Page 11 of Wrath of the Oracle

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 fromthe 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 naïve Sholei fell into it.

Sholei could tell something was off about Musembi when she walked in. Musembi stumbled on the threshold of the main hall and dropped her walking staff, nearly hitting Sholei with it.

When Prince Gane left for court, Sholei was escorted out of the palace. She had asked if she could wait for him so she could tell him about the Dembe soldier, but the guards sent her away. Due to the threat of looming war, no one was allowed to loiter around the palace.

“I cannot believe that old woman and his son would come up with such an idea,” Musembi muttered under her breath and rummaged through bags lined along the wall. She most likely searched for alcohol. Musembi had a habit of binge drinking when stressed, which was almostdaily.

“Why did the court summon you?’ Sholei wiped her brow, curious about what they had discussed in the court.

“What are these?” Musembi pointed toward Sholei’s bag on the table, where the golden pouch lay. Sholei got to her feet and reached for the bag just as Musembi picked the package up and flung it before Sholei. The flimsy bag gave way, and gold bars spilled out.

For several passing moments, neither spoke. The only sound came from the crackling fire. The golden pieces spilled on the stone floor, and their surfaces shone in the light and reflected in Sholei’s eyes. She dropped down and tried to collect her prize, but Musembi grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Did you get these from Prince Gane?” She pinned Sholei with a stern gaze. “We had already received payment for our services. Why did you take his gold?”

“They are gifts for my tonic. Gane…” Sholei attempted to shrug her shoulders from Musembi, but the older woman held on tighter, her eyes blazing. Sholei had counted the amount in the golden pouch; it was enough to pay for her passage into the Bahri Ocean. Freedom and a life of luxury awaited her.

“I forbid you from calling him by his name.” Musembi’s temperament was terrible, and the anger behind her eyes threatened to spill out. Something upset her, and Sholei paid the price.

“He appreciates my efforts.” She attempted to defend Gane and shrugged her shoulders from Musembi’s grasp. Her eyes shifted between her gold and Musembi.

“What do you need all this gold for? Do you still have dreams of going to study in the Faye Islands? Do youthink you qualify to become a Royal Physician just because you can concoct herbs?” Musembi’s words stabbed Sholei deep. Musembi knew of Sholei’s ambitions and stifled them. The topic of the Faye Islands was forbidden in the medicine yard. When the Imperial Physicians came to select students every two years, Musembi sent her out of the city on errands, never meeting them.

This year, she wasn’t going to miss the selection. It didn’t matter what Musembi thought.

“What’s wrong with wanting to expand my knowledge? If I learn at the Faye Islands, I can become a better physician and rise in the ranks in the capital. I’m tired of scraping at the bottom to survive.” Imperial Physicians were revered next to the royals. They lived in better neighborhoods and rubbed shoulders with the mighty in the capital. Sholei dreamt of that life; no one would bully her about her tattoos and shady background when she made a name for herself. She and Musembi would be respected members of society.

“So, this is all about making more money? Being rich? What have I taught you about humility, giving back, and serving the people?” Her words were harsh, and her laughter lacked mirth.

“We deserve respect, too.” Sholei spent years learning her skills and had perfected them. She rarely failed to treat her patients, but she still lived like a second-class citizen.

“Prince Gane isn’t as simple as you think. By taking his money, you have become his accomplice in the dirty politics in King Gusiwaju’s court. We both know his injuries aren’t normal; the king’s court is full of traps, and you’ll be a pawn in his game if you take his favors.” Musembigazed at the scattered gold bars with a forlorn look. “These should not distract you.” She proceeded to collect the gold. Sholei tried to fight, but she was shoved back so hard that her backside hit the work table. She yelped in pain, but Musembi didn’t spare her a glance.

“The pain should help you get back to your senses before you lose your head,” Musembi said, the bag clutched in her hand.

“Musembi, please,” Sholei pleaded. She couldn’t stop the tears flowing from her eyes.

Musembi shouted, almost desperate. “It’s better to cry now than later when you live in regret.”Through her tears, Sholei could feel the pain and bitterness in Musembi’s words.

“From now on, your allowance is cut off, and you’re banned from leaving this courtyard.” Musembi squared her shoulders and cleared her voice.

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