered how she’d survived the presence of the physical manifestation of High Lord Keita, Sholei’s ultimate enemy.

Sholei held the bowl in her hands close and savored its warmth. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of earth after a light rain. The slow movement of water soothed her nerves. Tula loved the rain. Sholei recalled how they played around in the mud when they were young.

“Enjoying the view?” Ojore’s deep voice called.

He leaned against a painted wooden post that supported the gazebo they stood in, arms crossed on his chest. The structure stood beside river Nkiru, which ran through the palace grounds. Black ducks swam on the water and water lilies graced the surface.

“My Prince.” Sholei set the bowl on the table. She hadn’t heard him approach. Ojore’s movements were as silent as a jungle cat. How long had he stood there watching her?

“Easy.” Ojore helped her straighten, his hand lingered on her elbow. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be resting?” Days had passed since the incident in Tula’s home. Sholei didn’t know what would happen if Ojore hadn’t interfered. She hated that she risked Mueni’s life, and was yet to receive answers as to the whereabouts of her best friend. Her trip was futile.

“I’m much better. I wanted to stretch my legs.” The heat of his palm warmed her more than the bowl of soup. His mere nearness dispelled the cold, and his smoky scent swirled around her.

“How are your injuries?” After she came back from the funeral, Ojore ordered Litonde to check on her. Apart from minor cuts and bruises from the objects thrown at her, Sholei didn’t suffer serious injuries. Ojore punished the men who were to guard her and banned her from leaving the palace without his permission.

“I should be asking you the same. You disappeared last evening. I searched for you,” she replied.

“Did you miss me?” he teased her and tugged on her gold hoop earring.

“It was to check on your eyesight.” Sholei felt warmth coil in her stomach when he smiled at her. “Were you in court?” she added.

“Conquering a kingdom is the easy part. Managing such a large court after the transition is different.” Ojore leaned back on the wooden rails and faced the river. “But no, I wasn’t dealing with court matters.”

“Whatever you do, don’t strain yourself. The poison is still in your body,” Sholei added when he wasn’t forthcoming with his activities the previous night. Ojore held secrets, and so did she. She wasn’t going to push him to divulge his.

“I went to visit Musembi.” He held her gaze and folded his arms on his chest. Sholei’s eyes followed the movement of the fabric of his clothes. She wanted to be in his arms.

“You were at the medicine yard?” Sholei’s eyes grew wide when her mind registered what he said. “Why?”

“I invited Musembi to join us. We’ll leave Mukuru after I settle the court and appoint a new ruler,” Ojore explained.

“What did she say?” Sholei turned from him, anxious for his answer.

“She didn’t give me an answer,” Ojore replied .

”Musembi thinks you’re the enemy. She wouldn’t follow you.” Sholei chuckled nervously. Ojore took her hands in his. Warmth coursed through her body at the contact.

After the humiliation at the funeral, Sholei knew she couldn’t stay in the Mukuru capital any longer. The community turned against her and screamed for her blood. She couldn’t run away with Musembi, either. The older physician had put her life on hold to bring Sholei up, and if Musembi continued to be by her side, she would be ostracized, too. The next best solution for her was to leave with Ojore and travel to the Faye Islands, but she grew hesitant.

“I wouldn’t be sure about that. Despite what you think, Musembi holds you close to her heart. Give her time. She will come around,” Ojore encouraged her.

“I’m afraid I can’t be too sure. The Dembe are her enemies. It would be selfish to ask her to drop everything for me.” Musembi wanted to leave everything and run away with Sholei, but where did that land her? In Ojore’s direct path. Wouldn’t it be better if she stayed behind and far from danger?

“The future will be brighter than now, Sholei. Trust me.” Ojore squeezed her wrists and held them close to his face. The bangles on her wrist clicked with the motion. Sholei managed to smile and pull her hand away. She took a step back. A flash of emotion ran through Ojore’s eyes before he reverted to indifference.

”It’s been years since I have been in Dembe, but I understand how you feel,” Ojore said. They both turned to watch the dark, feathered ducks float on the river .

“When did you leave?” Sholei asked. After their night out, they hardly spoke of his background.

“After my initiation ceremony at the age of ten, I left to join the army. I was barely a man. My grandfather had passed away, and my father ordered me back to court. After I joined the army, I visited Dembe whenever I was summoned by the court, but I didn’t spend much time in the city,” Ojore went on in a monotonous voice.

“What about your mother?” Ojore hardly mentioned his mother in their talks.

”She’s dead to me.” His expression grew cold, and his jaw clenched.

“She passed away?” Sholei asked. Something switched in his tone and she turned to face him.

“She’s very much alive and thrives in my father’s harem.” His voice didn’t change. The silence which followed was too loud. Sholei discovered she didn’t know much about Ojore apart from what Mueni told her.

“You are lucky enough to have a mother in your life.” Sholei was taken aback by the indignation in his voice.

“Sometimes not having parents is a blessing.” Ojore laughed, but it sounded hollow.

“I’m sure you don’t mean that,” she admonished him.

“Imagine this.” Ojore’s gaze roamed the river. “A father who pits his sons against each other and a mother who pushes you away. Do you think that’s a normal family?”

“At least you had your grandfather. He must have treated you right.” Sholei redirected the discussion to a safer topic .

