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S holei followed the servant to Prince Gane’s quarters. She was left to wait in his garden as her presence was announced. Sholei walked around the bloom-filled garden. Gane loved flowers and kept a variety of them in his orchard: periwinkle, carnations, geraniums, and bougainvillea. As far as Sholei could see, the flowers ranged from pale pink to deep red. Gane had a strange obsession with the color crimson.

“Make yourself comfortable as I fetch the prince.” The servant appeared with roasted peanuts and set them on the table before Sholei.

Sholei’s mouth salivated when she saw the snacks. She hardly had lunch, still brooding from Musembi’s slap. Her last meal was in the forest when she had taken the Dembe soldier’s dried meat. Thoughts of the infuriating man made her furious. By now, he must have left the boundaries of Mukuru’s capital, but that wouldn’t stop her from telling on him. She had the chance to inform Gane about him. Sholei thought gleefully at the possibility of the prize money.

She stretched and picked up a handful of the roasted nuts, ready to pop them into her mouth, but a slight cough from behind caught her off guard. Sholei returned the nuts to the plate and stood.

“Sholei, it’s a pleasant surprise to see you.” Prince Gane’s smooth voice caused her to turn around, and she was once again taken by his handsome looks.

He walked into the gazebo, similar to the others that dotted the whole palace. They were made of black wood and had high beamed roofs, used for hot afternoons and nights. They were in the middle of his courtyard, surrounded by a collection of houses painted bright orange. Since the first time she came to the palace, Sholei marveled at the beauty of Gane’s residence.

“Greetings, Prince Gane, son of King Gusiwaju, great King of Mukuru Kingdom.” As custom dictated, she descended to her knees to greet the nobility, her eyes downcast.

“Enough pleasantries. We are over that.” His voice carried the easy smile known to cause girls to fight whenever his name cropped up. He approached her and helped her rise. His limp had improved, and he moved easily, but not with his usual purposeful gait.

Prince Gane was dressed in a long, loose, golden silk robe that stretched from his lean waist to his sandaled feet. Another piece wrapped around his left shoulderand hung on his right arm. He was dressed for court and looked distinguished. He must be attending the court meeting, too.

”You are yet to heal.” Sholei forced her gaze from Gane’s fine chest and focused on the bandaged wound on his side.

Most people hid their wounds from sight, but Gane wore his like a badge; after all, it wasn’t every day one fought vicious bandits and survived. Looking at Gane’s injury assured her that her medicine worked well. In the back of her mind, she remembered dealing with another arrogant individual earlier that morning. For once, she wished for her patient not to heal; the Dembe soldier deserved it.

“I like that you worry about me, but you don’t have to. We’ll leave that to my mother and the servants.” He winked, and her heart went into a frenzy.

Gane was tall with lean limbs. He carried himself with an air of confidence despite his playful talk. He was intelligent, and from a young age, he led his father’s troops to guard the borders. He also led trade caravans through different cities in the region. Everyone said he would be the next one to inherit the throne of the great Mukuru Kingdom, and Sholei could see it happening. Despite having senior brothers, Gane was the only one who showed great potential in leadership capabilities. He didn’t indulge in the frivolities of the royals and rarely visited the pleasure houses in the capital, a characteristic that made him venerable among the female population. The court was yet to announce his marriage, but it wouldn’t be long; many girls’ hearts would be broken when the time came .

“Have some snacks.” He pushed the plate to her side as Sholei returned to her seat. Sholei recalled Musembi’s warning to keep her distance from Gane; the young prince wasn’t as simple as Sholei took him to be. After delivering the potion, Sholei was to leave.

”I just had my lunch.” She shook her head even though her mouth watered.

He pushed her down on the seat by the shoulders, his touch light. Sholei changed from her loose pants to a beautiful cotton tunic. It was green with a flowery pattern, knee length, and secured by heavy, colorful waist beads on her midsection. Tula, her best friend, had bought the waist beads for her.

To attend to royalty, you must dress the part , Tula insisted when Sholei was reluctant to take the gift. A golden head scarf lay on her head and complemented the dress. Would he react like the people on the street? She wondered.

“You saved my life. I can never repay you enough.” Sholei looked up as he smiled down at her. “Apart from the potion, I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

Sholei raised her eyes at his serious tone as he walked back to his seat and arranged his court attire around him. The laughter disappeared from his face, and he grew serious.

“Don’t mention to anyone else about the weapon used to stab me.” He leaned forward and placed a heavy golden pouch on the table. His calculating eyes bore into her. Sholei knew that her dream would be achieved with the gold inside that pouch. She might join the physicians at Faye Island sooner than she thought. Her heart skipped .

