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Chapter 11

The Hunger and The Starving

The Rhune Mystics arrived at the mountain palace as if summoned by the gossiping wind. For

they knew of the Moroccan blood that had stained the desert and it was the Rhune Mystics who

secretly erased any traces of the queen’s assault from the sand. Queen GoGo Bah stood with

Sooth, Daka, Zuba, Raki, and the royal guards. She personally distributed the provisions from the

caravan to the Rhune Mystics. She bowed and spoke to their captain, Maran Dara—fresh from his

meeting with Judar and Ramoth.

“Blessed by the stars,” said GoGo.

“I am blessed, Queen GoGo,” replied the Rhune Mystic.

“I ask of you, Maran Dara, that you will accept these gifts of gratitude in the name of God,

from his humble servant the queen of Timbuktu?”

“May God be praised,” said Maran Dara. “On behalf of the Rhune Tribes tribes I do

humbly accept these blessings from God.”

Later, the queen and the Rhune Mystic walked and talked in the desert near the mountain

palace.

“I have bad tidings from Timbuktu,” said Maran Dara. “Ramoth has been made governor

and a pasha. We are all the worse for it. I have been helpful to General Judar as a means to keep

the usurpers close, and he does not suspect that I commune with you. But once he is gone, my eyes

inside the walls will be blind and I can no longer be your ears.”