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O nce she ensured Ojore was comfortable for the night, she stepped out for fresh air. Litonde left earlier to retire for the night and promised to relieve her duty in the morning. Mueni went to prepare midnight snacks and was yet to return.

The midnight air was cool and the scent of flowers was in the air. Soon, she would leave, Sholei thought, she gazed up at the scattered clouds as they drifted across a starlit sky. When would she watch the stars above the plains again? After she and Ojore found a way to tackle the Oracle’s words, she doubted if she would return to Mukuru. Would she ever get to see Tula again? Sholei refused to believe her best friend was dead.

Tula was out there, somewhere.

Sholei caressed the pendant on her neck, which Litonde gave her. She was about to achieve her biggest dream. But a thought gnawed at the back of her mind. Doubts over whether she could achieve a better end with different choices crowded her mind.

Out of the shadows, a guard appeared at her side with a note in his hand. Sholei tried to get a good view of his face, but a dark hood covered his face. He passed her the small parchment and disappeared into the darkness again.

Sholei recognized Musembi’s handwriting. Musembi found information about the Oracle, and Sholei was to go to the medicine yard the moment she received the letter. Sholei tried to follow the guard, but he disappeared. Ojore placed guards to watch over Musembi after the incident at Tula’s home. The messenger must have come from the medicine yard.

She returned to check on Ojore and tucked the covers under his arms. He didn’t move, and he would be in that state for the next several days before the herbs worked.

“I’ll be back soon.” She kissed his cool brow and picked up a heavy coat on her way out. She nodded to the guards by the door and walked away. Her guards were nowhere to be seen, but Sholei wasn’t surprised. The men kept in the shadows and rarely made an appearance before her. They would be close by.

A horse ride later, she rushed through the empty moonlit streets of Mukuru. She would see Musembi and convince her to join the trip to Dembe. The old woman spoke about a new start and they had a chance, away from the prejudice of the Mukuru people. Later, Sholei arrived at the quiet street and stopped before the gates of the medicine yard. The outdoor lamps were lit, and the gate wide open.

“Musembi, where are you?” Sholei called out as soon as she jumped off the horse. She went past the gates to the main hall, where warm lights came through the windows. The other apprentices left the medicine hall after they learned of Sholei’s connection to the Dembe.

“Musembi?” Sholei removed the cap off her head and walked over the threshold.

Something hard hit her on the back of the head, and Sholei crumbled on the floor.

When she came about, a dreadful feeling filled her. Pain pounded behind her ear, and a cloth covered her face. She tried to move, but her hands were tied behind her back.

“Sit tight, Sholei, the waters here are choppy.” Musembi’s muffled voice drifted above her. The cover before her eyes was lifted and a warm light swam before her face and Musembi gazed down at her.

“What is going on?” Sholei asked, her eyes glanced around. An old man sat at the far end of what seemed like a boat, and the sounds of an oar sliced through the water.

“Where are we?” she asked, her gaze on Musembi’s solemn one. In the dim light, Musembi looks doubled her age. “Release me.” Sholei wiggled against her bindings, the boat swayed precariously. Where were her guards? Sholei wondered. Did Musembi knock them out, too? Not likely. Maybe she used the poisonous powder .

“I guess I should release your arms. We are far from the capital now.” Musembi leaned and cut off her bindings, she avoided Sholei’s gaze.

“Why are you doing this?” Sholei whispered against the lump in her throat. “Where are you taking me? Have you forgotten what happened to Lake Alokove? More people will be hurt if Ojore learns I disappeared.”

“We are taking a different river to reach Lake Alokove faster. It’s a secret trade route with rough rapids. Ojore won’t follow us here. Besides, I hired the best fisherman in the capital to help us cross.” Musembi cocked her head to the man, and Sholei’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Koito?” she asked. The man was deaf and couldn’t speak. He was in the medicine yard several times, and his means of payment was always fresh fish.