Ojore’s eyes found hers. “He’s no longer alive. My mother couldn’t attend her father’s burial. I had to perform the funeral rites myself to guide his soul to the three doors of the afterlife.” His face darkened as if reliving the memories of that day.

Sholei’s heart squeezed at the thought of the young Ojore going through all the challenges alone.

“It must have been hard for you.” She smoothed his fists and squeezed his hand.

”I learned fast enough how to depend on myself to survive.” Ojore intertwined their fingers. That must have been how he became assertive and smart. For him to endure the challenges of the army and become a conqueror at his age wasn’t a small feat, Sholei thought.

“You have Musembi. I have a feeling she would do anything for you.” Ojore reminded her. Sholei smiled. Musembi was ready to run away with her. She was lucky, and she would protect the old woman.

“During the time you were in my camp, she camped outside the court and pleaded with King Gusiwaju to save you,” Ojore added.

“How did you know that?” Sholei raised her eyebrows.

“The same way I learned of your imprisonment once you made it back to the Mukuru capital.” Ojore measured his words and gauged her reaction. “My golden crest was found in the cells.”

“All my life, I have been an outcast in this community, and now, they are coming after my life.” Sholei chuckled at the irony of her situation. The people she craved acceptance from hated her the most .

“If there is something I have learned from fighting wars, people will always choose someone or something else to put their blame on.”

“What if they are right? What if my destiny is tragic?” she searched his gaze. She waited for him to confirm he experienced dreams like her.

“Every man has a choice of controlling his fate. You can decide your destiny,” Ojore encouraged.

“You are right.” She glanced at their joined hands. “I do have control.” Sholei closed her eyes. “I want you to make me a promise.” A single tear dropped from her eye.

“Anything for you.” Ojore wiped a stray tear with his knuckle.

“Once I join the Imperial Physicians in Faye Islands, I will cut off communication with you.” Ojore tightened his grip on her. It would give her time to understand the Oracle’s words.

“Anything but losing you,” Ojore’s voice strained and his jaw ticked. The flames behind his eyes smoldered. High Lord Keita.

“You have to promise no harm will come to Musembi, no matter her choice. If anything happens to her, I might not be able to bear it.” Sholei forced herself to look into his eyes, and the pain and anger behind his gaze cut to her heart, but she held her ground. Her heart sank, but she came to terms with the fact her future with Ojore was as delicate as morning dew, beautiful but elusive. It was time to convince him to let her go. Her feelings for him weren’t enough to make her stay. The Oracle’s vision cemented her decision .

Ojore conquered Mukuru and was responsible for the deaths of many people. Sholei couldn’t get past the idea of being happy together with so much torment around them, no matter how fulfilled she felt by his side.

“Why?” His voice was tight.

“You said it yourself; I can control my fate. Will you let me, or will you try to influence my choice?” Ojore dropped her hands and stood back.

“You are using my words against me.” He turned his back to her and faced the river.

“We can’t be together.” She moved to stand before him. “You ordered the annihilation of a whole village just to waylay me.”

“Do you also blame me for Tula’s disappearance?” Ojore narrowed his gaze at her.

“No,” she whispered. “She was looking out for me and probably met her end. I’m entirely at fault.”

“You hate me for destroying your home,” Ojore pressed. “Your kingdom.” Sholei didn’t answer, her eyes downcast.

“Despite everything that happened, I don’t hate you.” She picked the bowl up, and the soup cooled like the air around them. Sholei clutched it in her hands, in the hope of hiding her trembling hands.

Deep inside, Sholei wanted to be with Ojore, to forget everything that happened and the Oracle’s haunting vision. They probably stood a chance if he hadn’t had a strong sense of duty and she wasn’t set on being an Imperial Physician. But fate played a cruel game with them. Ojore’s ambitions spilled too much blood, and the deaths of the people by Lake Alokove haunted her .

“Even if I hadn’t met you, Mukuru Kingdom would have fallen,” Ojore explained. “It had been planned for a long time. You had nothing to do with it.”

”To you, people like Tula are mere inconveniences of war. Her disappearance will haunt me forever. The deaths of the village by Lake Alokove will not stop playing in my mind. You trample through everything to get what you want.” Sholei shook her head.

“I’m glad you are finally speaking your mind, witch.” His tone was mired with sarcasm. “But I still don’t understand why you are trying so hard to cure me. You have had many chances to do so, but you didn’t. Why?”

“I have asked myself that question with no answer.”

“You hold me close to your heart, Sholei. Deny it all you want, but your feelings for me run deep.” He approached her again and took the bowl from her hands. Sholei watched as Ojore intertwined their fingers together. Why did his touch feel so right?

“The line between love and hate is blurred.” He raised her chin, his calloused finger sent fissions of fire across her skin. For a second, Sholei forgot her resolution and closed her eyes.

“What if I don’t let you go?” His other arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her closer. “I could easily tie you to my side.” His warm breath fanned her face.

“You will be wrong to say every man is free to choose their destiny,” Sholei answered, equally determined.

For the longest time, he held her gaze, and emotions crossed his eyes, ranging from anger to desperation.

“You have to let me go.” She raised her hand and palmed his cheek. His close-cropped beard scratched her skin. Ojore closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the hard lines on his face softening.

“Never,” he whispered before their lips met. With that, every thought evaporated from her mind, and all that was left was the taste, scent, and feel of Ojore.