Page 29 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

“How can you know this?”

“Go take a closer look at the heads,” GoGo said. “They are all missing their back teeth. It

is how the Istari Bantu brand their slaves.”

“This I know! I am the king, remember? They could have pulled those teeth after they

killed them as a matter of tribal thranery. So I would know the gift was from them.”

“As you will see, though the heads are newly cut, the teeth are not newly pulled, and the

gums are not bloody,” GoGo said.

Kanja’s face looked slapped. He walked away with equal measures of gullibility and

embarrassment.

“Is that also why you taunt Ramoth? Is he too a liar?” he asked.

“He only lies when his lips are moving,” she said. “If your high advisor is as smart as you

profess, he would not have been fooled. He knew. It was probably his idea. If there is treachery in

your kingdom look no further than your right hand.”

“You foster it with your condescension and reckless disregard to those of rank,” Kanja

said.

“Ramoth has only the rank of cobra. I am simply the mongoose keeping him from your

throat.”

“Ramoth would never harm the crown!” Kanja replied.

“He covets the crown and despises the head that wears it. He would take your soul if he

could reach into your body and snatch it.”

Kanja turned his back to GoGo in shame. Her words were not intended to belittle him, but

they did because they were true.

“You want too badly to be loved by everyone, my husband. A king must be respected over

loved.”