“You have to get to Faye Islands as soon as possible.” Musembi began as she pulled Sholei into a sitting position when the boat bounced off in a strong current.

“Ojore promised to help me tackle the Oracle once I settled on the Islands.” Sholei raised her voice. “I had everything figured out. You just had to follow me.”

“How sure Ojore will let you go once you arrive Dembe?” Musembi shook her head. “I must help you get there faster before Lord Keita gets to you.”

“Musembi…” Sholei started. If she could reason with her, maybe she’d turn the boat around. Ojore would think the worst once he realized Sholei didn’t keep her word and ran off. Musembi’s life was in danger.

“You’re the most important thing in my life, Sholei. I don’t care if I face death, but you must survive.” Musembi cut her off. “My family cut me off for my failure to join the physicians. I was going to poison myself with wine after I failed my final attempt at joining the Academy, but you appeared. You saved my life, and now I am returning that favor.”

“I…” Sholei shook her head as words failed her.

“There was a time when I had dreams and ambitions. I, too, was in love with a man beyond my station. He was a gallant soldier who always had a kind word for me, but luck wasn’t on my side as he was promised to another. He couldn’t marry a no-name physician, and that is why I worked hard to prove I could join the Academy. As it was, I failed again and again, each time sinking further in despair and anguish.” Musembi sniffed back tears. Sholei wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Musembi never opened up like she was doing.

“For several days after the Oracle left you with me, you cried day and night, demanding my attention. I couldn’t ignore you, forcing me to put aside my self-pity and attend to your needs. I soon created the medicine yard to search for ways to source money for your food and clothing. After your child naming ceremony, I learned about your destiny and tried to shield you from it, but it was futile with your ambitions. I could hardly keep your skills hidden, and then war was upon us, and you were kidnapped.”

“None of that matters now,” Sholei whispered past the lump in her throat.

“I know you have your plans, but give me a chance to be the parent I never was. Look, I have funds to get us settled on the islands, together with your tuition. Everything is possible.” Musembi reached out for a heavy bag under her seat. It was laden with gold .

“I have been saving since you were young as your inheritance and wedding assets. Since getting to the islands seems more urgent than the two, we should use it. I’ll earn more to give you all you want.” Musembi finished with a smile despite the tears on her face. “You’re my daughter and I am very proud of your resilience despite the challenges you’ve faced.” Musembi pulled Sholei into a hug. “Let’s forge ahead together. Whatever comes, we’ll deal with it.”

Sholei wrapped her arms around Musembi and cried into the older woman’s shoulders. The words yearned to hear from her mentor, acknowledging her as her child hit her. She swore under the night sky that she would do anything to protect the woman’s life, whatever the future might carry.

The boat stopped, and they both turned to see the fisherman pick up the torch and peer into the waters, his beady eyes squinted at the low light.

“Have we hit a rock?” Musembi stood up and walked to where the fisherman was, but not before a dark hand pulled him into the dark depths. A mere grunt escaped his lips. The boat rocked with the action. Musembi rushed to the edge where the man was dragged off and shouted his name, but no reply came back.

Sholei’s blood ran cold, and her mind flashed to when they were ambushed by Akima by the lake. Had Ojore come after them? How could he when she kept him under for several days? The fisherman didn’t come back up and Musembi returned to where Sholei was and pushed her down on the bench. It was silent apart from the sound of a rush of water .

“Don’t move close to the edge.” Sholei pulled Musembi back. Sholei feared the person who dragged the fisherman down would get her, too. Sholei tried to reach for the oar to propel the boat, but it tumbled into the water.

“Remember, Sholei...” Musembi stopped mid-sentence and released a choke sound. A scream escaped Sholei’s lips, an arrowhead protruded from Musembi’s throat. Blood streamed from the tip of the arrow to where Sholei cowered at the edge of the boat. The make of the arrowhead specific to the Dembe, with its three black sharp edges.

True to his words, Ojore hunted them down. Who else would hunt for them in the middle of the night in such a remote area?

