Page 19 of Wrath of the Oracle
“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 reachedBondeni 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.
