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S holei peered outside the cave and counted the men outside the entrance. A total of five. They were dressed as porters and traders from the far north. She was sure their blue robes hid deadly weapons. Mawindoni caves were at the border of Mukuru Kingdom. It would take days to reach the fringes of the capital on foot, but on horses, the journey shortened. According to her kidnapper, she was unconscious for a day and a night. She spent the night and planned her way out of the caves. It was already daytime. She couldn’t waste more time.

Their horses were tied under a single tree and saddled. She couldn’t spot Akima or her kidnapper. If their counterparts were there, her kidnapper couldn’t be far away. The nearest location to Mawindoni caves was Vipingo gorge, and Sholei knew the direction to take once she got away.

“Do you need anything?” One soldier approached her, his face hidden behind a dark turban. The other four Dembe soldiers spoke in low tones and cast her speculative glances. They stood around a fire pit to ward off the early morning chill.

“I need to relieve myself,” she said. If she could leave the guarded cave, she would figure out a way to run away. The soldier looked at her, unsure how to proceed. He narrowed his eyes at her as he tried to gauge her plan.

“Your leader ordered you to take care of all my needs. I demand to use the bathroom,” she added when he hesitated.

“This way.” He scratched the back of his head. If Sholei wasn’t in such a predicament, she would laugh at his confused expression. He led her a short distance from the cave and pointed to a small thicket. “Do your business… there. Don’t try and run.”

“Where is your leader?” Sholei asked. She tried to get information from him, but the only response she got was a cold glare.

If her kidnapper and Akima left long ago, would she be too late to inform the Mukuru guards? The thought put new fear in her. Her captor left the previous night. Since he was not back in the caves and his soldiers were still around, she had to figure out how to escape fast.

“Get moving,” the soldier commanded when she didn’t move.

“How can I do my business if you stand in the way? I need privacy.” She needed him to leave .

”Are you planning to run away?” he said, his eyes narrowed into slits.

“Then stand and watch,” she bluffed and approached the bush. The soldier turned and walked a short distance away. As soon as he was out of sight, Sholei planned to sprint away, but something caught her eye, and she smiled to herself.

She found a perfect way to escape.

Gane and his trackers reached the Bondeni Valley and began their search. The gorges were deep and steep. If Dembe soldiers hid in the natural crevices, it would be difficult to lure them out. Gane tried to think of a strategy to bring them out. He gave silent instructions to his men and they moved forward as a single unit.

The sun burned high in the sky. It was midday. Gane was tired of the search but hungry and angry, he pushed on. If Sholei was right, the reward would make up for his struggle.

“Looking for someone?” A loud echo resonated through the gorges.

Gane raised his eyes to a man dressed in a blue tunic, northern merchant clothes. The man sat on a horse atop one of the slopes. He was too far away from Gane to make out the features of his face. At the man’s side was a long sword that Gane identified as one of the weapons wielded by the Dembe soldiers. Its long black blade gleamed in the sun. He shielded his eyes against its bright reflection.

Sholei was right; Dembe soldiers infiltrated Mukuru Kingdom. Gane narrowed his gaze. If he played his cards right, this was a chance to establish his path to the crown. Even though Gane was the presumed heir to the crown, until he sat on the throne, he had to worry about his father’s other sons.

“State your name and business, stranger,” Gane shouted back and shielded his eyes against the sun’s glare. He didn’t like how the man stared down at him.

The stranger and his horse climbed down the ridge. His eyes never once strayed from Gane.

Once they were on the same ground but a considerable distance apart, Gane repeated his question, his hand on the sword at his side. The horse under him neighed and pranced around.

“I heard you the first time,” the stranger answered, his tone arrogant and dismissive. “Prince Gane, I have a message for King Gusiwaju.” The Dembe soldier appeared to be calm, but his stance was alert, a wild cat ready to pounce.

“You know my name?” Gane tried to keep his voice neutral and hide his surprise. He didn’t know who he faced but suspected who he was. He heard about the arrogance of Dembe’s southern army, the infamous General Ojore—the leader of the biggest Dembe army. The man who waged war against his home.

”Why don’t I help you seek the King’s presence? I will escort you back to the palace,” Gane answered.

“Lay down your weapons and pay tribute to the King of Dembe, and maybe your people will be spared the bloodshed,” Ojore replied and ignored Prince Gane’s statement .

“General Ojore, you are far away from home. I would advise you to turn back and leave. The Dembe army isn’t welcome in the south.” When his men heard the name of Ojore, some gasped in surprise. They had heard stories about the man; seeing him before them was almost unbelievable. With the tales of the Dembe army, he was more of a myth. Everyone heard of the bloody tales of the Dembe Southern Army. They fought to the last man, didn’t take prisoners, and, never lost in battle.