She was never to reveal the secret behind his injuries. Why would Gane be wounded by the same weapon he wielded? If not self-harm, how come the bandits had access to the weapons issued by the Mukuru army? Sholei wondered but Gane pushed the pouch close to her. The weight of the gold inside made the pouch groan against the wooden table, the sound carrying to her heart.

“It’s Musembi who did the most. I didn’t help much.” She tried to resist the urge to take the money, she fisted her hands to her sides. Musembi would have her head if she chose to be part of Gane’s schemes.

“Who will tell her?” Gane whispered and leaned closer. “There is more where this came from if you know where to base your loyalties.”

Sholei ditched her last efforts to resist and grabbed the pouch from the table. She tucked it inside her medicine basket. She cast a glance around; no one else was about. No one to report her to Musembi.

“You made a smart choice.” Prince Gane leaned back on his seat, the easy smile back on his face.

”The tonic will help ease the pain. Take a small amount of it after every meal.” Sholei pushed the tonic to Gane’s side.

“I will be calling upon your help once in a while. Depending on your capabilities, I shall reward you generously,” Gane went on, the hidden intent behind his words clear. Since she accepted the money, she chose to do his bidding. If all she had to do was prepare potions, then it wasn’t that bad. Sholei doubted Prince Gane would make her do questionable deeds.

Would he? Her conscience nagged her .

”My Prince, the king requests your presence in court.” A court servant appeared before the gazebo and addressed Gane. The man’s wide hat covered his head when he bowed.

“Is everyone present?” Prince Gane stood up and straightened his robes. Sholei followed suit.

“Yes.” The guard nodded.

“Tell my father I will be joining them shortly.” His voice commanded respect, and the guard left.

“Leave the tonic with my help on your way out.” Gane smiled at her, and Sholei’s doubts dispersed.

“I will be seeing you around, Sholei.” He walked out of the gazebo with a slight nod and a wink. Sholei stood transfixed until he disappeared out of sight, he left behind a fruity scent and the heavy weight of the golden pouch in the basket.

Sholei forgot to warn him about the injured Dembe soldier.

Musembi stood before the court. An attendant ushered her in and instructed her to stand behind the long line of elders. The council of elders consisted of leaders from different clans and tribes in the kingdom, and heads of different groups that stayed outside the capital in surrounding cities. They made up the king’s court. Palace servants and other courtiers blended in the background of the great hall. An old orator sat at the entrance of the court and bellowed the great achievements of the king, and sang his praises and accomplishments. He also announced those who came in .

Musembi was to keep her eyes on the floor when summoned or addressed by the king. The attendant informed her they waited upon Prince Gane before the court proceedings began.

When Gane swept inside, his long robes billowed around his feet. Musembi couldn’t help but steal a glance. Gane caught her eye, and surprise registered on the young prince’s face before he made his way to the front. Musembi knew Sholei was swayed to the youthful prince’s side. If Gane wanted a personal physician, he could get one from the collection of Imperial Physicians eager to serve him. His intentions in selecting Sholei couldn’t be noble.

Musembi knew about the vicious politics in the court, and she wanted to protect Sholei from getting involved with Gane, but the stubborn girl couldn’t think beyond the financial rewards she would receive. If Sholei thought Gane would ask her only to prepare healing tonics, she was in for a surprise. Gane had something more fatal in mind. With Sholei’s ignorance and foolhardy ways, it would be easy for the prince to cast her aside once her purpose was fulfilled. In court politics, once you served your purpose, you became a burden to be eliminated.

Like the fortifications guarding the palace, the court halls were built high and tall. The entrance was guarded with fierce sculptures of lion heads. Painted gold, they glittered in the light. The massive hall was supported by wooden relief pillars that stretched to the high ceilings. Wide, tall windows streamed in light that illuminated the inside and cast the wide room in an orange glow. Exquisite statues decorated the walls with carvings of animals and other pictures.

The statue of Keita, Lord of the Northern Skies, stood tall behind the king’s golden throne. The people of the plains worshiped the sky gods but preferred the great eagle, whose long, powerful wings stretched upward, and golden eyes and fierce gaze struck anyone who looked at him. Long, sharp talons grabbed a sculpted tree branch. The artist who created the sculpture took almost half his lifetime to craft the statue. Musembi sneaked her gaze at the gold and swirls of black etched into the eagle. She appreciated the expensive work.

“Daughter of the Ulele clan, come forward.” The king’s voice boomed across the room at Musembi. She hadn’t realized the court was already in session. Like the elders, he was dressed for court in long, high-waisted golden silk robes and elaborate headgear. King Gusiwaju was a tall man with an enormous appetite for food, resulting in a big belly that vibrated with every word he spoke.

The room was tense, and people whispered in low tones as they cast glances in her direction. King Gusiwaju sat high above them on his grand throne carved out of gold.

