Page 6

“ I shouldn’t be here.” Sholei tried to snatch her arm from Tula’s grip. Tula pulled Sholei through the maze of people in the capital square.

It was evening, and the sun cast an azure glow on the horizon. The usually wide streets were filled to the brink as Mukuru residents scrambled to get a view of the visitors from the neighboring cities. For days, guests flocked in and were welcomed with songs, dances, and entertainment. The mood was electric, and business boomed. The scents of delicious foods wafted around and children ran around with face paints. Music played loudly, and dancers swayed in the frenzy of the beats.

“You don’t want to miss this, Sholei. Prince Gane designed a new spear, short and good for close combat. I heard the spears are also designed to pierce through any armor. Can you imagine that?” Tula didn’t miss a chance to speak about anything war-related. She was obsessed with wanting to join the army, and apart from her brother’s Prince Gane was her ultimate hero.

Tula was a tall girl and took the lithe physique of her brothers. She had wild hair that refused to be tamed by a comb. She preferred braiding it but hated the hassle. She claimed that soldiers shouldn’t be bothered by such trifles. Tula wanted to be a soldier, and the number of times she had dragged Sholei to spy on the soldiers’ training ground was one too many. Tula’s older brothers, Kweku and Anasi, were already seasoned soldiers, and as she was their only sister, they spoiled her.

Sholei tried to match her best friend’s enthusiasm, but it proved difficult. She expected Musembi to jump out from the crowd and drag her back to the medicine yard.

Tula had hauled her from the yard where Musembi held her hostage after their argument days before. Sholei’s back hurt from bending over while she prepared the potions. The festivities meant more people visited the medicine yard.

“Musembi will have my neck if she finds I ran out.” Sholei gazed around. She expected to come across Musembi. From the moment Sholei stepped into the square, something nagged at her. She felt like someone was watching, and the feeling followed her for several days.

“Musembi left in search of herbs. She probably won’t make it back until later in the night. Stop worrying and enjoy the night.” Tula tried to calm her worries. Sholei nodded. Tula was right. She rarely enjoyed such celebrations. She needed to stop worrying and soak in the moments.

They stopped by a merchant selling delicacies and bought a few sweets dipped in honey.

“Did you two fight? Again?” Tula asked. As Sholei’s best friend, she was aware of the turbulent relationship between mentor and apprentice.

“She found out my plans for going to Faye Islands this year,” Sholei answered with a long, drawn-out sigh. She knew of Sholei’s ambitions and fully supported them.

“That didn’t go well, did it?” Tula’s lips thinned into a single line.

“Words were exchanged.” Sholei recalled her outburst. She learned long ago Musembi was set to join the Imperial Physicians but couldn’t because Sholei was days old. Young Musembi couldn’t join the physicians in the Faye Islands. Sholei always wondered if that was why Musembi hated her; she cut off her dream. There was an age requirement to join the Imperial Physicians, and Musembi was well past the entry phase. Students couldn’t come in with young children since the training was rigorous. If Sholei missed her chance this year, she would never be admitted to the Academy.

After their altercation about Prince Gane, Sholei didn’t leave the medicine yard. Musembi swamped her with responsibilities. Sholei immersed herself to prepare medicine and attend to patients to forget her misery.

Earlier in the morning, Musembi left to search for a special herb, and Tula used that chance to sneak Sholei out. Musembi left in excitement, talking about the discovery of a special herb that bloomed once a year. A healer from the neighboring city of Suneka had sent her a message.

“Sholei,” the smooth voice of Prince Gane called. She turned to him and recalled Musembi’s words. Prince Gane wasn’t as simple as she purported him to be.

Tula sent her a sly smile and melted into the sea of people before Sholei could stop her. Her best friend knew Sholei attended to the prince before.

Prince Gane stood before her, dressed in long silk robes and sporting his signature smile. In his golden robes, Gane shone brighter than the warm light from the lanterns around them.

“It has been a while since I last saw you.” His white smile fitted with the golden circlet on his head. Sholei felt underdressed in front of him. Her hand unconsciously went to straighten the wrinkles on her cotton attire. Tula had lent it to her since Sholei didn’t have many clothes presentable for such an occasion.Most of the money she received went into saving for the future. She figured that once she became a big name, she would have all the fancy dresses in the world.

“I have been busy at the medicine yard. How is your wound?” She shifted the topic back to him.