“You are in no position to give demands; my men have surrounded the boulders. You should think about surrendering instead.” Gane could only imagine the welcome he would receive if he returned with Ojore as his captive. His palms slicked with excitement.

“Either your King complies or Mukuru Kingdom will cease to exist in a fortnight. Your choice.” Ojore didn’t appear fazed by Gane’s threat.

“Mukuru Kingdom is sovereign and will never bow to Dembe,” Gane countered. Ojore’s indifferent attitude irritated him.

“That is the same thing the girl said…” Ojore’s voice faded out.

“I never knew Dembe hid behind women to fight their battles,” Gane seethed. The bastard had Sholei . Gane tried to contain his rage. What happened to her? Gane felt sick when he recalled the blood on Sholei’s necklace.

“Mukuru Kingdom sure does have some pretty women,” Ojore said in mock sadness. “I do hate attacking it. We could forego the bloodshed if you chose to surrender. Pretty women shouldn’t be exposed to the dark world of war. ”

“Never!” Gane shouted and lost control of his temper. “Release the physician and fight me like a man.”

“You will get her back after I have had my fill,” Ojore said in a bored tone. “That is if she isn’t dead already,” he added.

Gane charged toward Ojore in a blind rage.

Ojore smirked, kicked his horse, and charged toward Gane. Their swords clashed midair as horses neighed and rose on hind legs, their dark coats glistening in the bright sunlight. Gane and Ojore both jumped off and charged toward each other. Faint sparks glittered when their swords met again.

“Your alliance will fail.” Ojore glared at him, and Gane scowled back. Gane missed a swipe on his legs and jumped back.

“I have the force of four cities at my back and the will of my people. I won’t fail.” Gane jumped up and tried to hack Ojore’s head. Ojore leaned back and swiped his sword across Gane’s middle. He managed to slash his clothes and missed his skin; Gane left in a hurry and forgot to put on his armor.

Gane looked at his exposed skin to find his bandaged wound. He gritted his teeth. Ojore wasn’t to be underestimated. He signaled the men behind him to attack, and they cried out before charging forward.

“Akima, now!” Ojore released a shrill command, and Gane glanced up at the top of the boulders to observe several men drawing arrows on them.

“Take cover!” Gane shouted as arrows rained down from above. Ojore charged toward him again amidst the rain of arrows.

Sholei reached Bondeni Valley to witness a rain of arrows land on Gane and the search party from Mukuru. Her captor and Gane were locked in fatal combat with swords. Several Mukuru soldiers were hit and lay prone over the valley. From the top of the boulders, men dressed in merchants’ clothes shot arrows.

It was a trap , Sholei thought, as her eyes took in the battle before her.

Gane walked right into the middle of it. His soldiers were overwhelmed, and Sholei tried not to empty her stomach. Deep red blood was splashed across the black ridges of its sandy ground. Horses neighed, and men groaned in pain. The search party put up a valiant fight, but they were outnumbered. Swords clashed against each other, and Gane appeared to be matched to Sholei’s captor. He fought with blind rage and his moves were countered quickly.

“Prince Gane!” she shouted his name and ran toward him, but she tripped over the prone body of a fallen Mukuru soldier. She collapsed on the dusty ground and was almost struck by an arrow that whooshed past her ear.

“Sholei?” The panic in Prince Gane’s voice forced her to look up and see him rushing forward, her captor chasing close behind. Through the sea of fallen bodies and raining arrows, Sholei struggled to get up but couldn’t. She looked on as her kidnapper thrust his sword at Gane, who escaped by mere inches before swinging back at him.

With a heavy punch to her captor’s stomach, Gane knocked him back as he ran to Sholei .

“Are you alright?” he asked, reaching her and sinking to his knees beside her, his worried gaze roaming over her from head to feet.

“Where are Tula and Musembi? Are they safe?” Sholei asked the battered prince.

“They are safe in the city. Stay behind me.” Gane shook his head as blood trickled from his temple to his left eye. Sholei’s heart pounded with relief; she had been so worried about her mentor and best friend, and to hear they were safe lifted a huge burden off her shoulders.

Apart from his bleeding temple, Prince Gane also had a swelling eye, and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Gane had been injured weeks before, and though the wounds had healed, he had yet to resume training. The fact that he had lasted so far into the battle showed his ability to hold his own.

In the background, her captor snapped orders, and the rain of arrows stopped. The gorge went quiet, apart from the groaning of injured men.