“I asked you here to get your opinion about this impending war. Your skills are highly praised in the capital. How about you join the army and help during the battle?” The room went pin-drop silent.

“I will lay down my life for this kingdom if called upon,” Musembi said and bowed her head lower. The impending war must be serious if the court sought help from the unregistered physician in the capital, or if the king was after something else. Musembi hoped her fears were unfounded .

“The Dembe Kingdom is waging war and expanding its territory southward. Many kingdoms in the north have fallen, including Timaka. Soon, they will gain momentum toward us. My scouts tell me they plan to attack the Keseve Market soon. In the coming days, we’ll have emissaries from neighboring kingdoms to plan a way forward before the Dembe reach us. Gane, am I correct?” King Gusiwaju turned to his son.

“My King, war is upon us. I suggest we unite with our neighboring cities and defend the Keseve Market. If it’s captured, we’ll grow vulnerable to the Dembe attack. For that reason, I invited envoys from the Etago, Iranda, and Suneka cities to come and put our heads together and find a solution.”

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, impressed by Prince Gane’s eloquence.

The head of the Kurui clan, the largest in the Mukuru capital, asked Gane, “Do you have a suggestion on how we can stop this war?”

“My elders, once an arrow has left the bow, it can never return. With a trail of blood and devastation, the Dembe soldiers are on a path of destruction. We can only stand our ground and fight,” Prince Gane answered.

“War is expensive. Is there any way we could avoid it? Our people have enjoyed peace for a long time, and I don’t think we can bear the cost,” the head of the Chamber of Commerce asked. If war were to break out, the Kingdom’s extensive businesses would be hit hard.

“For that reason, we will join with our neighbors. We can’t wait until the Dembe march to our borders. We will head north and confront them. As for the cost, everyone can contribute and share the burden,” Gane explained.

“Now, daughter of Ulele, if everything goes as planned, we will need some experienced physicians to accompany the war band to the battlefield. What do you have to say about this?” The king turned his attention toward Musembi.

“Apart from you, I heard of your apprentice’s prowess in medicine. Queen Kajala mentioned her skills more than once. Her expertise will be highly appreciated.” Musembi raised her eyes to the King before she lowered them again. “Of course, you will both receive decent pay for your efforts.”

Sholei on the battlefield? Why? It couldn’t be…No. Musembi’s mind raced. Gane and Queen Kajala ensnared Sholei in their trap. He even involved his father in the scheme. Prince Gane wanted Sholei by his side.

”Father,” Gane intervened. “I have had the chance to be treated by Musembi and her apprentice. Their skills are comparable to those of the Imperial Physicians. They will be a great addition to our side.”

King Gusiwaju beamed high on his seat, appreciative of his son’s support. Gane cut off Musembi’s chance to detangle Sholei from Gane’s grasp. She doubted that the queen mentioned Sholei to the king. Musembi suspected it was Prince Gane. The prince chose Sholei, and now they were tied together. She didn’t want to think about the other possibility. Musembi worried, her plans to escape royal strife thwarted. She should have found a reason to turn down Queen Kajala .

“Your Highness, my daughter is young and inexperienced. She has never faced war and won’t be useful in this situation.” She stepped up, hoping to reason with the king.

“One would think we have something against your apprentice, Musembi.” Prince Gane came to stand before her, a smile curving his lips upward, almost predatory. “Shouldn’t we all come together and contribute to the burden before us?”

“Your Highness, I happen to know of Sholei, the young physician at the medicine yard, and she is the age-mate of my daughter. She is too young to venture into war.” Musembi remembered the elder talking was Senior Elder Kwembe, father of Sholei’s best friend, Tula. She hoped the plea would work. He was a retired army general, discharged due to his advancing age. He remained in the king’s court to give council.

“Silence!” the king’s voice boomed, and even the background noise outside the great hall grew silent. All the elders fell to their knees, and Musembi followed suit. Gane walked back to his place.

“You know the great danger we face, and instead of thinking of solutions, you object to everything I say.” The king paced back and forth before his throne. The golden bangles on his wrist clinked with every movement he made.

“You have a fortnight to find me answers before the emissaries arrive, or else the girl joins the war band. You are dismissed.” He stormed outside the court with his retainers close behind him.

Musembi turned to leave, but not before catching Prince Gane’s gaze, cold and calculating, different from the warm smile he flashed before the public. Musembi didn’t need anything else to confirm the intentions behind his look. He must have spotted Sholei a long time ago, and he was going for her. If the rumors in the kingdom were true, Prince Gane was going to use Sholei’s skill to eliminate his brothers for the chance at the throne. He had set a trap, and her na?ve Sholei fell into it.