“Cured, thanks to the miraculous physician before me.” His appreciative sentiment reenergized her dark mood. Musembi was wrong about Gane.

“I have a gift for you.” He signaled the servant beside him to hand him a small pouch made of silk. Gane placed it in her hands. Another gift? Sholei’s heart beat fast in her chest. Would the prince use her as a pawn in his agenda? Why would he waste time handing her gifts? An insignificant physician?

“I can’t possibly accept this.” She tried to return it. Musembi would flip her lid if she knew Sholei met Gane, let alone accepted more of his gifts. Sholei didn’t have the energy to go another round with her mentor.

“Turn around.” Gane took her shoulder and twirled her. Because of his status, Prince Gane attracted attention. Several people glanced at them and whispered amongst themselves.

“I...” Sholei protested, uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

“Stay still…” Gane’s voice was good-humored as he placed a small necklace around her neck and fastened it.

“It’s lovely,” Sholei marveled despite her worries. The chain was made of colorful wooden beads assembled with experienced craftsmanship.

“A beautiful gift for a beautiful woman.” Gane winked at her. “A few days from now, I will call upon a favor from you. Will you indulge me?” Gane leaned down and whispered in her ear. Sholei’s heart skipped a beat at his request. Musembi was right. Prince Gane was going to use her. She turned and caught a cunning glint in his gaze, covered by a half smile. The overhead lantern cast half his face in darkness and the other half in light. His gaze bore into her as he waited for an answer.

“My Prince,” a soldier called to Gane from the crowd. Sholei lowered her gaze and broke the tension between them. Sholei became aware of the surging crowd, the sound of drumbeats and the cheerful ambiance became loud again .

“Soon, I will send for you. Wait for my message.” Gane waved her goodbye and disappeared into the crowd. Sholei followed his tall form until his golden headgear disappeared. What trouble had she landed herself in? Sholei slapped her palm on her forehead.

“What is going on between you and Prince Gane?” Tula reappeared beside her and elbowed Sholei, her puzzled gaze followed the tall prince. Sholei grew hesitant to tell Tula about her deal with Prince Gane and the heavy pouch of gold she received. Gold Musembi confiscated. Sholei released a slow breath. Would she be working for the prince for free?

“Prince Gane is appreciative of my skill, that’s all.” Sholei cleared her throat. Under the bright street lanterns, the necklace shone, and the various bead colors popped before her eyes.

“He gave you a necklace. It must mean something special.” Tula’s eyebrows furrowed in thought.

More like a noose against her neck, Sholei thought as she glared at the jewelry. The more she stared at it, the brighter it burned her eyes.

“You think so?” Sholei asked. What if she chose to work with Gane? After all, he was a prince with a pristine record. Apart from making medicine, he wouldn’t ask her for anything unethical, like poisons. That thought hit Sholei like a kick from the only donkey in the medicine yard. She recalled Musembi telling her that King Gusiwaju’s sons suffered a variety of maladies. Nothing life-threatening, but they were of ill health. Did Gane have something to do with his brothers’ sickness ?

“Obviously,” Tula rolled her eyes. “Gane is focused on training and chasing down bandits. My brothers tell me he’s never shown interest in a girl. Maybe you caught his eye.” Tula popped one of the sweets inside her mouth.

“Dream on, witch,” the loud screech came from Sholei’s arch nemesis, Mmbone. “One necklace and you think you can stand by his side?” Mmbone was surrounded by four of her cronies, daughters of wealthy merchants in the city. They descended on Sholei and Tula like hungry vultures.

“You are jealous. No matter how much you try to attract his attention, you’re not the recipient of his gift,” Tula fired back, and squared up, ready to fight. Sholei pulled her back by her sleeves.

Ever since they were young, Mmbone and her friends harassed them. Tula and Sholei bonded together to fight off the group. As the only daughter of the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Mmbone was spoiled and had a nasty attitude. She behaved like the whole world was at her feet, and she had everyone walking on eggshells. Mmbone told everyone who bothered to listen that she would be the next queen of Mukuru and set her eyes on Prince Gane. Sholei vowed to be out of the city before that day arrived, or else when Mmbone attained such status, her neck would be on the chopping block.

“Don’t think you will put the prince under your spell, witch.” Mmbone shook her index finger at Sholei, her disdainful gaze on the necklace. Her pretty features contorted into a nasty frown.