Sholei screamed as Musembi groaned and collapsed in her arms, blood soaked her clothes. From where the fisherman fell off, emerged a man dressed in black and he climbed into the boat. He held a bow, the golden inscription of Dembe glittered in the night, a quiver of arrow strapped on his back on his back. He emerged from the deep waters like something out of her nightmares. Water dripped from his covered head as he hauled himself into the boat.

Musembi gurgled as blood spilled from her mouth, her eyes wide with fear. She tried to push Sholei behind her, but her strength waned.

“Musembi!” Sholei screamed and pulled the bloody woman close. The boat rocked, and Sholei feared they might capsize. The man took his time to nock an arrow on the bow and aimed it at Sholei .

“What do you want from us?” Sholei screamed at the man. Musembi groaned as her breath labored. She pushed Sholei’s hands away and shielded her from the man.

“The General wants your life, witch.” His voice was low and dangerous as he aimed the second arrow at them. Musembi threw herself before Sholei, the arrow lodged in her shoulder. The force of the hit sent her back, and Sholei was knocked off the boat into the rushing waters.

The last image Sholei saw before she went under the black depths was her mentor arrow riddle body across the wooden plank, a blank stare on her face, and blood oozed from her lips.

Sholei tried to scream, but no sound came out. Water filled her mouth and nose. No light reflected the depth of the water, and the more she struggled to get to the surface, the deeper she sank. Pain sliced her arm, and she gripped it. The killer shot into the water. Sholei tried to swim to the surface and reach for Musembi but the currents held her back.

Her lungs became painful, and darkness called out to her. Sholei gave up fighting. Her arms and legs couldn’t move anymore. In the deep darkness, she saw the faces of Musembi and Tula smile at her. They sat on a green field on a sunny day and beckoned her to join them. Sholei smiled and extended her hands toward them.

The voice of the Oracle cackled in her ear.

‘You will regret it, Sholei. ’

Her cruel laugh wiped the image of Tula and Musembi away, and Sholei grew angry. Ojore betrayed her. She loved him, and he sent a hunter after them. He deserved to die .

He deserved her wrath .

A tingle broke through her back, and she felt her skin peel. The feeling spread throughout her body, and she grew accustomed to the cold, even welcomed it. She opened her eyes as foreign sounds and images broke through her vision.

“ Asaa,” the voice came from her lips as she swam to the surface. The water glided over her body. Sholei saw through the murky depths, her vision bright, she headed straight to the boat overhead. When she raised her arms above her, her nails elongated, and her arms turned coal black with blue shimmering across her skin, illuminating the dark. Something silky brushed against her skin, and she pulled on it to find white curly hair flowing from her head.

Asaa.

She broke through the surface and landed on the boat, right behind the assassin who peered into the water at the boat’s edge. She grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back, her black nails sank into his skin and drew blood. With no effort, she ripped his head from his body, and blood splattered on her face as she tossed his carcass into the water. Sholei raised her head and screamed into the night. Water shot underneath the boat in a reverse waterfall and sprayed in the air. She crawled to Musembi and dragged her body into her arms, Sholei growled when she found no pulse in the cold body.

She released a desperate cry, and the wooden boat splintered into pieces as more water broke through, shot into the cloudless sky, and dragged both of them under. Sholei tried to hold on to Musembi, but hazy images attacked her—voices screamed in her head and whispers surrounded her. She felt like her head was going to burst, and then everything went silent again. The heady feeling she encountered drifted from her body as she sank lower into the water.

Gold bars floated on the water around her and Litonde’s pendant from the academy amongst them. Sholei tried to grab it but the water current dragged it away, together with Musembi and her headscarf. She couldn’t fight anymore and watched as her past and future drifted away from her. After she wasted, her blood, sweat, and tears to achieve her dreams, she lost everything. What was the point of living?

A light appeared at the river’s surface and scattered the darkness. Someone jumped into the water, but it was too late. Sholei slipped into oblivion.

The End