“You have nowhere to go, Gane,” he warned as he approached Sholei and Gane, switching his blade from hand to hand. His long dark locks had come loose, and he had a gash on his forehead. His fists were clenched, and his jaw tightened.

“Stay behind me.” Time stopped as Gane’s gaze perused her from head to toe. Sholei felt her world was at peace, and for a second, she looked at him, ignoring the death and misery surrounding them. Gane was willing to protect her.

“He has more men hidden in Mawindoni caves,” she explained as she held onto Gane’s arm, helping him up. He pushed her behind him. Apart from Musembi and Tula, no one had come to her rescue or stood by her side. Her heart warmed at Gane’s gesture. If they survived the day, Sholei would swear her allegiance to him.

“I will distract him, and you’ll get a horse and ride to the capital. Inform the head of the city guards of all you witnessed today.” Gane spat blood, but his hard stance didn’t change. His eyes were trained on the man approaching.

Another Dembe soldier descended the escarpments on his horse, a bow and arrow strapped across his shoulders, and headed straight for her captor. He whispered something in his ear that forced her captor to look toward them, scowling.

“Your backup is here, Gane. They will carry your dead body back to Mukuru. It will serve as a warning to your King.”

Gane’s nostrils flared as he glared at her captor. “Sholei, leave once I give the order.” Then he released her arm. From his labored breathing, he wouldn’t last long in another bout of the fight. She turned to the entrance of the gorge and prayed for the Mukuru army to reach them before they both died.

“Be careful,” she whispered, watching him approach his opponent, who scowled at them with clenched jaws. His eyes blazed like hot coals just like they had the first time she saw him.

“You will draw your last breath today.” Gane raised his blade and pointed.

“Let’s get this over and done with.” And with that, their swords clashed again .

”Soon, your whole kingdom will bow to the might of the Dembe. Nothing will stop me from crushing you.” Sholei’s kidnapper swung his blade, aiming for Gane’s neck. Gane blocked the attack, but the effort forced him to his knees.

“Your… attacks will not come to pass.” Gane’s breath was coming out in huffs. Using his last strength, he held his blade above him, deflecting his opponent’s attack.

“The convention you held does not change anything. All those minor cities are nothing compared to what you will face if King Gusiwaju does not submit.” With renewed effort, Gane’s opponent knocked him down with the blade. The sharp edge slashed at Gane’s shoulder, missing his neck.

“Sholei, leave now!” Gane shouted before he fell with a deep groan, releasing his sword. Her captor raised his weapon for the final time, intending to end the fight. Sholei looked around and found a sword from a fallen soldier. She picked up the heavy weapon and approached the two men. She had to help Gane or he wouldn’t make it. A crazy thought crossed Sholei’s mind; he would be indebted to her if she risked her life to save him. If he owed her, he could secure her a position in the Academy of Imperial Physicians. Musembi always said you have to lose something to gain something.

With all her might, she charged toward her captor and threw herself before Gane. Her captor’s sword pierced her stomach right above her navel. Pain, white and blinding, sliced through her as Sholei gnashed her teeth.

“Sholei!” Gane shouted as he tried to stand before slumping back onto the ground. He spat out blood, and his eyes turned blurry. He was heavily wounded, and blood gushed out of his shoulder.

“No!” Her captor released an animalistic growl, dropping his weapon and reaching for her body before she crashed to the ground. Her sword tumbled from her hands. His knees landed on the sandy ground, and he cradled her head with one arm. The other pressed against her wound. Sholei groaned at the pain slicing her body.

“Akima, get the horse!” He shouted instructions to the soldier behind him.

Through burning pain, Sholei looked on as her captor kneeled before her and scooped her into his arms like a husband would carry his new bride. The action brought pain to her wound and she cried again. Her clothes felt damp from blood.

“Why didn’t you stay in the cave as I instructed?” she heard him ask through her state of semi-consciousness. His voice was much gentler than before, or maybe it was the pain muddling her brain. The blind anger that clouded him when he fought Prince Gane had passed. She opened her eyes to find his eyes had gone back to warm brown. Gone was the anger, replaced with another emotion she couldn’t place.

“Will my death be enough to buy his life?” she managed to ask, her breathing heavy despite her body wanting to give up. The burning pain in her stomach intensified. It felt like tiny red ants had attacked her skin.

“Is it worthy to risk your life for him?” Her captor answered, his eyes never leaving her wound.

“If I don’t gamble my life, I can’t win,” Sholei answered as her eyes lost focus. “Before I die, can I know your name?” Sholei couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer, but she had to know.

“You can call me Ojore, and I won’t let you die,” her captor said. Sholei tried to follow the drawl of his voice, but her head grew heavier and heavier.