Sholei fisted her hands. She was not a witch. She could take anything but being called that name. She loathed it. She never used black magic in her work. Her gift came from years in the medicine yard. People like Mmbone—born with silver spoons in their mouths—couldn’t understand.

“I warned you against calling me that,” Sholei countered as she stepped toward Mmbone. Tula closed in behind her.

“Everybody in the capital knows of the little potions you make. You’re not fooling anyone.” Each word dripped with venom. “Prince Gane will never look at you like a woman.”

“You are not the one to decide that.” Sholei moved closer to Mmbone, and their chests touched. Tula pulled the sleeves of her gown back. In the past, when they had fought, Sholei won every time and Mmbone ran back to her father in tears. Musembi talked Sholei’s ears off when she received the complaints.

“Let’s teach her a lesson she won’t forget.” Tula bumped her fists together. Apart from Mmbone, her cronies stepped back.

A subtle movement on the other side of the street caught Sholei’s eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.

Past the throng of people stood the Dembe soldier, his gaze on her. His direct stare sent chills down her back, and Sholei stumbled, her petty fight with Mmbone forgotten. Time stood still as everything around her blurred. The chatter in the crowd turned into a distant buzz as the crowd meshed into a blend of colors.

“What is wrong, Sholei? You are shaking.” Tula’s worried voice dragged her back as she shook her shoulders .

“De…De….” Sholei pointed toward the figure across the street, but he had disappeared. In a split second, he was gone, and she wondered if he was a figment of her imagination. She could have sworn it was him dressed in the distinct merchant’s tunic. She could not forget his dark eyes, towering height, or that arrogant smirk.

“You are right to be scared.” Mmbone pushed Sholei back with her palm. “Stay out of my way if you know what is good for you.” She walked off with her cronies as they cackled like a pack of hyenas behind her, oblivious to the danger.

“Sholei, what is it?” Tula worried as Sholei scanned the crowd.

“You have to find Prince Gane right now.” Sholei ran toward where the Dembe soldier disappeared.

“Why? What is going on?” Tula stopped her friend in her tracks and stood in front of her.

“I can’t explain until I am sure, but we are in danger. The entire kingdom is in danger.” Sholei tried to sidestep Tula, keeping her gaze where she had seen the soldier. Frantic, she searched but couldn’t trace him. Just when she thought she had imagined him, she caught a glimpse of him again. His heavy blue tunic with a golden lining embroidered in its pleats caught the light of an overhead lantern before he disappeared behind a corner between merchant stalls.

“Prince Gane must be at the watch tower. He’s overseeing the security with the city guards.” Tula followed Sholei’s gaze before giving a stern nod.

Sholei didn’t have time to explain what had happened and regretted not telling her best friend earlier about the Dembe soldier she encountered. In the previous days, Tula spent time outside the Mukuru soldiers’ training camp, trying to get in and train with her brothers. It was a futile attempt, so she stayed on the sidelines and watched from afar. She grumbled about the injustice to Sholei more than once.

“Head there right now and tell him to watch out for Dembe soldiers.” Sholei’s voice carried urgency.

“Dembe soldiers!” Tula exclaimed before Sholei clasped her wrist to her mouth.

“Don’t scream and cause hysteria.” Sholei tried to be brave and cursed herself for notinforming anyone about the threat.

“How did you know? Where did you see him?” Tula pulled Sholei’s hand off her mouth.

“I must search for him. I am the only one who knows what he looks like,” Sholei said.

“I am not letting you go after him alone. It’s dangerous,” Tula insisted.

“Look at the crowd. Nothing will happen to me, but if we fail to inform the city guards early enough, we might be too late,” Sholei tried to assure her friend. Her eyes wandered around, landing on any person dressed in blue robes.

“I don’t think…” Tula shook her head, stopping Sholei. If it were true, and there was a Dembe soldier in their midst, Sholei wasn’t equipped to deal with him. Tula heard chilling tales about their conquests from her elder brothers, which she shared with Sholei.

“Go find Prince Gane.” Sholei didn’t waste time and tried to run into the crowd. Tula didn’t let go of her arm, and Sholei recalled the insignia she had stashed in her clothes.

“Give this to Gane. He’ll understand.” She pulled the insignia she had stolen from the man’s luggage and pushed it into Tula’s hand. Then she ran after him.